On this episode of the Hypercube Energy Podcast, Adam Sroka speaks with Steven Fawkes, Managing Partner at ep Group, about how energy efficiency, electrification and finance shape the pace of the energy transition.

Steven shares his experience across decades in the energy sector, reflecting on how the system has evolved from centralised, fossil-based generation to one increasingly driven by renewables, storage and distributed energy. He explains why energy efficiency has historically struggled to scale, despite its importance, and how challenges around measurement, standardisation and investment continue to hold it back.

Adam and Steven also discuss how electrification and efficiency interact at different system levels, the growing role of distributed batteries and flexibility, and how data, standardisation and de-risking tools could unlock more private capital. Along the way, they explore the human and organisational barriers that slow change, and why incentives, business models and trust are just as important as technology.

Adam and Steven cover:

• Steven’s role at EP Group and how he approaches building energy projects
• What has changed most across the energy system over the past 40 years
• Why energy efficiency remains underfunded and overlooked
• Electrification, distributed energy and the rise of flexibility markets
• How finance, standardisation and de-risking shape investment decisions
• The organisational and human barriers that can slow the energy transition

On this episode of the Hypercube Energy Podcast, Adam Sroka speaks with James Jamieson, Vice President of Business Development at Starlight Energy, about how planning decisions shape renewable energy projects and why policy, public trust and collaboration are central to delivering new infrastructure.

James shares his experience across local authority, consultancy and developer-side planning, explaining how energy projects move through the planning system and how decisions are made. The conversation explores the balance between commercial development, community concerns and environmental impact, as well as how biodiversity and social value are increasingly built into renewable projects from the outset.

Adam and James also discuss how planning is evolving as renewable infrastructure scales, where AI could help reduce administrative burden, and why trust, transparency and better public understanding of planning will be essential to delivering the next generation of energy projects.

Adam and James cover:

• James’s role at Starlight Energy and how renewable energy projects move through planning
• Why planning decisions are policy-led rather than popularity contests
• Balancing development, biodiversity and community concerns
• How planning professionals work with authorities, stakeholders and local communities
• Where AI could support planning systems and reduce administrative complexity
• Trust, transparency and the future of public engagement in infrastructure decisions

On this episode of the Hypercube Energy Podcast, Adam Sroka speaks with Lucy Webb, Head of People Partnering at So Energy, about the human side of the energy transition and how people strategy underpins performance in a rapidly evolving energy market.

Lucy shares her journey across STEM industries into energy and explains how So Energy is preparing for sector shifts such as smart meter rollout, half-hourly settlement and increasing digitalisation. The conversation explores capability mapping, job design and future skills planning, as well as how AI can be used to enhance customer service and employee experience rather than replace human expertise.

Adam and Lucy cover:

• Lucy’s role at So Energy and what people partnering means in practice
• How capability mapping helps prepare for industry reform and digital change
• Job design, performance and adapting roles in a fast-moving sector
• AI as an enabler for customer service and operational efficiency
• Attracting diverse talent into energy and the skills that will matter most

On this episode of the Hypercube Energy Podcast, Adam Sroka speaks with Ralph Johnson, Head of UK Business Development at Habitat Energy, about what truly drives performance in battery energy storage and why availability, not marginal optimisation uplift, often determines real-world returns.

Ralph shares his journey from EDF Energy and Reactive Technologies into battery optimisation, explaining how specialist optimisers manage complex assets across evolving power markets. The conversation explores how dispatch models, settlement reform and revenue certainty products are reshaping battery economics, and why operational discipline, strong onboarding and close collaboration between trading, operations and data teams are critical to protecting long-term value.

Adam and Ralph cover:

• Ralph’s role at Habitat Energy and how large-scale battery assets are optimised
• Why availability often matters more than incremental performance gains
• Where projects commonly fall short, from onboarding and metering to warranty constraints
• How market design and ancillary services influence battery returns
• The rise of co-location and what it means for asset performance and financing

On this episode of the Hypercube Energy Podcast, Adam Sroka speaks with Antonio Montoto, Head of Storage at Greenvolt Power, about how battery storage has evolved from niche, bespoke projects into core infrastructure for modern power systems and what it really takes to deliver storage at scale across global markets.

Antonio shares his journey from working on early, technically driven storage projects to leading utility-scale battery portfolios across Europe, the US, and Japan. He explains how the challenges facing storage have shifted over the past decade, from understanding degradation and cycling limits to executing complex projects, securing bankability, and integrating batteries into increasingly competitive energy markets. The conversation explores how market maturity, regulation, and geography shape storage outcomes, and why realistic returns, strong execution, and the right mix of software and in-house expertise are critical to long-term value.

Adam and Antonio cover:

• Antonio’s role at Greenvolt Power and how large-scale storage portfolios are built
• Why battery storage has moved from bespoke use cases to mainstream grid infrastructure
• Where storage projects most commonly fail and how experienced teams avoid it
• The gap between engineering reality and financial bankability
• How regulation and market maturity differ across regions
• What’s really changed in battery hardware over the past decade

On this episode of the Hypercube Energy Podcast, Adam Sroka speaks with Stephen Haben, Senior AI Consultant at Energy Systems Catapult, about where AI and data are genuinely useful in the energy sector — and what still needs to change for them to scale safely in a system that is becoming more complex and decentralised.

Stephen shares his journey from academic research in forecasting and low-voltage networks into applied AI and digital advisory work across the energy system. He explains why many of the biggest barriers to AI adoption are not technical, but relate to data quality, integration, skills, and the realities of operating safety-critical infrastructure. The conversation explores the Catapult’s role in supporting innovators, networks, and policymakers, and why strong digital foundations are essential before advanced AI can deliver value.

Adam and Stephen cover:

• Stephen’s path from academic forecasting research into sector-wide AI advisory
• Why AI in energy often fails without strong data and digital foundations
• Common pitfalls in forecasting and why simple models still matter
• How EVs, heat pumps, and flexibility are reshaping distribution networks
• The role of Smart Energy Data Services in enabling innovation
• Synthetic data, privacy, and responsible data sharing
• What it takes to move AI from pilots into real-world energy operations

On this episode of the Hypercube Energy Podcast, Adam Sroka speaks with Stephan Schnez, CTO and Co-founder of RCT Pro, about the role of power electronics, digital control, and battery storage in a grid with falling inertia and rising complexity.

Stephan shares his journey from theoretical physics and graphene research at ETH Zurich into renewable energy and battery storage, including senior roles at ABB and helping to build Huawei’s Zurich research centre, before joining RCT Power and spinning out RCT Pro to focus on commercial and industrial storage. The conversation explores why digital technologies are no longer optional but fundamental enablers of the energy transition, and how control systems, software, and hardware must evolve together.

Adam and Stephan cover:

• Stephan’s path from physics research to energy storage and power electronics
• Why declining grid inertia makes digital control essential
• RCT Power’s origins and the impact of hybrid inverters in residential storage
• Why C&I battery storage is a fundamentally different market
• The decision to spin out RCT Pro to move faster and closer to customers
• Competing with global manufacturers through localisation, usability, and trust
• What building a truly digital-first hardware company looks like in practice

On this episode of the Hypercube Energy Podcast, Adam Sroka speaks with Aazzum Yassir, Director of Technology and Operations at Pulse Clean Energy. Aazzum works at the forefront of the UK’s battery storage market, helping to design, build, and operate energy storage assets that support a more affordable and resilient power system.

The conversation explores why battery energy storage is becoming essential to the modern energy system, how batteries help stabilise prices and unlock more value from renewables, and why energy management has been historically underinvested compared to generation. Aazzum also discusses Pulse’s work on battery carbon payback, supply chain transparency, and how advances in storage and power electronics are reshaping grid services.

Adam and Aazzum cover:

• Aazzum’s role leading technology and operations at Pulse Clean Energy
• Why battery storage is critical for a reliable, low-cost energy system
• Energy management as a missing link in the energy transition
• Battery carbon payback and open-source emissions modelling
• Ethical sourcing and transparency in battery supply chains
• How storage technology is evolving to support grid resilience