PODCAST: Australia, Germany and the coal problem; and the Middle East’s evolving power grid

January 20, 2020
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Image: Thewritingzone/Flickr.

Andy Colthorpe and Liam Stoker are back reviewing the pivotal clean energy headlines from around the globe. Liam reports back from the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi where the future of the Middle East’s power grid was up for debate before the discussion moves on to Australia’s bush fires, the nation’s relationship with coal and what ‘Scotty from marketing’ might be able to learn from Germany.

The podcast can be streamed below:

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

Alternatively, you can subscribe and listen to the podcast on the Solar Media Editor's Channel, which is now on all popular audio channels, including;

1 September 2026
Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE
Intersolar Middle East and Middle East Energy are coming together to present the mega energy event for the MENA region. From April 7–9, 2026, Dubai World Trade Centre will host Intersolar Middle East Exhibition and Conference alongside the 50th Middle East Energy. Intersolar Middle East focusses on the areas of photovoltaics, PV production technologies, and energy storage systems. The combined event expects to attract more than 45,000 trade visitors from around the world and feature 1,900+ exhibitors.

Read Next

May 5, 2026
Masdar has signed an agreement with Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) to accelerate the deployment of more than 30GW of solar PV capacity and over 8GW of battery storage in the UAE. 
May 5, 2026
The Dutch government is planning to introduce a feed-in-tariff that will require large electricity producers to pay towards the cost of the electricity grid.
May 5, 2026
German polysilicon producer Wacker Chemie recorded declining sales and earnings from its polysilicon sector in Q1 2026, primarily due to poor performance in its solar-grade polysilicon business.
May 5, 2026
Australia's utility-scale solar PV and wind assets generated a combined 4.7TWh in April 2026, up 24% from 3.8TWh in the same month last year, according to data from Rystad Energy.
Premium
May 5, 2026
April 2026 delivered a continuation of Australia's seasonal solar contraction as the NEM moved deeper into autumn.
Premium
May 1, 2026
“We have copper shortages, aluminium shortages [and] all kinds of raw materials are struggling,” says the GEA's John Mitchell.

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Webinars
May 27, 2026
9am BST / 10am CEST
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
June 3, 2026
National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)
Solar Media Events
June 16, 2026
Napa, USA
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
August 25, 2026
São Paulo, Brazil
Solar Media Events
October 13, 2026
San Francisco Bay Area, USA