Welcome to the Energy Futures Podcast, your gateway to the future of global energy. Brought to you by Energy Futures Lab at Imperial College London, this podcast explores the cutting-edge advancements, challenges and opportunities in the worldwide clean energy transition.
Why should you listen?
In a world racing toward net-zero emissions, energy is at the heart of solving some of our biggest global challenges. We’re here to demystify the complexities of the energy sector, bringing you conversations with top researchers, industry experts and influential voices from the front lines of innovation and policy. Each episode explores key topics shaping the energy landscape—from grid infrastructure and renewable energy technologies to the future of global energy markets, finance and carbon capture solutions.
What makes this podcast unique?
The Energy Futures Podcast isn’t just about talking—it’s about action. Hosted by a dynamic team of researchers, engineers and policy experts, the show is built on a foundation of multidisciplinary collaboration that seeks to drive real-world change. We’re not here to oversimplify the energy transition but to break it down into digestible, meaningful conversations that inform, educate and inspire.
Whether you're an industry professional, a policy enthusiast, a student or simply someone curious about how energy impacts your everyday life, this podcast offers insights for everyone. By making energy topics accessible and engaging, we’re inviting you to become an informed participant in the global energy conversation. Our mission is to empower you to take part in accelerating the clean energy transition and building a sustainable future for all.
Each episode is designed to leave you with actionable insights and a clearer understanding of how the energy sector impacts the world around you. By breaking down complex ideas into approachable conversations, we ensure that you walk away feeling empowered and inspired to be part of the energy transition.
AI for critical infrastructure Ep40: Dr Francesco Leofante & Mary Cleary
Can AI help us build resilience into the energy grid, even in the face of unforeseen challenges?
Host
Dr Francesco Leofante - Assistant Professor in the Department of Computing, Imperial (Centre for eXperimental AI)
Guest
Mary Cleary - Vice President (Marketing, Communications & Policy) at Neara
Today's topics
Challenges in modelling AI for a critical infrastructure
Major applications for grid resilience
Repairing models for policy and regulators and
New opportunities in AI
Timecodes & Chapters
00:00 - Introduction to the Energy Futures Podcast
01:13 - Grid Resilience Applications
01:38 - Meet the Host and Topic: Francesco Leofante on AI for Critical Infrastructure
02:27 - Meet the Guest: Mary Cleary from Neara
03:41 - What is a Physics-Enabled Digital Twin?
04:05 - Role of AI in Classifying Infrastructure Data
08:11 - Counterfactual Reasoning and Scenario Simulation
09:25 - Challenges of Data Collection in the Energy Sector
12:17 - Cost of Training AI Models and Opportunity Costs
14:44 - AI Safety and Explainability in Critical Systems
16:22 - Regulatory Challenges and Transparency
22:56 - Privacy and Cybersecurity Considerations
24:58 - Policy Recommendations and the Need for Guidance
29:04 - AI for Extreme Weather Prediction and Infrastructure Stress Testing
43:00 - Closing Remarks and Reflections on AI’s Role in Energy
Francesco's links
Imperial Profile link - https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/f.leofante
Linked In link - https://www.linkedin.com/in/francescoleofante/
Mary's link
LinkedIn link - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-cleary-71212423/
Produced by Annemarie van Basten
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemarie-van-basten-b4289a17/
Additional Links
Neara webpage link - https://neara.com
Centre for eXplainable AI link - https://www.imperial.ac.uk/explainable-artificial-intelligence/
17 Sept 2025
Zero Carbon Homes Ep39: Dr Anastasiya Ostrovnaya & Matt Lipson
From noisy myths to quiet revolutions: Heat pumps are transforming home heating in the UK. Curious how? Tune into this deep-dive with experts from Imperial College.
Host
Dr Anastasiya Ostrovnaya - Senior Research & Teaching Fellow at the Centre for Climate Finance & Investment
Guest
Matt Lipson – Deputy Director at Undaunted, Imperial
Today's Topics
Challenges the ‘heat pump’ industry face in line with Net Zero targets.
Government policies on Heat pumps
Initiatives, new technologies and installations in UK homes
And the driving force behind the market
Timecode Chapters
00:00 - Introduction to the Energy Futures Podcast
01:10 - Meet the Host and Guest: Anastasia Ostrovnaya & Matt Lipson
02:30 - Why Heat Pumps Matter for Net Zero
04:15 - Comparing UK and Norway: Adoption Challenges
06:00 - Government Subsidies and Public Awareness
08:00 - Electricity vs Gas Prices in the UK
10:00 - Heat Pump Efficiency Explained (COP & SCOP)
13:00 - System Design and Installation Quality
15:30 - Electricity Pricing and Smart Usage
17:45 - Scaling Up: Installer Shortages and Training
20:00 - Comfort Concerns in Older Homes
22:30 - Upfront Costs vs Running Costs
25:00 - Innovations in Heat Pump Technology
27:30 - Planning Rules and Noise Concerns
29:30 - Market Drivers: Startups vs Big Utilities
32:00 - Role of Finance and Mortgages
34:30 - EPC Ratings and Policy Misalignment
37:00 - Landlords and the Rental Market Challenge
39:30 - Ground Source Heat Pumps and New Builds
42:00 - Government Regulation and Developer Incentives
44:00 - Fuel Poverty and Warm Home Prescriptions
46:30 - Supporting Innovation and Startups
48:00 - Will the UK Meet Its Heat Pump Targets?
49:30 - Closing Thoughts
Anastasiya’s links:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/aostrovnaya/
Imperial profile link - https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/a.ostrovnaya
Matt’s links:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-lipson-20baab/
Produced by Annemarie van Basten
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemarie-van-basten-b4289a17/
Additional Links
Get in touch if you have an innovative idea for solving the challenges with getting heat pumps installed by everyone;
Undaunted Link - https://undaunted-hq.org/contact/.
Find out more about the cool new heat pump tech developed by Anzen here: Anzen Link - https://www.anzenwalls.co.uk/
Find answers to any of your heat pump questions on Heat Geek's YouTube channel. - https://www.youtube.com/HeatGeek
Open Energy Monitor link - https://openenergymonitor.org/
There's no need to fully insulate your home for heat pumps to operate at very high efficiency according to;
University of Oxford, link - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/janrosenow_new-paper-why-the-fabric-first-dogma-is-activity-7141426267156840448-9Cok?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android
University College London, link - https://journal-buildingscities.org/articles/10.5334/bc.388
Nesta, link - https://www.nesta.org.uk/report/insulation-impact-how-much-do-uk-houses-really-need/
Energy Systems Catapult, link - https://es.catapult.org.uk/news/electrification-of-heat-trial-finds-heat-pumps-suitable-for-all-housing-types/
Green Alliance, link - https://green-alliance.org.uk/briefing/decarbonising-heat-while-addressing-fuel-poverty/
Government consultation on new standards for private landlords in this link -...
8 Sept 2025
Driving Change towards fully Electric Systems Ep 38: Edoardo Taricco & Mats Larson
Host Edoardo Taricco interviews business management consultant Mats Larsson about the risks of unachievable targets and the infrastructure needed for successful electromobility transformation.
Who has been a guest on Energy Futures Podcast
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Martin Soltau
Hanya Ahmed
Dr Flurin Eisner
Dr Kaylen Camacho-McCluskey
Cristina Fernández Alonso
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
787,609
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Podcast Authority Score: 37 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
38
Social presence
0
YouTube
93
Engagement
0
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