Montel Weekly

A poisoning scandal surrounding Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny has threatened to derail the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, now only kilometres away from the German mainland.This week’s pod discusses the likelihood of a cancellation and the potential impact on Europe’s gas markets.Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief Europe, Montel. Guests: Hanns Koenig, Head of Commissioned Projects, Central Europe, Aurora Energy Research, Nathan Witkop, Reporter, Montel. 

Poland may be one of the last bastions of coal plants in Europe, but the country is currently experiencing massive growth in rooftop solar panels. This week’s pod discusses the country’s exit from coal and the prospect of replacing the dirty fuel with gas and renewables. Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief Europe, Montel. Guest: Joanna Mackowiak-Pandera, CEO of Forum Energii. 

Ample supply, full inventories and subdued demand are likely to pressure oil prices well into 2021, says Rystad Energy’s Paola Rodriguez-Masiu. Listen to this week’s pod discuss a potential return pre-Coronavirus market conditions and what the new “normal” will look like, since changing consumer habits, increased electrification and a reduction in commuter and air travel in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic could actually accelerate the demise of oil. Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief Europe, Montel. Guest: Paola Rodriguez-Masiu, senior analyst, Rystad Energy. 

Nordic power prices have languished near historically low levels amid a combination of extreme factors, notably an abundance of hydropower supply, and limitations in interconnector capacity and nuclear supply. In this week’s pod, experts discuss the outlook for prices going forward and whether 2020 will be a one-off or if market participants should brace themselves for more of the unexpected. Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief Europe, Montel, Guests: Eylert Ellefsen, senior analyst, EQ, Tor Reier Lilleholt, head of analysis, Wattsight. 

This week’s pod focuses on the carbon market and, in particular, the reasons behind the price spike in mid-July. Was it due to the closing of a speculative position that went rogue, or were other fundamental factors at play? Tune in for a discussion on the outlook for prices going forward, the potential impact of the EU green deal and the UK ETS post Brexit. Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief Europe, Montel. Guests: Louis Redshaw, founder and CEO Redshaw Advisors, Alessandro Vitelli, Carbon Reporter. 

In the first pod after the summer break, we welcome back Wayne Bryan and discuss the outlook for gas prices amid waning demand, ample supply, healthy storage and geopolitical tensions. Is the current rally in European gas prices sustainable, or will market fundamentals limit the gains amid a potential second wave of Covid-19? Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief Europe, Montel, Guest: Wayne Bryan, director EU gas research, Refinitiv. 

Iceland is starting to position itself as a producer and exporter of “green” hydrogen. Listen to a discussion on the potential for the island nation to export the clean fuel, expand wind power and on the difficulties currently faced by large industrial energy users. Host: Snjolfur Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief Europe, Montel, Guest: Hordur Arnarson, CEO Landsvirkjun.  

For this week's pod, Montel journalists review the key energy market developments in the first six months of the year, and provide an outlook for the remainder of 2020 and beyond. What will happen to prices, will demand recover and are markets prepared for a second wave? Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief Europe, Montel. Guests: Olav Vilnes, Chief Editor Nordics, Montel, Chris Eales, Editor France, Montel, Andres Cala, Editor Iberia, Montel, Christian Driessen, Editor Germany, Montel. 

Europe’s TSOs will remain vigilant over the months to come in order to keep the lights on and the power system secure amid unprecedented falls in demand as well as growing output from renewables. Listen to a discussion on digitalisation, accelerating the permitting process and the complicated but necessary task of incorporating decentralised, distributed energy. Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief Europe, Montel, Guest: Pascale  Fonck, Vice Chair of the Board, Entso-E and Chief Officer External Relations, Elia. 

All market participants should work together to ensure the electricity system works efficiently and stays afloat, says Auke Lont. This week’s pod discusses low prices, key interconnectors, bidding zones and the importance of maintaining transparent, liquid wholesale energy markets. Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief Europe, Montel, Guest: Auke Lont, CEO, Statnett. 

Direct prohibition of the use of fossil fuels will be necessary in order to meet the goals of the Paris climate agreement, says Rana Adib of REN 21. This week’s pod discusses how other sectors should emulate the “extraordinary success” of renewable electricity and how short term measures must accompany long term targets for green energy.Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief Europe, Montel. Guest: Rana Adib, Executive Director, REN 21.

Nordic wholesale power prices are unlikely to return to levels around EUR 40/MWh as delivered last year. This week’s episode welcomes back Marius Holm Rennesund with a discussion on the outlook for prices over the coming months and years, with prices expected to stay low with demand side measures and batteries assuming a greater role. Rennesund also provides his view of the future development for PPAs in the region. Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief Europe, Montel. Guests: Marius Holm Rennesund, Partner, Thema Consulting, Olav Vilnes, Chief Editor Nordics, Montel.

The recent EU recovery fund should help to propel the continent into a greener, cleaner post Covid-19 world. This week’s episode welcomes Susanne Nies who discusses the outlook for electricity demand in Europe, the importance of smart networks as well as insights in to the political bubble of Brussels. Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief Europe, Montel, Guest: Susanne Nies, Country Manager Germany, Smart Wires. 

EDF sent shockwaves through Europe’s power and gas markets when it forecast a 20% drop in nuclear output this year due to the coronavirus pandemic crimping demand. The crisis also forced France’s biggest power utility to overhaul its reactor maintenance schedule. This week’s pod discusses “modulation” outages and a possible shortfall in supply from September. Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief Europe, Montel. Guests: Emeric de Vigan, CEO and Founder of Core-e,Chris Eales, Editor France, Montel. 

Global gas demand will remain subdued for the remainder of the year amid a continuing supply glut. With much of the continent’s piped gas continuing to flow in large volumes and storage facilities reaching full capacity, LNG will have to take the slack, says Carlos Torres Diaz of Rystad Energy. This week’s episode discusses the options open for LNG players and the outlook for the gas sector in the medium to long-term. Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief Europe, Montel. Guest:Carlos Torres Diaz, Head of Gas and Power Markets Research, Rystad Energy. 

The Nordic region could see the return negative prices amid lingering oversupply, wet weather and delayed snowmelt over the coming weeks. Yet elsewhere in continental Europe will see far lower output from hydropower amid drier conditions. This week’s episode sees the return of Mr Hydrology, aka Eylert Ellefsen, who also discusses how soon we will return to pre-Covid power demand levels. Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief Europe, Montel. Guest: Eylert Ellefsen, Senior Analyst, Energy Quantified. 

Nordic power prices will recover faster than many people think, but a weak gas market will limit the upside. This week’s episode discusses the way in which the region’s wind power sector is ready to race ahead, and how working from home may see some traders actually thriving away from the social distractions of the office. Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief Europe, Montel. Guest: Fredrik Bodecker, CEO, Bodecker Partners. 

Prices in the EU carbon market are set to remain highly volatile over the coming months, driven mostly by restrictive measures to halt the spread of Covid-19. Listen to a discussion on the outlook for prices, key fundamental factors and whether speculators will return this year. Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief Europe, Montel. Guest: Bernadett Papp, Senior Market Analyst, Vertis. 

The oil market is getting messy, with producers struggling to cut in line with plunging demand and bulging inventories. This week’s episode discusses how we are no longer “masters of the universe” and how misplaced optimism may see oil prices remaining stagnant for the remainder of the year. At least. Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief Europe, Montel. Guest: Bjarne Schieldrop, Chief Analyst Commodities, SEB.

The Covid-19 outbreak has ground the wheels of EU legislative processes to a halt, but later this year the bloc’s executive will table a flurry of fresh proposals. Listen to a discussion on the European Commission’s Green Deal, and whether the coronavirus will brake or accelerate the continent’s decarbonisation. Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief Europe, Montel. Guest: Øyvind Vessia, Head of European Affairs, Ørsted.