Time to Scale

Europe’s energy system is under severe threat. Highly dependent on imported fossil fuels, the EU has paid tens of billions of added costs since the start of the US-Iran war. Its centralised energy infrastructure is ageing and easy to target. And fragmented energy markets mean technologies struggle to scale across the continent. Europe must reinforce its security by transitioning to an electrified, decentralised system that is based on clean homegrown energy. One such energy source is next-generation geothermal, which could cost-effectively replace 42% of the EU’s coal and gas-fired generation, according to think tank Ember.

In this episode of Time to Scale, our host Jules Besnainou meets Vice-President of the European Parliament Martin Hojsík and Torsten Kolind, Managing Partner at Underground Ventures, the world’s first venture capital firm dedicated to investing in geothermal technologies. Together, they discuss the potential of next-generation geothermal energy for Europe’s security, the current barriers to scaling this highly promising innovation technology, and what is needed to overcome them.

(02:01) Introducing Vice-President Martin Hojsík and Torsten Kolind

(02:56) Europe’s energy security challenge

(07:49) The potential of next-generation geothermal

(26:17) Barriers to scaling next-generation geothermal in Europe

(43:44) Launch of the Geothermal Working Group in the European Parliament’s Cleantech Friendship Group

👤Vice-President Martin Hojsík’s Instagram and LinkedIn

👤Torsten Kolind’s LinkedIn

📄Ember report (February 2026): “Hot stuff: geothermal energy in Europe”

📄IEA report (December 2024): “The Future of Geothermal Energy”
Hosted by Jules Besnainou, executive director and founder of Cleantech for Europe, Time to Scale features in-depth conversations with the entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers driving Europe’s green reindustrialisation. Every episode welcomes a new guest who shares their personal journey, projects, challenges, and vision for the continent’s clean technology revolution. From green steel to renewable energy, the podcast explores the science, economics and politics shaping Europe’s industrial future, and the barriers to scaling cleantech across the continent.

Executive Producer: Natif podcast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the invasion of Ukraine to heat waves, from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to the new China shock, the EU seems to time and again suffer through world events that it cannot control. In this new era of insecurity, we urgently need to acknowledge the scale of the challenge and to do all it takes to take back control of our destiny. And in this quest for a stronger Europe, we believe clean technologies are our first line of defense.

In the first episode of the second season of Time to Scale, our executive director Jules Besnainou meets General Tom Middendorp, former Chief of Defense of the Netherlands and Chair of the International Military Council on Climate and Security. Together, they discuss the intersections of climate, security, and defense; the role of cleantech in addressing these challenges; and how to adapt to this new era by building resilient energy systems.

(01:12) Introducing General Tom Middendorp
(06:37) A new security era
(14:23) The intersection of cleantech and defense
(21:15) Building a resilient energy system
(34:00) Adapting to climate change threats

👤 General Tom Middendorp’s LinkedIn
🌐 International Military Council on Climate & Security
Hosted by Jules Besnainou, executive director and founder of Cleantech for Europe, Time to Scale features in-depth conversations with the entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers driving Europe’s green reindustrialisation. Every episode welcomes a new guest who shares their personal journey, projects, challenges, and vision for the continent’s clean technology revolution. From green steel to renewable energy, the podcast explores the science, economics and politics shaping Europe’s industrial future, and the barriers to scaling cleantech across the continent.

Executive Producer: Natif podcast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One year into a new political mandate, the EU stands at a crossroads. Plagued by high energy costs, fragmented markets and Chinese overcapacity, European industry seems locked in a downward spiral. Yet at the same time, Europe has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to become a clean industrial leader. In this special episode of Time to Scale, we bring you some of the hottest takes from our annual Cleantech for Europe Summit, which gathered political and cleantech leaders earlier this month in Brussels.

(01:26) The question of leadership
(06:46) Mobilising capital for cleantech scaleup
(10:50) Creating demand for EU-made cleantech
(14:30) The role of trade
(25:30) Turn ambition into action

▶️Full recording of Cleantech for Europe Summit 2025
Hosted by Jules Besnainou, executive director and founder of Cleantech for Europe, Time to Scale features in-depth conversations with the entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers driving Europe’s green reindustrialisation. Every episode welcomes a new guest who shares their personal journey, projects, challenges, and vision for the continent’s clean technology revolution. From green steel to renewable energy, the podcast explores the science, economics and politics shaping Europe’s industrial future, and the barriers to scaling cleantech across the continent.

Executive Producer: Natif podcast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The European energy system is under tremendous pressure, facing an ageing grid infrastructure, sky-high energy prices, hundreds of billions of euros of investment needed, and major security concerns. Can a new generation of clean technologies be part of the solution here? In this episode of Time to Scale, Jules Besnainou meets European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen to discuss Europe’s energy challenge, upcoming policy packages to address it, and the role of cleantech.

(01:02) Introducing Dan Jørgensen
(05:05) Europe’s Energy Challenge
(11:03) The Role of Cleantech
(19:48) Keeping Companies in Europe

👤Commissioner Dan Jørgensen’s Instagram and LinkedIn
Hosted by Jules Besnainou, executive director and founder of Cleantech for Europe, Time to Scale features in-depth conversations with the entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers driving Europe’s green reindustrialisation. Every episode welcomes a new guest who shares their personal journey, projects, challenges, and vision for the continent’s clean technology revolution. From green steel to renewable energy, the podcast explores the science, economics and politics shaping Europe’s industrial future, and the barriers to scaling cleantech across the continent.

Executive Producer: Natif podcast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 2024 EU elections reshaped the majorities in the European Parliament, with the conservative European People’s Party coming first and other centrist parties losing seats to the far-right and far-left. What does this mean for Europe’s clean industrial transition? In this episode of Time to Scale, Jules Besnainou heads to the Parliament to speak with MEP Lídia Pereira, Vice-Chair of the European People’s Party, about voters’ priorities, how to achieve climate and industrial leadership, and the role of cleantech.

(01:26) Introducing Lídia Pereira
(06:12) Current Political Priorities
(18:20) The Role of Cleantech
(20:43) Insights on COP30

👤MEP Lídia Pereira’s Instagram and LinkedIn
Hosted by Jules Besnainou, executive director and founder of Cleantech for Europe, Time to Scale features in-depth conversations with the entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers driving Europe’s green reindustrialisation. Every episode welcomes a new guest who shares their personal journey, projects, challenges, and vision for the continent’s clean technology revolution. From green steel to renewable energy, the podcast explores the science, economics and politics shaping Europe’s industrial future, and the barriers to scaling cleantech across the continent.

Executive Producer: Natif podcast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.