New Project Media (NPM) Interconnections

On this week's episode, two partners at Troutman Pepper Locke, William Derasmo and Vaughn Morrison join Andrew Burnes to talk about the ongoing dynamics related to the storage landscape in the US. William and Vaughn go back and forth on where headwinds meet tailwinds, the potential for M&A in a capital strained environment, the role data centers are playing storage penetration, and whether the industry is peaking now or still has room to grow. NPM is a leading data, intelligence & events company providing business development-led coverage of the global power, storage & data centre markets for the development, finance, M&A and corporate community. Download our mobile app .

In this episode, Crux CEO Alfred Johnson and newly appointed Head of Industry Coverage and Advisory James Wright speak with Heerea Rikhraj to review Crux’s 2026 Midyear Report and the future of clean energy finance. The discussion examines the rise of preferred equity and hybrid tax equity structures, evolving FEOC regulations, and the growing role of private credit in infrastructure financing. Johnson and Wright also explore how surging demand from AI, data centers, battery storage, and electrification is driving unprecedented investment across the energy sector, positioning clean energy markets for continued expansion despite ongoing policy and regulatory uncertainty. NPM is a leading data, intelligence & events company providing business development-led coverage of the global power, storage & data centre markets for the development, finance, M&A and corporate community. Download our mobile app .

In this episode, Kyle Younker sits down with Hans Royal , founder of RP Energy and creator of the Compute Heat Rate (CHR), a new metric that measures the economic value AI data centers derive from electricity. Royal explains why AI workloads can justify power prices far above today's wholesale markets, how that changes assumptions about demand response and grid planning, and why not all data center loads are created equal. The conversation explores the growing role of data centers in electricity markets, the emergence of the Compute Heat Rate Dispatch metric, and how AI's willingness to pay for power could reshape investment in generation, flexibility programs, renewables, and grid modernization. NPM is a leading data, intelligence & events company providing business development-led coverage of the global power, storage & data centre markets for the development, finance, M&A and corporate community. Download our mobile app .

On this week’s episode, we sit down Dominic Ward , CEO of Verne , an Ardian-backed UK-headquartered data centre developer specialising in colocation designs and infrastructure for intensive compute workloads. Verne most recently revealed that the company was in talks with lenders for a capital raise to support the delivery of its 250 MW data centre development plans, with a view to bring the capacity online by 2030. In this episode, we explore how Verne is scaling its platform across Europe, securing the power and capital needed to support that growth, and navigating the rapidly changing data centre market. NPM is a leading data, intelligence & events company providing business development-led coverage of the global power, storage & data centre markets for the development, finance, M&A and corporate community. Download our mobile app .

Sven Hodges and John Tormey , partners in the law firm of Mayer Brown join the NPM podcast this week to discuss the obstacles and solutions to re-igniting the nuclear industry, as well as highlighting some of the developments in advanced nuclear technologies. NPM is a leading data, intelligence & events company providing business development-led coverage of the global power, storage & data centre markets for the development, finance, M&A and corporate community. Download our mobile app .

Black & Veatch’s Rafael Frias III , Managing Director, Europe, Middle East and Africa, joins the show this week to share his experiences of navigating grid bottlenecks, energy storage integration, data centre power demand and addressing ageing network infrastructure, all from an engineering standpoint. Rafa, who in 2025 moved to the UK after a long stint in the US, also discusses with NPM’s Jon McNair the key differences between the countries’ energy markets and what lessons might be learned from one country to another. NPM is a leading data, intelligence & events company providing business development-led coverage of the global power, storage & data centre markets for the development, finance, M&A and corporate community. Download our mobile app .

Michael Albrecht , managing director of GCM Grosvenor , joins the podcast today to discuss ongoing trends in infrastructure fund investing today, with a focus on the obstacles and solutions in today’s environment. Later in the program, Albrecht discusses state of play in digital infrastructure investing. NPM is a leading data, intelligence & events company providing business development-led coverage of the global power, storage & data centre markets for the development, finance, M&A and corporate community. Download our mobile app .

On this episode, we sit down with Edgar van Essen , managing director of Switch Datacenters , an Amsterdam-headquartered data centre business with more than 18 years of experience developing and operating wholesale colocation and build-to-suit hyperscale facilities. Van Essen discusses the importance of political acceptance for data centres and the need for adaptable designs during the construction period. Van Essen also explains why Switch is looking beyond the Netherlands for its next growth opportunities, what makes markets such as France, Germany and Switzerland attractive, and how the company is preparing for the growing demands of AI. NPM is a leading data, intelligence & events company providing business development-led coverage of the global power, storage & data centre markets for the development, finance, M&A and corporate community. Download our mobile app .

On this week's episode, Soluna CEO John Belizaire joins Andrew Burnes to discuss the firm's unique approach to renewable-powered data centers. Belizaire goes into detail regarding the firm's approach to own its generation assets and pursue projects in congested areas rather than the "Tier 1" load pockets that many data center companies are targeting today. Belizaire describes how this innovative tactic may be a harbinger for where the industry is going as more scrutiny than ever before is placed on the asset class by local residents and legislators alike. NPM is a leading data, intelligence & events company providing business development-led coverage of the global power, storage & data centre markets for the development, finance, M&A and corporate community. Download our mobile app .

In this episode, Don Dimitrievich , Portfolio Manager and Global Head of Infrastructure Credit at Nuveen sits down with Jon Berke and Heerea Rikhraj to discuss how private capital is helping finance the energy transition and AI-driven infrastructure boom. Don explains the growing role of preferred tax equity, Nuveen’s investment strategy through its Energy and Power Infrastructure Credit Fund, and the firm's involvement in major projects such as SunZia. The conversation explores opportunities across distributed generation, energy storage, data center power solutions, manufacturing, and energy efficiency, highlighting how investors are positioning to meet rising electricity demand while supporting the buildout of next-generation energy and digital infrastructure. NPM is a leading data, intelligence & events company providing business development-led coverage of the global power, storage & data centre markets for the development, finance, M&A and corporate community. Download our mobile app .

In this follow-up episode, Bracewell attorneys Jared Berg and Bryan Clark rejoin NPM's Heerea Rikhraj to discuss how Texas’ data center interconnection process has been thrown into uncertainty after Governor Abbott ordered an audit of projects seeking ERCOT grid connections, prompting a pause of the Batch Zero process. Berg and Clark also discuss the implications for developers, financing, deposit refundability, and the growing interest in on-site power generation. NPM is a leading data, intelligence & events company providing business development-led coverage of the global power, storage & data centre markets for the development, finance, M&A and corporate community. Download our mobile app .

In this episode, Bracewell partners Bryan Clark and Jared Berg join NPM’s Heerea Rikhraj to discuss ERCOT’s new Batch Zero large load interconnection process and its implications for Texas data center development. They explore interconnection challenges, financing trends, private credit’s growing role, regulatory uncertainty, and infrastructure bottlenecks. The conversation highlights the risks and opportunities shaping the next wave of AI and data center growth. NPM is a leading data, intelligence & events company providing business development-led coverage of the global power, storage & data centre markets for the development, finance, M&A and corporate community. Download our mobile app .

In this episode, Michael Mohamed , Director of Energy Transition at Solomon Partners , speaks with Heerea Rikhraj about the resurgence of renewable energy and infrastructure M&A in 2026. Mohamed explains how greater policy certainty, pent-up capital demand, and the race for scale have driven a sharp increase in transactions, particularly for development-stage assets and renewable platforms. The conversation also explores the explosive growth of AI infrastructure, powered land, and data center development, attracting investors across the capital stack. Mohamed discusses financing trends, platform valuations, and why operating cash flow and scale are becoming critical advantages in today’s market. NPM is a leading data, intelligence & events company providing business development-led coverage of the global power, storage & data centre markets for the development, finance, M&A and corporate community. Download our mobile app .

On this episode, VIRTUS Data Centres' managing director for Europe, Christina Mertens, joins Madeline Sherratt to discuss the company's ambitious Europe expansion, including approximately 380 MW in Germany alone. The developer, backed by ST Telemedia Global Data Centres and Macquarie Asset Management , is currently focused on hyperscale and AI-ready infrastructure. The discussion also covers current industry challenges, including local and governmental bureaucracy, along with the need for skilled workers as the industry enters the next phase. NPM is a leading data, intelligence & events company providing business development-led coverage of the global power, storage & data centre markets for the development, finance, M&A and corporate community. Download our mobile app .

On this episode, PowerBank CEO Richard Lu joins NPM Reporter Skyler Frazer to discuss the company's growth in energy storage and data centers. The company has been ramping up its storage capacity and project pipeline through 2026 so far, and earlier this year identified about 60 existing solar sites in the US and Canada that have potential for data center development. Lu also talks about his company's plans for distributed data centers, called edge data centers, and how they fit into broader energy discussions. NPM is a leading data, intelligence & events company providing business development led coverage of the global power, storage & data center markets for the development, finance, M&A and corporate community. Download our mobile app .

On this episode, Conductor Solar founder and CEO, Marc Palmer, joins Michelle France to discuss why the DG landscape has shifted to a buyer's market and details what buyers are looking for. Palmer also discusses tips and timing to grow and sell portfolios, ITC deadlines, and forecasts a post ITC landscape. NPM is a leading data, intelligence & events company providing business development led coverage of the global power, storage & data center markets for the development, finance, M&A and corporate community. Download our mobile app .

Samuel Kuhlwein , Director of Product and EMS, for Stem , joins the podcast this week to discuss the company’s recent marketing agreement with Nuvation Energy and how it presents a solution to FEOC issues. Later in the program, Kuhlwein presents a broader overview on the state of play for the US battery energy supply chain and where the gaps are towards achieving full FEOC compliance. NPM is a leading data, intelligence & events company providing business development led coverage of the US & European power, storage & data center markets for the development, finance, M&A and corporate community. Download our mobile app .

R.Power Renewables CIO Michal Swol joins NPM Europe Managing Editor Peter Kneller on the pod this week to discuss how to get Polish BESS projects financed and how operating a portfolio of standalone BESS and standalone solar, rather than co-locating, might be the best approach. The two also discuss the evolution of the PPA market, and why now might be the perfect time to acquire project pipeline across Europe. NPM is a leading data, intelligence & events company providing business development led coverage of the US & European power, storage & data center markets for the development, finance, M&A and corporate community. Download our mobile app .

This week’s episode is the full recording of a panel discussion titled “Neo Cloud & AI Factories,” held at the DataCentre Live London Summit on May 21, 2026. Speakers include: Lewis Cobb – Global Director – Modular AI Factories & Data Centres, Durata Christian Goldsmith – Data Center Global Solutions Lead, Arcadis Andrew Harrison – Director of Master Planning, nLighten Blaine Daws – Solutions Director, WNTD Falk Weinreich – CEO, Portus Data Centers Madeline Sherratt – Data Centre Reporter, NPM Europe (m) In this panel, industry leaders unpack how surging AI demand is reshaping infrastructure design, investment, and deployment strategies—while exposing major constraints around power, talent, and delivery timelines. From sovereignty-driven localization to the realities of scaling AI workloads, this conversation explores what’s really driving—and limiting—Europe’s digital future. NPM is a leading data, intelligence & events company providing business development led coverage of the US & European power, storage & data center markets for the development, finance, M&A and corporate community. Download our mobile app .

On this episode, Norton Rose Fulbright’s Ammad Waheed joins Kyle Younker to discuss why “powered land” now defines data center strategy. He explores its spectrum, valuation by megawatt, and rising importance of speed to power. The discussion also covers development risks, financing and leasing dynamics, and growing community scrutiny shaping the industry’s next phase. NPM is a leading data, intelligence & events company providing business development led coverage of the US & European power, storage & data center markets for the development, finance, M&A and corporate community. Download our mobile app .