The Siemens Energy Podcast (Siemens Energy)

You are listening to the Siemens Energy Podcast. 

The energy sector is undergoing an unprecedented transformation presenting challenges and opportunities. The demand for energy is increasing worldwide and at the same time, it is necessary to combat the effects of climate change and reduce CO2 emissions. 

On each episode, we bring you conversations from some of the world's cutting-edge leaders in energy. Our goal is to help you understand energy, the challenges we face today, and what the future holds. Subscribe and be sure to check out our website for more resources at www.siemens-energy.com

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In the inaugural episode of the Siemens Energy Podcast, Christian Bruch, President and CEO of Siemens Energy, hosts a fascinating and wide-ranging chat with Ernest J. Moniz, former US Secretary of Energy and current President and CEO of the Energy Futures Initiative.  Topics covered include:

• The two important benchmarks of access to electricity enunciated in the UN Quality of Life indicators (i.e the jump from access to hundreds of kilowatt-hours per year to thousands)
• The expectations for the coming November 2021 Glasgow COP meeting (action must match rhetoric)
• What “de-carbonizing” the economy means in reality (there are sectors that are really difficult to de-carbonize)
• The need for negative carbon technologies (de-carbonizing is an insufficient strategy)
• The idea that “net zero” can be a distraction (it is a milestone, not a goal)
• The realities of renewables (sometimes the wind doesn’t blow)
• The weaknesses in global supply chains exposed by Covid-19 (energy and security are deeply linked)

Moniz also discusses the important role that governments can play in unlocking private capital for an energy transformation. While he was Secretary of Energy, Moniz saw $30 billion of financing reach the hands of private capital, which helped various energy sectors take giant leaps forward.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a 5-Star review. For more information and links to all of the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit Siemens-Energy.com

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In this episode of the Siemens Energy Podcast we chat with Salim Ismail, founder of OpenExO and ExO Works. Salim speaks about the challenges that large organizations face when dealing with innovation (and shares some strategies to deal with those challenges). He also shares:

• How technology is delivering abundance
• The shift from businesses built around scarcity to businesses built around that abundance
• How companies with the highest ExO scores build, innovate, and disrupt (and how much speed matters in the process)
• What a “Gutenberg moment” is and just how many are currently happening 
• The mindset necessary to build disruptive technologies and companies
• The four Ds that sectors go through when accelerated by technology:
• Digitization
• Disruption
• Demonetization
• Democratization

Salim also gives an example of what smaller energy companies might do to take on large incumbents: various firms are exploring hemp waste as a viable source of graphene, which currently costs around $100/gram. Graphene is used in applications from anti-corrosion paints to efficient solar panels to faster DNA sequencing.

Salim’s optimistic and solutions-oriented mindset towards the challenges and problems that many companies are currently facing is inspiring and we know you’ll enjoy hearing his perspectives.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a 5-Star review. For more information and links to all of the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit Siemens-Energy.com

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Most people don’t associate cybersecurity with the transition to clean and renewable energy, but that’s something that needs to change.

Randy Bell, Director of the Global Energy Center at the Atlantic Council, joined us for an informative discussion. He addresses the digital threats that already face traditional energy sources and how much more those threats multiply when we move towards smart grids and smart thermostats.

In this episode, Randy also discusses:

• The state and non-state threats of cybersecurity
• How the recent Colonial Pipeline disaster helped raise awareness of the importance of cybersecurity
• What smaller energy companies can do to prepare better

You’ll also hear Randy articulate the key mindset of leading with prevention (security) but backing that up with resilience (recovering from an attack quickly).

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a 5-Star review. For more information and links to all the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit Siemens-Energy.com 

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While diversity and inclusion may be hot topics in today’s workspace, Allyson  Zimmermann and the team at Catalyst have been advocating for better policies around race, gender, ethnicity, and other categories for decades. 

We at Siemens Energy have had the opportunity to work with Allyson, and it was a pleasure to have her on the show.  She explains why the key to any real conversation about diversity and inclusion is a willingness to truly listen (without interrupting!). Once you’ve listened, you also have to be brave enough to question your beliefs to see if they hold up against the experience and testimony of others.

In this episode, Allyson also discusses:

• Having the courage to call out situations without shaming others
• Aligning company values into a new way of thinking
• Creating a framework for differences to be celebrated
• The invisibility of privilege to those who have it

She also talks about “getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.” We will all make mistakes as we try to be more inclusive and it’s simply a case of being patient with that and continuing to move forward.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a 5-Star review. For more information and links to all the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit Siemens-Energy.com 

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One of the challenges we face in the discussion about renewals is the frequent use of terminology that typically flies over the heads of members of the target audience. Someone passionate about changing that is Sean McMahon, the creator, producer, and host of the Renewable Energy SmartPod.

We started the conversation by talking about one of those terms, “net zero,” which is not totally understood. Net zero does not mean “no carbon” (that’s “decarbonization”) but rather carbon neutrality. Carbon can still be used, but it is either captured or mitigated. Sean pointed out that there’s always a conversation about where we want to be in some distant future year, but there’s no publishing of where we are now.

We also discussed:

• The interesting dissonance between the largest wind-producing states and their expected political views on renewables
• A move among battery manufacturers to red states, again, not ones that are politically thought of as aligned with renewables
• Sean’s concerns about offshore wind, especially in relation to significant climatic events, like a Category 5 hurricane: Could such turbines survive in such a situation?

You’ll also hear Sean’s advocacy for stopping the use of a term like “rate payers,” which is not particularly helpful, and replacing it with terms like consumer, or for more impact, voter.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a 5-Star review. For more information and links to all the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit Siemens-Energy.com 

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Climate is so much in the news these days that we might forget that ten years ago, it wasn’t even a beat covered by many publications.

That’s why we invited Justin Worland, a Senior Correspondent at TIME, to the latest episode of the Siemens Energy Podcast. Of the eight years that Justin has been at TIME, seven of them have been on the climate beat. He chats with people as varied as oil and gas executives and Extinction Rebellion, giving him a chance to observe the intersection of policy, the private sector, and society.

We started the conversation by talking about the implications of policy changes — there are necessarily societal changes that come when you start implementing climate policy. Justin pondered what that meant for the future. What if the public decided they weren’t happy with higher prices? Could that lead to reversals in policy?

We also discussed:

• The movement of climate issues from the margins to the mainstream
• Current political changes related to climate issues
• How some countries might deal with climate policies being unpopular

You’ll also hear Justin’s encouragement to avoid being “siloed” in your information regarding these issues. Enjoy!

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a 5-star review. For more information and links to all the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit Siemens-Energy.com 

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Green hydrogen isn’t just an improvement over the type of hydrogen currently used around the world, but it also offers some exciting applications in challenging fields for de-carbonization.

That’s why we are fortunate to welcome Manuel Kuehn, Head of New Energy for the Middle East and Africa at Siemens Energy, onto the latest episode of the Siemens Energy Podcast. Manuel talks about the developments in green hydrogen, particularly the advancements in a particular Siemens Energy initiative in Abu Dhabi.

The conversation also includes:

• Some thoughts on how government and the market can positively interact towards more momentum behind renewable technologies
• The areas that Manuel and Siemens Energy are most focused on in the Middle East
• An exciting application for green hydrogen in the sustainable aviation sector

You’ll also hear Manuel’s pointed note that behaviors that we have engaged in, as well as prices that we have gotten used to, will both have to change in order to make positive change.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a 5-star review. For more information and links to all the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit Siemens-Energy.com 

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Hydroelectric power is one of the older and more proven forms of renewable energy, so it doesn’t get the same attention as new and exciting technologies. Even so, there’s plenty of innovation going on in the hydro space, both in new technology and upgrading older facilities.

Gia Schneider, CEO of Natel Energy, is the perfect guest to talk about what’s going on in hydro, so we brought her onto the latest episode of the Siemens Energy Podcast. Gia has had extensive experience with renewables, not just from the investing and financing side, but also from a personal interest side: she cares about climate and the environment and wants to help drive positive change through her work in hydro.

Host Amy Pempel begins the conversation by asking about the origins of Natel Energy and how it’s developed from its earliest days to where it is now.

Amy and Gia also discuss:

• The 90,000 US dams that currently produce no power and why they present a great opportunity 
• The meaning of river “connectivity” and why that’s integral to the design of new turbines at Natel
• The work that needs to be done at existing hydro facilities to bring them up to modern standards

You’ll also have a chance to hear Gia discuss cybersecurity and natural disasters, two vectors that can directly impact hydropower’s effectiveness, and what can be done to mitigate these vectors.

If you enjoy today’s show, please leave a 5-star review. For more information and links to all the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit Siemens-Energy.com 

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There’s so much to keep track of across the world of renewables and de-carbonization, that it pays to listen to someone whose entire job is to do just that.

That’s why we invited Stephen Lacey onto this episode of the Siemens Energy Podcast. Stephen is the Co-Founder and Executive Editor of Post Script Media, which helps organizations make compelling audio. He makes some of that compelling audio himself at The Carbon Copy, a weekly news analysis podcast that explains the changing planet through the lens of current events. He has also hosted The Interchange and The Energy Gang, podcasts focused on climate and energy and the ecosystems, both physical and virtual, around them.

Host Amy Pempel starts the conversation by asking Stephen about the good and the bad news regarding renewables. He is bullish on the amount of investment and size of projects currently underway and the consequent effect of much cheaper renewable energy much sooner than expected. As to the bad, Stephen notes that we are starting to see the limits of the grid, and hence more work is needed in batteries, and energy sources like nuclear need to be more strongly considered. 

Amy and Stephen also discuss:

• The need for greater speed in decarbonization
• Why we shouldn’t wait for a “miracle technology” to solve climate change
• How Germany paved the way for (and paid for) efficient and less expensive solar energy

You’ll also hear why Stephen believes it’s important not to be ideological about energy.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a 5-star review. For more information and links to all the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit Siemens-Energy.com

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What we read about climate and energy policy online and in newspapers is developed and discussed at large events like COP and ADIPEC. Those who attend such events have a sense of the most recent policy trends.

John Defterios, former Emerging Markets Editor/Anchor at CNN and currently Energy Fellow for the World Economic Forum, is a regular attendee of such events and we’re delighted to have him on this episode of the Siemens Energy Podcast. Before his time at the WEF, John worked for PBS and Reuters. He has spent a great deal of his career working in the capitals of the world, listening to leaders puzzle through and formulate climate and energy policy.

Host Amy Pempel begins the discussion by asking John why he thinks the Middle East is so bullish on renewables and what initiatives they are pursuing. 

Amy and John also discuss:

• Why humanity doesn’t seem to plan well for the medium and long term
• The nexus of possibility, feasibility, and probability in public policy
• Prospects from the most recent COP and ADIPEC meetings

John’s message is ultimately a hopeful one, which is meaningful considering how much change (and how many false starts) he has seen in this field since he started decades ago.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a 5-star review. For more information and links to all the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit Siemens-Energy.com 

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There are so many changes happening in energy transformation and climate policy. One of the best ways to keep learning about issues in this space is to speak with thought leaders who are helping to spread awareness.

One of those thought leaders is Rachel Kyte, Dean of The Fletcher School at Tufts University. Rachel has extensive experience in sustainability in the private sector and with the World Bank. That’s why we are thrilled to have her as a guest for this episode of the Siemens Energy Podcast.

Host Amy Pempel begins the discussion by having Rachel articulate the “why” for decarbonization—not just economically, but ethically.

Amy and Rachel also discuss:

• The historic responsibility of industrialized countries to deal with de-carbonization
• The corresponding responsibility of fast-growing countries to be thoughtful in how they use and deploy energy
• The voluntary carbon market

You’ll also hear Rachel’s concerns about vested interests that are trying to trade on energy poverty instead of taking a serious look at better solutions for all stakeholders.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a 5-star review. For more information and links to all the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit Siemens-Energy.com 

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While autonomous vehicles get a lot of press attention, autonomous and remote technology are making great strides in many other sectors as well, notably in power and energy generation.

Siemens Energy team members Arik Ott, Portfolio Manager Autonomous Operations, and Stefan Schaab, Head of Operations and Maintenance Asset Management, deal every day with the questions of autonomous operations, so they are ideal guests for this episode of the Siemens Energy Podcast. 

Host Amy Pempel begins the conversation by having Arik parse the differences between autonomous and remotely-operated power plants. Stefan then adds some context as to why this is just as much a question of a change in the job marketplace (fewer available skilled workers) as a desire to innovate with existing technology.

Amy, Arik, and Stefan also discuss:

• The role of machine learning in aiding and improving automation
• Calming the fears of a workforce that fears that automation will cost them their jobs
• How critical systems that formerly needed on-site monitoring can now be monitored remotely

Arik and Stefan also emphasize that these changes are part of a journey that will take time but that is inevitably happening.

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The global transition to clean energy is a long-term commitment, not a short-term cause. As such, many of the current leaders in the push toward renewable sources will leave the industry and retire long before the transition is completed. In order to achieve carbon neutrality, future energy leaders will need to take up the mantle and carry on the work that the prior generation started.

Manuel Herraiz, Sales Manager at Siemens Energy, is one such future leader. He joined this episode of the Siemens Energy Podcast to discuss some of the challenges facing this generational transition, and how he and his colleagues might overcome them. Manuel addresses:

• The tension between different generations’ approaches to energy
• The need for cooperation between agencies
• The challenges facing infrastructure transformation
• The need for society at large to change its habits around energy consumption

Manuel and his fellow leaders in energy are just one piece in the larger puzzle in the pursuit of carbon neutrality. Only through cooperation, regardless of age, background, or employer, can the pieces come together to solve the issue of climate change in a timely manner.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a 5-star review. For more information and links to the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit Siemens-Energy.com.

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As some of the world’s leading hydrocarbon producers grapple with how to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, one nation leads the charge: Canada. Despite having already significantly cut carbon emissions, transitioned to renewable infrastructure, and outlined concrete steps to reach total carbon neutrality, Canada’s success in producing clean energy is a largely unknown tale.

Jacob Irving, President of the Energy Council of Canada, and Arne Wohlschlegel, Managing Director at Siemens Energy Canada, are seeking to change that. Their collaboration is an effort not only to bring private industry and public institutions together to address modern energy needs, but to educate the public on the potential for success in the renewable energy transition.

On this episode of the Siemens Energy Podcast, Jacob and Arne recount their work in overcoming the logistical challenges facing renewable energy infrastructure and the struggle to create the popular demand necessary to implement this infrastructure on a large scale.

Notable topics of Jacob and Arne’s discussion include:

• The Canadian government’s responsiveness to a quickly changing energy sector
• Creating affordable renewable energy sources
• Educating the public on the viability of clean energy
• Partnering with Indigenous Canadians to create a more robust energy grid

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a 5-star review. For more information and links to all the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit Siemens-Energy.com

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The energy industry has historically been dominated by men. This has not only created a struggle for diverse voices seeking to become leaders within the energy sector, but it has been a detriment to the energy industry as a whole. Without diverse perspectives, the industry has been limited in its ability to come up with creative solutions to longstanding problems.

Linette Casey, Director of Power Systems Development at Siemens Energy, joined this episode of the Siemens Energy Podcast to talk about her experience as a woman working to transform the energy sector, and how a greater focus on diversity in recent years has opened up a world of possibilities in the quest to transition to more renewable energy sources.

Customers have come to demand greater social and environmental responsibility from energy producers, and Linette has been a leading voice in encouraging future energy leaders to rise to the occasion. The steadily growing range of perspectives within the next generation of energy leaders has the potential to create not only a more inclusive industry, but a more resilient and reliable energy supply chain. This diversity is not mere window dressing, but a vital asset in the renewable transition. 

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a 5-star review. For more information and links to all the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit Siemens-Energy.com.

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The journey towards slowing climate change requires a reckoning with reality. There are truths about the current state of the global energy grid and its technological innovations that must be acknowledged before a meaningful path forward can be created.

On this episode of the Siemens Energy Podcast, we hear from many voices within Siemens Energy about the uncomfortable nature of the solutions to climate change and what that means for the work that still needs to be done to combat it.

Contributors to this discussion include:

• Tim Holt, Member of the Executive Board and Labor Director at Siemens Energy
• Rich Voorberg, President at Siemens Energy North America
• Arja Talakar, SVP Industrial Applications Product & CEO at Dresser-Rand - a Siemens Business
• Karim Amin, Executive Vice President Generation and Member of the Executive Board of Siemens Energy
• Vinod Philip, Chief Technology & Strategy Officer at Siemens Energy
• Linette Casey, Director - Power Systems Development at Siemens Energy
• Chad Burke, Senior Vice President of Power System Sales at Siemens Energy

We can only solve a problem when we’re honest about the challenges it poses. Reckoning with the uncomfortable truths of technology, infrastructure, finance, and the climate is the first step in enacting meaningful solutions.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a 5-star review. For more information and links to all the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit Siemens-Energy.com

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To move the world towards a carbon-neutral energy economy, technological innovation is a necessary asset. The systems required to implement hydrogen infrastructure, or store the electricity generated through solar power, are in many ways still in their infant stages. Success in the renewable sector depends on the further development of these technologies.

On this episode of the Siemens Energy Podcast, Vinod Philip, Chief Technology and Strategy Officer at Siemens Energy, discusses several areas where current technological developments hold promise for a cleaner energy future. Vinod views the following five technologies as keys to reaching carbon neutrality:

• Energy storage
• Hydrogen energy and infrastructure
• Data analysis and digitalization
• Energy grid resiliency
• Long-term technologies, such as nuclear fusion

To bring these developing technologies to fruition, inter-agency cooperation is essential. The financial incentives and political will required to implement the fundamental infrastructure to these technologies pose the greatest challenge to success, according to Vinod. As he says, the available technology is not the problem. Rather, it is the ability to implement this technology effectively that may mark the difference between success and failure in the pursuit of carbon neutrality in the coming decades.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a 5-star review. For more information and links to all the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit Siemens-Energy.com

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An important strategy in decarbonization is to find more carbon-neutral ways to use current infrastructure and technology. Efficient gas turbines with fast ramping capabilities that support renewables, and that set the stage for using low and no-carbon fuels in the future, is one of those technologies. 

Two people who have been involved on the ground level of just such a project are Pratyush Nag, VP of Product & Business Development, 9000HL Gas Turbines at Siemens Energy, and Kevin Murray, VP of Project Management & Construction at Duke Energy. They are our guests for this episode of the Siemens Energy Podcast.

The conversation begins with Kevin explaining why Duke Energy has been interested in renewable solutions since 2005 and the progress it continues to make in this area.

Pratyush and Kevin also discuss:

• Why utilities should foster innovation
• How the turbine station both parties are working on can serve as a template for other companies, not just Siemens Energy and Duke Energy

You’ll also hear Pratyush and Kevin remark on the resilience of their teams during the pandemic.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a 5-star review. For more information and links to all the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit Siemens-Energy.com

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While electric vehicles and eMobility get a lot of attention these days, it’s important to see how e-fuels complement eMobility and are helping to address decarbonization in the immediate future.

Dr. Michael Steiner, CTO and Board Member of Porsche, works with both e-fuels and eMobility on a daily basis and that’s why we wanted to speak to him on the latest episode of the Siemens Energy Podcast.  When he’s not working on these issues at work, he’s thinking about them when driving: he has a fully electric Taycan and an old-fashioned 9/11 GT3, which is conventionally fueled.

Host Amy Pempel starts the conversation by having Dr. Steiner explain the why of e-fuels: that they allow us to use our existing car fleet while addressing decarbonization.

Amy and Dr. Steiner also discuss:

• The current renewable/fossil energy gap in Europe
• How e-fuels are made
• Details of a Porsche and Siemens Energy e-fuel collaboration in Chile

You’ll also hear Dr. Steiner’s explanation of how e-fuels help power many different industries besides cars. Enjoy!

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a 5-star review. For more information and links to all the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit Siemens-Energy.com

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