Powering the Future

This is Powering the Future, a podcast series brought to you by Smart Grid Forums. Join host Mandana White and top industry experts as we spark vital conversations around critical infrastructure and the power grid of tomorrow. One Planet, One Power Grid.

AI, Regulation and the New Grid

Kristofer Fröjd, Senior VP of Strategy & Business Development at Ellevio AB, joins Mandana White to unpack how AI, regulation, and new tech are driving the energy transition.

12-05
15:18

Software-Defined Substations

Mandana White talks to Peter Hemmer of Grid to Great about how “digitise–centralise–virtualise” is transforming substation protection and control, and what it unlocks for future-ready grids.

12-02
18:36

Virtualising Grid Protection with Eutoenergy

Mandana White sits down with Ali Karademir, Co-Founder and CEO of Eutoenergy, to explore how virtualised protection and automation are reshaping the power grid. From interoperability to modernisation, discover how vPAC is redefining the future of digital substations.

12-02
10:25

Making the Grid Explainable

Can AI make the power grid truly explainable? Svein Harald Olsen of Statnett tells Mandana White how Talk2PowerSystem uses CIM, Knowledge Graphs, and AI to turn data complexity into clarity.

12-02
09:55

Decarbonising Power - Ireland’s Race to a Cleaner Grid

Mandana White speaks with John Reilly, Head of Renewable Energy at BnM, about Ireland’s path to decarbonisation, the slow pace of renewables, and how the grid can accelerate the clean energy transition.

12-02
18:36

Breaking Gridlock: Congestion Solutions for a Saturated Grid

The Dutch grid is reaching its limits, but innovative, integrated BESS solutions could unlock a smarter, more flexible future. Jeff Kartanegara of Alliander explains to Mandana White how new models and private investment can break the gridlock.

10-30
17:05

Digital Substations and Smarter Networks

Mandana White speaks with David Akerman and Anton Krupskii on how their solutions are driving the energy transition and what to expect at SGT26 Paris.

10-12
17:20

Grid Resilience and Digital Transformation

Powering the Future Ep22: Grid Resilience and Digital Transformation How do we modernize the grid for a renewable future? In this episode, we explore digitalization, automation, and self-healing networks that strengthen resilience and stability. From integrating distributed energy resources to navigating Europe’s regulatory landscape, discover how utilities are preparing for the challenges of tomorrow’s grid. #PoweringTheFuture #SmartGrid #DigitalTransformation #GridResilience

10-02
16:22

Virtual Substations Explained

Can a substation really live forever? Straton Automation’s Anthony Burille joins Mandana White to unpack how virtualisation is changing the game for utilities, bringing flexibility, independence, and long-term cost savings.

09-25
13:14

Automated Device Management for the Power Grid

From one-way power flow to a dynamic, device-driven grid, utilities face new challenges in cybersecurity and vulnerability management. SUBNET Solutions President and CEO Ameen Hamdon joins Mandana White to explore how operators can keep control in real time.

09-19
10:28

OT Meets IT - How Fortinet is Protecting the Future of Power Utilities

As the energy sector digitalises, cyber threats are accelerating, especially across OT systems where outages can have massive consequences. Antoine d’Haussy, Head of OT Practice EMEA at Fortinet, explains to Mandana White how utilities can build resilience through integrated IT/OT security platforms.

09-19
13:59

Keeping the Grid in In Sync

What does it take to keep our power grid running in sync? Sebastian Huante, Sales and Technical Engineer for IT solutions at BITSTREAM Poland, tells Mandana White why precision timing is critical for the future of energy.

09-19
13:53

Can Smarter Regulation Unlock Solar’s Full Potential?

In this episode, Mandana White speaks with Thomas Rightover, Head of Division Grid and Executive Board Member at CKW, about how regulation and smart grid management can turn solar expansion into a driver of stability and resilience.

09-19
11:10

Reinventing the Grid with Flexibility Services

Host Mandana White talks to Mihkel Härm, CEO of Elektrilevi, about how Estonia is using flexibility services to turn homes, EVs, and businesses into active grid players — and why this is key to a renewable-powered future in Europe.

09-19
18:55

Why Can’t Grid Systems Just Talk to Each Other?

Interoperability remains one of the biggest challenges in today’s power grid. Mandana White speaks with Andrea Bonetti, Senior Specialist in Relay Protection and IEC 61850 at Megger, about why legacy systems struggle to connect with modern digital tech.

09-19
28:08

How AI and Data Are Shaping the Grid

AI is transforming grid management, but without strong data strategies and network model management, utilities risk falling behind.    Sally Jacquemin, VP - Power & Utilities at AspenTech DGM joins Mandana White to explore the future of renewable integration and smarter grid operations.

09-02
15:48

Can Open Source Unlock the Grid’s Full Potential?

Can the grid learn from tech’s open-source playbook? Jonas Van den Bogaard of Alliander tells Mandana how open-source tools are helping utilities break vendor lock-in, drive innovation, and accelerate Europe’s energy transition.

08-12
13:39

Are Power Grids Being Left Exposed?

As power grids go digital, are we outpacing our own ability to secure them? In this episode of Powering the Future, Mandana White speaks with Styrmir Jonsson, CISO at Landsnet, about the rising cybersecurity risks in the energy sector.

07-31
24:41

Leveraging IEC 61850 to future-proof the power grid

In this episode of Powering the Future, Mandana White catches up with  Jackson Moore, Application Engineer at Triangle Microworks, to demystify IEC 61850, the global standard that keeps power systems connected, secure, and future-ready.

07-23
14:42

Why Grid Flexibility is Key to Renewable Success

As renewables surge, so does the need for smarter, more flexible grids. In this episode, Mandana White speaks with Davide Della Giustina of A2A about how energy storage is transforming grid flexibility—and the future of clean power.

07-23
13:09

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