This week on Energy Unplugged, we’re delighted to welcome Ben Wilson, President of National Grid Ventures. He joins Dan Monzani, our Managing Director for UK & Ireland, to explore how infrastructure, interconnectors and electrification are shaping the future of the UK and global energy systems.

Ben sits on the Executive Committee of National Grid and was appointed President of NGV in August 2024. NGV is the group’s competitive arm, operating a diverse portfolio of low-carbon and renewable energy businesses across the UK, Europe and the US, including interconnectors, battery storage, LNG and clean power generation.

Main topics include the following:

• The future of interconnectors and hybrid offshore grids in building a more integrated European energy system
• The impact of electrification, AI, and economic growth on rising electricity demand
• The role of hydrogen in decarbonising emissions-intensive industries and enhancing system flexibility

This week on Energy Unplugged, we’re delighted to welcome Robert Brook, SVP and Managing Director of the Americas at Neara. He joins our Managing Director for North America, Oliver Kerr, to discuss the evolving state of grid infrastructure in the US and the technologies poised to transform it.

Robert brings over 30 years of experience across the energy and information technology sectors. A recognised expert in infrastructure, asset management and risk mitigation, he has held leadership roles at PG&E, Esri, and Hecatic Labs. At Neara, he now works at the forefront of digital grid modelling and utility planning.

Main topics include the following:

• The growing challenges posed by aging grid infrastructure and increasing electricity demand
• The role of grid-enhancing technologies, such as dynamic line ratings, in maximizing existing system capacity
• Climate resilience, wildfire mitigation, and the shift toward localised generation and smarter grid operations

In this episode, we explore how the explosive growth of AI is driving a rapid expansion of data centres, and how this surge is reshaping power systems and energy infrastructure around the world. Richard Howard, Aurora’s Global Research Director, is joined by Malavika Gode, Senior Associate in our UK Advisory team, to unpack the energy implications of this accelerating global trend and what it means for the future of electricity systems.

Main topics include:

• The projected surge in power demand from data centres globally, and what’s driving it
• Key factors influencing where data centres are being built and how location decisions intersect with grid challenges
• How data centres are sourcing power today and what needs to happen for their growth to be sustainable