Financing Decarbonisation Ep 31: Dr Nadine Moustafa & Paul Davies

Is Carbon capture an investable industry, and can it be financeable?

Host

• Dr. Nadine Moustafa, Research Associate at Imperial, specialising in carbon management and decarbonisation technologies.

Guest 

• Paul Davies - Director at 7CO2: The Severnside Carbon Capture and Shipping Hub

Topics Discussed 

• Government's role in financing decarbonisation
• The public and private sector contributions to decarbonisation industries
• Innovation in carbon capture lending itself to investment
• Policies and the market.

Timecode & Chapters;

00:02:21 – Introduction & Guest Background

00:02:47 – What Makes Financing Decarbonization Different?

00:03:53 – Role of Government & Carbon Pricing

00:04:36 – Public-Private Collaboration

00:06:19 – Evolving Risk & Government Support

00:08:10 – Negative Emissions & Market Potential

00:09:05 – Business Models for Carbon Capture

00:11:24 – Infrastructure Scaling Challenges

00:12:14 – Why CCS Projects Lag Behind

00:14:03 – Government’s Role in Mitigating Risk

00:15:25 – Financial Close & Project Rollout

00:17:09 – Non-Pipeline Transport Solutions

00:19:16 – Modular vs. Mega Projects

00:21:29 – Importance of Long-Term Policy Signals

00:23:01 – Sector-Specific Financing Opportunities

00:25:10 – Aviation & Consumer Offsets

00:27:36 – Revenue-Driven Sectors Will Lead

00:28:13 – Cross-Sector Financing Mechanisms

00:30:31 – Residual Emissions & Net Zero

00:33:31 – Long-Term Use of Fossil Fuels

00:34:39 – Advice for Stakeholders

00:36:03 – The Magic Wand Question

00:37:11 – Social Acceptability & Political Support

00:38:23 – Closing Thoughts

Nadine's links:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadine-moustafa-ph-d-5831a1a7/

Imperial profile - https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/n.mou...

Paul's links:

7CO2: The Severnside Carbon Capture and Shipping Hub -

What are the key challenges in manufacturing wind turbines, and is the lifespan of wind turbines impacting the sustainable nature of wind farming?

Host

• Dr. Aidan Rhodes, Research Fellow and Briefing paper at Energy Futures Lab

Guest 

• Cristina Fernández Alonso, a product service engineer – and Blade Project manager at GE Vernova
• Sara Jiménez Alfaro, an aeronautical Engineer and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oxford and Imperial College

Topics Discussed 

• The ongoing construction and targets of the largest wind farm in the world.
• Challenges to the construction, operation and maintenance of wind turbines.
• Innovative research into the lifespan of these offshore giants.
• Wind power as a leading innovator in renewable energy.

Chapters & Timestamps 

 01:43 - Episode Introduction: Offshore Wind Farms

Host introduces the topic and guests.

02:06 - Guest Introductions: Cristina Fernandez & Jose Jimenez Alfaro

Backgrounds and roles in offshore wind energy.

03:01 - Cristina’s Career Journey

From Spain to Imperial College and her role at GE Vernova.

05:05 - Long-Term Wind Turbine Maintenance

Cristina discusses her passion for turbine maintenance and customer collaboration.

05:45 - Sara’s Research Journey

From aeronautical engineering to fracture mechanics in offshore wind.

07:04 - Fatigue and Corrosion in Wind Turbines

Sara explains his research on extending turbine lifespan.

08:11 - Overview of the Dogger Bank Project

Cristina describes the scale and significance of the world’s largest wind farm.

10:00 - Wind Turbine Efficiency and Capacity

Technical details on turbine design and energy output.

11:10 - Advances in Materials Science

Discussion on fracture mechanics and material properties.

12:24 - Collaboration on Dogger Bank Project

Multi-stakeholder coordination and logistics.

14:10 - Logistics and Transportation Challenges

Moving massive turbine components across Europe.

16:31 - Offshore Wind Challenges

Structural and environmental challenges in offshore installations.

Aidan’s Links  - Aidan Rhodes Profile | Imperial College London

Aidan Rhodes | LinkedIn

Cristina’s links - Cristina Fernández Alonso | LinkedIn

Sara’s links - Sara Jiménez Alfaro | LinkedIn

Produced by Annemarie van Basten

Annemarie Van Basten | LinkedIn

Additional Links 

• Dogger Bank

The World’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm - Dogger Bank Wind...

To reach net zero, we need to electrify transport—from personal vehicles to heavy goods trucks.

In this episode, Edoardo Taricco, a mechanical engineer and recent graduate of the MSc in Sustainable Energy Futures programme at Imperial College London, explores the future of electric vehicles and sustainable travel.

Guests

• Gregory Offer – Professor in electrochemical science and engineering at Imperial College London. His work focuses on battery, fuel cell, and supercapacitor technologies for transport applications.
• Jade Edwards – Head of Insights at Zapmap, a leading source of EV charging data and analysis. Her team examines EV charging infrastructure, driver behavior, and industry trends.

Topics Discussed

• The evolving EV market – Trends in consumer behavior, policy, and global adoption.
• Charging infrastructure – Innovations, accessibility, and user experience.
• Electrifying heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) – Technological challenges, emerging solutions, and alternatives beyond batteries.
• The role of EVs in grid stability – How bidirectional charging and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology could reshape energy systems.
• Decarbonizing transport – The need for smaller EVs, active transport, and better public transit integration.

Chapters & Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

00:42 – Meet our guests

03:20 – The shift to EVs: consumer trends and policy drivers

06:40 – Overcoming range anxiety and lifestyle changes with EVs

12:17 – The potential of EVs in supporting the energy grid

19:51 – Charging infrastructure: accessibility, investment, and rollout challenges

30:35 – Standardization and payment systems in EV charging

40:03 – Battery technology, thermal management, and future improvements

50:01 – The relationship between EV sales and charging infrastructure growth

53:05 – The rise of SUVs and challenges in decarbonizing transport

58:34 – Electrifying heavy goods vehicles: challenges and solutions

1:02:34 – Future of fleet charging and shared infrastructure

1:03:06 – Closing thoughts and where to find our guests

Edoardo’s Links

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edoardo-taricco-9a77a2205/

Greg’s links

Imperial profile: https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/gregory.offer

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregory-offer-3180379/?originalSubdomain=uk

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/electrochem-sci-eng/

Jade’s Links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jade-edwards-0a16b51/

https://www.zap-map.com/

Produced by Jonny Prest

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonnyprest/

Additional Links

• Ultra-rapid EV charging, powered by Sainsburys

https://www.about.sainsburys.co.uk/sustainability/plan-for-better/our-stories/2023/sainsburys-ultra-rapid-electric-vehicle-charging

• Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G)

In this episode, Dr. Aidan Rhodes, Research Fellow at Imperial College London and Energy Policy Briefing Papers Fellow at Energy Futures Lab, is joined by Tom Luff, Practice Manager at Energy Systems Catapult. Together, they explore the crucial role of consumers in shaping the transition to a net-zero energy system.

Topics covered:

• How consumer participation can drive Net Zero efforts
• The impact of flexibility measures like smart appliances, time-of-use tariffs, and renewable assets on energy costs
• Addressing equity, trust, and the needs of vulnerable consumers in the energy transition

Chapters & Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction and episode overview

01:10 - Meet the guests: Dr. Aidan Rhodes and Tom Luff

02:35 - Mission 2030: The UK’s ambitious Net Zero target

05:55 - Challenges and opportunities in decarbonizing the energy system

09:00 - Balancing supply and demand: Too much vs. not enough electricity

13:28 - Planning challenges: How do we bring communities along?

18:15 - Consumer participation: Why it’s essential for Net Zero

21:48 - Energy flexibility: Smart tariffs, EVs, and demand shifting

29:00 - The role of smart meters in energy transition

34:07 - Energy market reform and locational pricing

38:50 - Emerging business models: Peer-to-peer energy trading and energy-as-a-service

44:06 - Future outlook: The most exciting changes in the next five years

45:20 - Where to learn more

Tom’s links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-luff-aa6aa279/?originalSubdomain=uk

Energy Systems Catapult

https://es.catapult.org.uk/

Aidan’s links

• Imperial profile: https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/aidan.rhodes
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidan-rhodes-06b16030/?originalSubdomain=uk

Produced by Jonny Prest

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonnyprest/

Additional links

ESME (Energy System Modelling Environment)

https://es.catapult.org.uk/tools-and-labs/our-national-net-zero-toolkit/energy-system-modelling-environment/

Living Lab

https://es.catapult.org.uk/tools-and-labs/living-lab/

Dunkelflaute

https://www.sunsave.energy/blog/dunkelflaute

Ofgem

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/

Octopus Agile

https://octopus.energy/smart/agile/

Guest: Adam Hearne, CEO & Co-founder of CarbonChain

Host: Dr. Gbemi Oluleye, Lecturer at Imperial College London

In this episode, we explore the complexities of industrial decarbonisation and how energy-intensive sectors can transition to a net-zero economy.

Key Topics Discussed:

- The technical challenges in industrial decarbonisation

- The role of innovative technologies in reducing carbon footprints

- How carbon accounting software enables businesses to track and manage emissions

The impact of smart policies and financial incentives on industry transitions

The importance of hidden heroes—leaders driving sustainability from within

Chapters & Timecodes

00:00 – Introduction – The mission of Energy Futures Podcast

00:31 – Guest Introduction – Dr. Gbemi Oluleye introduces Adam Hearne

01:58 – What is Industrial Decarbonisation? – Defining the challenge

03:16 – Carbon Accounting for Heavy Industries – Adam’s work at CarbonChain

05:18 – Realistic Decarbonisation Pathways – Sector-specific strategies

08:18 – Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) Debate – Is CCS a viable solution?

09:51 – Biggest Challenges in Industrial Decarbonisation – Policy instability and market incentives

12:46 – Smart Policy for Industrial Decarbonisation – Designing effective regulations

15:25 – Carbon Pricing & Border Adjustment Mechanisms – The UK and global landscape

17:30 – Should Policy Be Technology Agnostic? – Designing effective support mechanisms

19:39 – What Can Industry Do Now? – Actions despite policy gaps

22:04 – Biggest Opportunities from Industrial Decarbonisation – Economic and job growth

26:30 – Lessons for Other Sectors – What non-heavy industries can learn

27:54 – The UK vs Global Industrial Decarbonisation Landscape – Strengths and weaknesses

30:52 – The Role of Carbon Accounting – The ‘underdog’ of industrial sustainability

34:20 – The Power of Hidden Heroes – Leaders making change happen

40:28 – Encouraging Innovation in Deep Tech – The need for long-term vision

43:17 – Advice for the Academic Community – Bridging research and policy

45:11 – Exciting Future of Industrial Decarbonisation – Workforce transformation and consumer impact

47:07 – Smart Finance & Resource Allocation – Retrofitting vs. new industry

51:34 – Collaboration for Net Zero – Academia, startups, and government

53:31 – Closing Thoughts & Call to Action – How to get involved

Adam’s Links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamhearne/

CarbonChain- https://www.carbonchain.com/

Gbemi’s links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gbemi-oluleye-amicheme-fhea-phd-16a5963b/

Imperial profile: https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/o.oluleye

Stay Connected

Produced by Jonny Prest

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonnyprest/

Watch, Listen & Subscribe:

YouTube: Energy Futures Podcast

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcULpNJrbYiH1raQ59JecFw

Apple Podcasts

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/energy-futures-podcast/id1767778269

Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/show/1HVzUhWIOhRqjbEi9HhXs3?si=7551f6c752264f55

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

Follow Energy Futures Lab:

Twitter: @EnergyFuturesIC

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impe...

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/energy-fut...

Energyfutureslab@imperial.ac.uk

Given the challenges the aviation industry faces in rapidly decarbonising, how are innovative solutions and collaborative efforts shaping the path toward sustainable air travel?

In this episode, Dr. Nadine Moustafa, a Research Associate at Imperial College London specialising in carbon management and decarbonisation technologies, is joined by:

Dr. Rhea Liem – Reader in Sustainable Aviation Technologies at Imperial College London, specialising in computational science, hybrid modelling, and complex system optimisation for sustainable aviation.

Kerri Moss – Head of Partnerships at Impetus Carbon, a member of the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading, and an expert in sustainable finance and investment opportunities in aviation decarbonisation.

In This Episode:

- Why aviation needs investment to transition to low-carbon air travel

- The challenges the aviation industry faces in its journey to net zero

- Initiatives, research, and organisations leading the way in sustainable aviation

Episode Chapters:

⏱ 00:00 – Introduction

⏱ 02:15 – The role of finance in sustainable aviation

⏱ 10:45 – Major technological and regulatory barriers

⏱ 18:30 – The importance of collaboration across industry, academia, and government

⏱ 25:50 – Innovations in aircraft design and alternative fuels

⏱ 33:15 – What does a net zero aviation industry look like?

⏱ 40:00 – How can individuals and businesses support the transition?

⏱ 47:30 – Final thoughts and the path ahead

Nadine’s LInks

Nadine Imperial Profile: https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/n.moustafa18

Nadine LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadine-moustafa-ph-d-5831a1a7/?originalSubdomain=uk

Rhea’s links

Rhea Imperial Profile

https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/r.liem

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhea-liem-533b647b/?originalSubdomain=hk

Department of Aeronautics, Imperial College London

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/aeronautics/

Kerri’s links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerri-moss-aa66b328/?originalSubdomain=uk

Impetus Carbon: https://impetuscarbon.com/

International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading

https://www.istat.org/

Spark Change

https://www.sparkchange.financial/

Additional Links

EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) - EU Climate Action

https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/eu-emissions-trading-system-eu-ets_en

Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_Offsetting_and_Reduction_Scheme_for_International_Aviation

EU ETS: legislation and research publications

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/eu-ets-legislation-and-research-publications

Aviation Carbon

https://www.aviationcarbon.aero/

UK Emissions Trading Scheme

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/participating-in-the-uk-ets/participating-in-the-uk-ets

SES- Single European Sky

https://transport.ec.europa.eu/transport-modes/air/single-european-sky_en

What is the Voluntary Carbon Market?

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/voluntary-carbon-and-nature-market-integrity-uk-government-principles

Stay Connected

Produced by Jonny Prest

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonnyprest/

Watch, Listen & Subscribe:

YouTube: Energy Futures Podcast

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcULpNJrbYiH1raQ59JecFw

Apple Podcasts

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/energy-futures-podcast/id1767778269

Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/show/1HVzUhWIOhRqjbEi9HhXs3?si=7551f6c752264f55

Stay Connected:...

In this episode of the Energy Futures Podcast, Dr. Aidan Rhodes discusses the critical importance of resilience in the energy sector with Bronwyn Bullen, Organisational Resilience Manager at UK Power Networks. Together, they explore the evolving definition of resilience, strategies to adapt energy infrastructure, and how organisational resilience contributes to maintaining a reliable energy grid.

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction to Energy Futures Podcast

00:31 - Episode overview: Resilience in energy

01:39 - Welcome and introduction of Bronwyn Bullen

02:13 - Bronwyn's role and the importance of organisational resilience

03:33 - Lessons from the 2013 storms and the concept of resilience

06:00 - Resilience as a strategic priority at UK Power Networks

08:52 - Bronwyn’s background and path to organisational resilience

10:35 - Difference between reliability and resilience

12:13 - Phases of resilience: preparation, impact, and learning

13:36 - Preparing for extreme weather events

16:00 - How UK Power Networks handles storm response and customer communication

19:50 - Cross-functional roles during storms and fostering unity

23:15 - Cultural evolution of resilience since 2013

27:17 - Horizon scanning and responding to emerging threats

30:00 - Lessons learned from COVID-19 and agility in the organisation

32:24 - Societal resilience and the role of individuals, businesses, and government

36:00 - Black start scenarios and electricity system restoration

41:00 - Challenges of restoring the grid after major disruptions

42:40 - The importance of cross-sector collaboration for resilience

44:56 - Case studies and learning from crises in other industries

46:00 - Final thoughts and resources for listeners

Bronwyn’s Links

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bronwyn-bullen-64973a345/?originalSubdomain=uk

UK Power Networks resources: https://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk

Priority Services Register: https://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/power-cut/priority-services-register

Additional links

The 2022 UK Government Resilience Framework

https://prepare.campaign.gov.uk/about-this-website-and-uk-resilience/#:~:text=with%20devolution%20agreements.-,UK%20Government,is%20responsible%20for%20crisis%20response.

The business Continuity Institute

https://www.thebci.org/

Titan submersible

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titan_submersible_implosion

Produced by Jonny Prest

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonnyprest/

Stay Connected

Watch, Listen & Subscribe:

YouTube: Energy Futures Podcast

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcULpNJrbYiH1raQ59JecFw

Apple Podcasts

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/energy-futures-podcast/id1767778269

Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/show/1HVzUhWIOhRqjbEi9HhXs3?si=7551f6c752264f55

Stay Connected:

Produced by Jonny Prest

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonnyprest/

Follow Energy Futures Lab:

Twitter: @EnergyFuturesIC

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/imperial-college-london-energy-futures-lab/?viewAsMember=true

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/energy-futures-lab/

Energyfutureslab@imperial.ac.uk

In this episode of the Energy Futures Podcast, hosts Dr. Paola Sáenz and Dr. Nadine Moustafa explore the evolving landscape of Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) and Negative Emissions Technologies (NETs) and their role in achieving climate goals. From engineered solutions like Direct Air Capture (DAC) to nature-based methods such as afforestation, the discussion dives deep into the technical, economic, and policy challenges of carbon dioxide removal (CDR).

Featuring:

• Dr. Paola Sáenz – Research Associate at Sightline Climate & Imperial College London, specializing in Negative Emissions Technologies and Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS).
• Dr. Nadine Moustafa – Research Associate at Imperial College London, focusing on systems modeling for carbon management and decarbonization strategies.

Chapters & Timecodes

[00:00:00] - Introduction to the Energy Futures Podcast

[00:01:00] - Meet the hosts: Paola Sáenz & Nadine Moustafa

[00:02:16] - What is Carbon Removal (CDR)?

[00:03:02] - Nature-based vs. engineered solutions

[00:06:06] - Where should CDR solutions be deployed?

[00:08:42] - Carbon markets and pricing mechanisms

[00:12:53] - Climate change risks and cost dynamics

[00:16:50] - The role of policy in scaling carbon removal

[00:22:00] - Public perception and societal challenges

[00:24:06] - The impact of COP decisions on carbon markets

[00:30:48] - Carbon accounting and verification challenges

[00:33:12] - The balance between emissions reduction and removals

[00:37:22] - Hard-to-abate sectors and NET applications

[00:41:07] - Global perspectives and data gaps in CDR

[00:41:26] - Closing thoughts and where to find the speakers

Key Takeaways

• Carbon dioxide removal is essential to achieving net zero, alongside emissions reductions.
• Engineered and nature-based solutions are complementary, not competing.
• Carbon markets and pricing structures need to evolve for large-scale deployment.
• Policy and public engagement play a crucial role in real-world implementation.
• Global equity and access to NETs are critical for effective climate action.

Paola’s links

Paola Sáenz Imperial Profile: https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/paola.saenz-cavazos17

Paola Sáenz Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paolasaaenzc/?originalSubdomain=uk

Sightline climate: https://www.sightlineclimate.com/

Hitachi-Imperial Centre for Decarbonisation and Natural Climate Solutions: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/hitachi-centre/

Nadine’s links

Nadine Imperial Profile: https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/n.moustafa18

Nadine LinkedIn: