Recorded at two recent industry events, the SolarPower Summit in Brussels and the Battery Business & Development Forum in Frankfurt, this week’s episode explores why batteries have become one of the most dynamic areas of the global energy transition. Featuring two industry heavy hitters, the conversations cover how BESS is transforming everything from electric mobility and charging infrastructure to renewable energy markets and grid management.
In the first interview, we’re joined by Laurent Segalen, clean energy investor and host of the *Redefining Energy* podcast, to unpack why electrification is entering a new phase of growth. Laurent explains how falling battery costs, improving EV technology, and changing energy economics are accelerating the shift from fossil fuels to electricity – particularly across transport sectors such as cars, vans, and heavy-duty trucks.
The discussion explores why electric trucks are becoming increasingly compelling from a business perspective, with lower operating and maintenance costs driving adoption. Laurent also explains why stationary batteries will play a critical role in supporting high-power charging infrastructure, creating buffers across the electricity system, and enabling the continued expansion of renewable energy.
In the second half of the episode, we speak with Stefan Müller, Chief Operating Officer and co-founder of ENERPARC, about the booming utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) market in Germany and Europe. Stefan shares insights into the wide range of emerging opportunities – from grid-scale batteries and solar-plus-storage projects to behind-the-meter applications supporting industry, EV charging, and energy-cost optimization.
The conversation covers the changing economics of battery projects, including merchant trading, peak shaving, balancing markets, and how energy storage can help companies access more reliable renewable power. Stefan also explains what investors and banks need to see for BESS projects to become financeable, and why predictable regulation and grid connection frameworks remain essential.
We also discuss the role of AI and digital platforms in managing increasingly complex energy assets, the future of hydrogen versus electrification in transport, and why batteries may ultimately help us use existing electricity infrastructure far more efficiently.
About The smarter E Podcast
The smarter E podcast is all about the current trends and developments in a renewable, decentralized and digital energy industry. Our host welcomes and interviews personalities who shape our industry and drive developments forward. A new episode is published bi-weekly on Thursdays.
Laurent Segalen is a franco-british clean energy investment banker. Laurent is the founder of Megawatt-X, the London-based Energy Transition investment platform, which he currently heads. Laurent has been trading and investing billions of Euros in Clean Energy over more than two decades. Recent investments have focused on Digital Green Markets, Residential Solar, Batteries, and Interconnectors.
His career in Clean Energy spans over 25 years, from Director at pwc, Fund Manager at Mirova (Natixis) to Managing Director Clean Commodities at Lehman Brothers then Nomura.
He was one of the co-authors of the first version of the GHGProtocol "scope 1, scope 2, scope 3" emissions concept and helped create the European Trading System. He is now special adviser to the Board of IC-VCM (The Integrity Council for Voluntary Carbon Markets), and founding member of EnergyTag, a non-profit organization promoting hourly matching of Renewable Energy certificates. Laurent has won the “Renewable Energy Leader of the Year” 2024 Award by EnergyBox and has been named “Leading Voice in Commodities 2024” by Cititec. He co-hosts the Award-winning “Redefining Energy” podcast.
Stefan Müller, a graduate engineer, is responsible for sales activities, international business, marketing, and business development as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and shareholder of ENERPARC. He began his more than 20-year career in the solar industry in 1992 at a renowned solar company in Germany. In the eight years prior to becoming self-employed, Stefan Müller held international management positions and lived in India, Spain, and Singapore, among other places.