Why solar’s next challenge are technology and viability, with Michelle Davis

S1E10 episode overview

While global solar deployment continues to break records, developers face a complex reality of accelerating electricity demand, grid bottlenecks, and stubbornly high emissions. 

In this episode of Watt Matters, Ana sits down with Michelle Davis, Head of Global Solar at Wood Mackenzie, to deliver a data-driven analysis of why the next phase of the energy transition depends less on PV technology and more on the infrastructure surrounding it. As one of the industry's leading voices on solar markets, Michelle breaks down the structural challenges shaping solar's next phase.

What you'll learn in this episode

• Why solar's rapid growth has not yet translated into equivalent emissions reductions

• How AI and data centers are reshaping long-term electricity demand forecasts

• What the latest global data reveals about project development bottlenecks

• Why residential plug-in balcony solar is growing faster than expected in Europe

• The risks emerging from increased pressure on solar equipment costs and quality

• How permitting and interconnection delays are affecting deployment timelines

• Why transmission infrastructure may be the most important enabler of future solar growth

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to Yorizon and the European cloud vision
03:30 – Hyperscalers vs. distributed edge infrastructure
06:15 – Sustainability beyond marketing: energy, PUE, and efficiency
09:00 – Liquid cooling and district heating integration
11:45 – ESG reporting and carbon transparency
14:00 – Digital sovereignty and open-source cloud stacks
18:00 – Community impact and regional partnerships
20:00 – AI readiness and sustainable scaling
23:00 – Expansion plans across Europe through 2030
25:00 – The future of co-located renewables and data centers