Energy Transition Show

In Ep. 279, Tara Connolly of Beyond Fossil Fuels explains why there are wind, solar and battery resources roughly equivalent to the entire current generation capacity of eight European countries languishing in connection queues, and what can be done to get those projects built and connected to the grid. https://xenetwork.org/ets/episodes/episode-279-debottlenecking-europes-grid/

In @TransitionShow@mastodon.energy Ep. 273, Tom Brown @nworbmot@mastodon.social shares a new model which shows that by 2030, solar and batteries could supply 90% of electricity to 80% of the global population for less than €80/MWh. It would not only be cost-effective, but also likely cheaper than gas. https://xenetwork.org/ets/episodes/episode-273-can-solar-and-batteries-power-the-world/

In Ep. 278, we are joined by Dr. Emily Pope of C2ES to hear about the state of the art in geothermal power generation, and how much of a role it might play in helping to achieve decarbonization goals in the US and beyond.
https://xenetwork.org/ets/episodes/episode-278-enhanced-geothermal-energy/

In Ep. 274, @emberclimate@mastodon.energy's Nicolas Fulghum walks us through all the data in their new Global Electricity Review 2026 report, showing that the energy transition is unstoppable. Solar is growing faster than any other source of electricity, ever, renewables are now generating more power than coal and finally pushing fossil fuels off the grid, and power sector emissions are declining globally for the first time. https://xenetwork.org/ets/episodes/episode-274-global-electricity-review-2026/

In Ep. 280, we review The Statistical Review of World Energy 2026, the first complete global energy data set for 2025, from the Energy Institute, @Ember and partners. It shows the #energytransition still accelerating with renewables meeting all new demand and overtaking coal, as well as gas in key markets. https://xenetwork.org/ets/episodes/episode-280-statistical-review-of-world-energy-2026/

In Ep. 272, oil analyst and journalist Rory Johnston explains why the damage to Persian Gulf oil and gas infrastructure and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has thrown the world into uncharted territory, with unprecedented high prices ahead. This episode is not paywalled, so enjoy & share widely! https://xenetwork.org/ets/episodes/episode-272-global-energy-crisis-2026/

In Ep. 271, Lauri Myllyvirta rejoins us to tease apart the complex picture of China’s energy transition and the trajectory of its emissions. Listen and learn why China’s total CO2 emissions have been slowly falling for the past two years even while it’s building more coal-fired power plants than ever. https://xenetwork.org/ets/episodes/episode-271-china-update-2026/

In Ep. 275, we review a report from 350.org on the cost of delaying the energy transition, and see how countries that are seriously pursuing energy transition strategies are reaping the benefits, including limiting the economic damage they are suffering from the global energy crisis resulting from the war in Iran. https://xenetwork.org/ets/episodes/episode-275-the-cost-of-delay/

In @TransitionShow@mastodon.energy Ep. 276, we check out one of the most exciting #energytransition stories in the world: South Africa is embarking on a major reform of its electricity system to transition from a state-owned monopoly to a free market, and from coal to renewables. https://xenetwork.org/ets/episodes/episode-276-electricity-reform-in-south-africa/

Ep. 277 wraps up our miniseries on South Africa, exploring how its economic development depends heavily on leaving behind its coal-fired legacy electricity system and making a “just transition” to renewables. https://xenetwork.org/ets/episodes/episode-277-just-transition-in-south-africa/

In Ep. 269, Ari Peskoe rejoins us to review Trump’s attacks on the energy transition in the US and explore the legal options for defending it, including his attempts to cancel wind farms, prevent the closure of coal power plants, gut regulations, seize Venezuela’s oil, pull out of UN climate bodies, and more.
https://xenetwork.org/ets/episodes/episode-269-trumps-war-on-the-energy-transition/

To close out a huge year for the Energy Transition Show, we are, by popular demand, lifting the paywall on Episode 254 so that subscribers and nonsubscribers alike can enjoy this comprehensive review of the data on the global energy transition with @emberclimate@mastodon.energy’s Nic Fulghum. https://xenetwork.org/ets/episodes/episode-266-global-electricity-review-2025-2-lagniappe/

Geek out and Happy New Year from all of us at @TransitionShow@mastodon.energy! #lagniappe

In Ep. 261, independent researcher and consultant Michael Jakob shares insights from his book, The Case Against Climate Doom — An Economist’s Guide to Climate Optimism, detailing the ongoing social, political, and technological climate change mitigation efforts that give him hope for the future of climate action. https://xenetwork.org/ets/episodes/episode-261-the-case-against-climate-doom/

In Ep. 265, @chrisnelder@mastodon.energy returns to Paris to interview Tim Gould about IEA's flagship World Energy Outlook 2025 report. We clarify what its scenarios actually mean (and what they don’t), and find the global energy transition very much still going strong. https://xenetwork.org/ets/episodes/episode-265-world-energy-outlook-2025/

In Ep. 264, we kick off a new miniseries on South Africa’s energy transition with one of its key progenitors, Professor Emeritus Anton Eberhard of the University of Cape Town, who has been agitating for power sector reforms there for over 35 years. https://xenetwork.org/ets/episodes/episode-264-history-of-the-transition-in-south-africa/

In Ep. 270 Lord Adair Turner, co-chair of the Energy Transitions Commission in London, shares with us his wide-ranging, high-level perspective on the energy transition in the UK and the world. https://xenetwork.org/ets/episodes/episode-270-view-from-the-energy-transitions-commission/

In Ep. 267, former IEA Director Nobuo Tanaka shares his perspectives on the global realignment into “petrostates” and “electrostates” and how US policy is pushing Europe and developing countries closer to China. We also discuss his bold proposals for an Asian electrostate alliance, Japan’s investment in Alaskan natural gas, and reshuffling Japan’s grid assets. https://xenetwork.org/ets/episodes/episode-267-japan-petrostate-or-electrostate/

For Ep. 257, Chris traveled to a remote, off-road community in Alaska’s Arctic Circle to see how they are integrating renewables into the microgrid that powers the town. https://xenetwork.org/ets/episodes/episode-257-remote-microgrids-in-alaska/

In Ep. 263, @chrisnelder@mastodon.energy debates the CEO of Australian distribution utility Ausgrid about when and whether it’s best for customers or distribution utilities to own and operate grid assets like battery storage systems. https://xenetwork.org/ets/episodes/episode-263-the-role-of-distribution-utilities/

In Ep. 262, Nadia Ahmad explains how creating a successful energy transition project depends on community engagement and the specific legal and regulatory frameworks of a place. https://xenetwork.org/ets/episodes/episode-262-all-transitions-are-local/

In Ep. 260, Muyi Yang and Sam Butler-Sloss of @emberclimate@mastodon.energy detail how China has become the undisputed global leader in the energy transition, and is helping developing countries to decarbonize far more rapidly than the economic powerhouses of the West.
https://xenetwork.org/ets/episodes/episode-260-china-energy-transition-review-2025/

It’s our 10th Anniversary! To mark the occasion, we are rejoined by Kingsmill Bond and Daan Walter of @emberclimate@mastodon.energy for 2.5 hrs of deep thoughts on what the past decade of our work has been about, and what the next ten years will require.

https://xenetwork.org/ets/episodes/episode-259-10th-anniversary-new-marching-orders/

In Ep. 256, the founder of the world’s first all-electric farm, Mike Casey, explains how farmers can make money and ease grid pressures by adding solar to their farms, and how Rewiring Aotearoa are working to electrify New Zealand.

This one is not paywalled so all can enjoy!

https://xenetwork.org/ets/episodes/episode-256-electric-farming-in-new-zealand/

In Ep. 268, veteran organizer Carter Lavin joins us to share some of the insights, tactics and lessons learned from his 15 years as a transportation advocate. Listen in and learn how you can help advance energy transition policies in your community! https://xenetwork.org/ets/episodes/episode-268-activism-101/

To conclude our miniseries on Alaska, we bring you our longest episode yet, chock full of geeky goodness!

Ep. 258 explores the major utilities along the Railbelt, the state's only transmission grid. From co-ops that act like IOUs, to the state’s largest population center facing impending blackouts due to declining gas supply while being surrounded by vast renewable resources, Alaska is a unique context for the challenges and opportunities in the energy transition.
https://xenetwork.org/ets/episodes/episode-258-alaskas-railbelt-utilities/