PODCAST: Batteries vs fossil fuels, US Secretary of Energy’s big challenges, SPACs and storage

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Inside Alamitos, a battery project recently inaugurated in California that uses 100MW / 400MWh of energy storage to reduce the local area’s reliance on burning natural gas for electricity. Image: AES Corporation.

The new episode of the Solar Media Podcast, sponsored by Honeywell, is now available stream, as we take a look at US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm’s in-tray and explain why solar module prices could be set for a short-term price increase.

We also reflect on last month’s energy crisis in Texas, brought about by a winter storm, and detail what the power market needs to learn about weather events and how to plan for them more appropriately.

There’s also discussion of the SPACs phenomenon and what it could mean for energy storage, we talk about how batteries and renewables are replacing fossil fuels – but not fast enough, the storage investment tax credit (ITC) and much, much more.

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This episode of the Solar Media Podcast is brought to you by Honeywell.

6 October 2026
Warsaw, Poland
The Energy Storage Summit Central Eastern Europe is set to return in September 2025 for its third edition, focusing on regional markets and the unique opportunities they present. This event will bring together key stakeholders from across the region to explore the latest trends in energy storage, with a focus on the increasing integration of energy storage into regional grids, evolving government policies, and the growing need for energy security.
3 November 2026
Málaga, Spain
Understanding technology and supplier selection for Europe’s utility-scale PV market in 2027. PV ModuleTech Europe 2026 is a two-day conference that tackles these challenges directly, with an agenda that addresses all aspects of PV module, inverter and battery supplier selection; product availability, technology offerings, supply chain traceability, quality assurance, factory auditing, system reliability, and supplier bankability.

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