In the latest episode of Innovation in Energy, our podcast panel explores the opportunity for the UK to play a leading role in the processing of critical minerals as global lithium demand continues to grow.With a shift to renewable energy sources and increased deployment of Electric Vehicles (EVs), developed nations across Europe and North America are playing catch-up with China in the race for critical minerals. To reset the balance and meet their decarbonisation commitments, countries like the UK should focus on building integrated supply chains to produce battery chemicals closer to home.Cameron Tonkin, COO of Green Lithium, joins our host, Liz Hunt, sector leader for Energy & Resources, PwC UK, and Alan Moore, Capital Projects Director for Energy, Utilities and Resources, to discuss the opportunity.

In our latest Innovation in Energy podcast, Jonathan Brearley, CEO of Ofgem, joins our host, Liz Hunt, Energy and Resources Sector Leader for PwC, and Gemma Carr, PwC’s Workforce Services Lead for Energy, Utilities and Resources, to discuss the role of leadership and workforce transformation in closing the skills gap.

In our latest Innovation in Energy podcast episode, Katie Jackson, Executive Vice President Acquisition and Divestment and New Business Development at Shell and Chair of Powerful Women and PwC's Vicky Parker, Energy Utility Resources Strategy Lead, and UK Power and Utilities lead, join series host Liz Hunt to explore security, affordability and sustainability on the pathway to decarbonisation.

In our latest Innovation in Energy podcast our global panel explores the resource requirements to deliver Energy Transition, in particular the impact on critical minerals. As countries and companies move forward with their net zero targets there is going to be an enormous increase in demand for certain minerals - in particular those that support electrification and energy storage. Elisabeth Hunt, a PwC partner hosts the session and is joined by three experts from across our global network. Jonathan Lee, UK Mining and Metals leader, Lauren Bermack, Canadian Mining deals leader and Lachy Haynes, Partner in PwC Australia’s Environmental and Transactions Advisory Group.

Recent PwC research highlighted 50% of technologies are not currently covered by regulatory or investment frameworks that allow infrastructure investors to provide the necessary finance in an efficient manner – a gap of £200bn over the next decade. Ahead of COP26, this episode explores the role of the conference in bridging the gap between the investment needed to reach Net Zero, and the levels of investment currently made in the required technologies. Claire Reid, a PwC Partner and the firm’s leader in Scotland, chairs the session and is joined by Lawrence Slade, CEO of the Global Infrastructure Investors Association, Jaroslava Korpanec, Managing Director at Allianz Capital Partners, and PwC’s Colin Smith, a Partner leading on Transaction Services in Energy and Utilities Infrastructure.

It’s clear there’s no silver bullet when it comes to reaching the net zero 2050 target in the UK. A portfolio of technology solutions will be required with solutions complementing one another if we are to achieve net zero. In this episode, we’re joined by Julia Pyke - Nuclear Development Director at EDF Energy and Helen Liddell - President of the Carbon Capture & Storage Association to talk about how new nuclear and CCUS can be part of that mix.

The UK has become the first large economy to legislate for net zero emissions by 2050 and with this goal in mind, hydrogen is in the ascendancy. After many years on the periphery of energy policy discussions, the energy industry is increasingly talking about hydrogen. This podcast episode features expertise from across the energy world to explore the opportunities, challenges and policy decisions that need to be made so that hydrogen and can fully realise its potential in helping to decarbonize electricity, heat and transport. Chairing the podcast is Adrian Del Maestro - Director of Research at Strategy& and he is joined by Janine Freeman - Director in Deals in PwC's New Energy practice, Sam Hollister - Director of Economics and Corporate Services at Energy UK, Ed Syson- Chief Strategy and Safety Officer at Cadent Gas and Alan Thomson- Global Leader Energy Systems at Arup.

Earlier in this innovation series we talked about about the broader developments in EV charging (listen to Episode 3: Electric vehicles - charging for the future). In this episode we are joined by Sam Hollister, Director of Economics and Corporate Services at the trade association Energy UK and Adrian Del Maestro, Director of Research at Strategy&. We discuss the different charging patterns consumers are exploring, how charge point operators are developing a variety of business models and the critical themes that will allow this sector to evolve.

In the fourth episode of our podcast series we are joined by Elaine Whyte, UK drones leader at PwC and Jan Sisson, owner and operator of Higher Eyes LLP, providers of airborne engineering inspections using unmanned aircraft. We explore some of the ways drones have the potential to disrupt a range of industries, estimating the market for current business services that could be done by drones at over $127bn globally. Listen to the podcast then find out more about our research in our global report 'Clarity from above' https://www.pwc.pl/en/publikacje/2016/clarity-from-above.html

In this episode we are joined by Graeme Cooper, Project Director for electric vehicles at National Grid and Adrian Del Maestro, Director of Research at Strategy&. We discuss the outlook for and some of the challenges facing charging infrastructure and explore the ways industry and government can work together to make the UK a world leader for new vehicle technology. Listen to the podcast then find out more about our research here https://www.pwc.co.uk/industries/power-utilities/insights/electric-vehicle-infrastructure-report.html?cq_ck=1521821539761