In this episode of Real Assets, Real Leaders, we’re joined by Emma Tinker, Chief Investment Officer and Co-Founder of Asper Investment Management, to explore how specialist investors are backing the people and platforms shaping Europe’s energy transition.

Emma shares Asper’s mission to build the new - developing greenfield infrastructure that delivers real decarbonisation and long-term value. From spinning out of a major private equity house to managing €1.3bn across Europe, Emma offers a rare inside look at how conviction, patience, and culture come together to create lasting impact.

She talks us through: From spin-out to scale-up – The story of Asper’s evolution from a renewable energy strategy inside HG Capital to an independent platform investing across Europe.

Building the new - Why greenfield investment in clean power and heat decarbonisation is vital for real change, and how Asper makes it investable.

Backing founders with conviction - What defines the teams Asper partners with, and the traits that separate resilient founders from the rest.

Risk, reward & resilience - Lessons from building projects at the earliest stages and managing capital through complexity.

Leadership that lasts - Emma’s reflections on courage, curiosity, and long-term kindness as cornerstones of effective leadership.

This conversation dives deep into the realities of infrastructure growth equity - from how to manage risk in uncharted markets to how to build teams that thrive under pressure. Whether you’re in private equity, renewables, or leadership yourself, Emma’s perspective blends wisdom, humility, and grit in equal measure.

In this episode of Real Assets, Real Leaders, we’re joined by Chris Elder, CEO of Fidra Energy, to explore how Thorpe Marsh , the UKs largest battery storage project is setting a new benchmark for clean power infrastructure.

Fresh from financial close on one of the largest battery storage projects, Chris shares the story behind Fidra’s bold vision, the conviction it took to scale up, and the leadership lessons learned along the way.

He talks us through:

• From coal to clean power – How a former coal station in South Yorkshire is being transformed into a 1.4GW, 3GWh battery that can power 800,000 homes.
• Raising record-breaking capital – Lessons from securing £750m in financing, navigating offtake contracts, and proving bankability at scale.
• Building at unprecedented scale – Managing partners, supply chains, and a thousand-container construction challenge to deliver by 2027.
• Leadership & culture – Chris’s journey from lawyer to energy CEO, and why courage, conviction, and team culture are the cornerstones of Phaedra’s growth.

This conversation dives deep into the realities of developing gigawatt-scale storage: from structuring finance and choosing the right partners, to shaping a company culture fit for rapid scale. Whether you’re in infrastructure, finance, or renewables, Chris’s candid reflections offer a playbook for turning bold vision into bankable projects.

🔗 Connect with Chris Elder & Fidra Energy → https://fidraenergy.com/ 🌍 Our Links → sonderandmetric.com

In this episode of Real Assets, Real Leaders, we’re joined by Ed Pateman-Jones, Founder and CEO of SONAURA, to explore how innovative energy procurement is reshaping industrial decarbonisation across Europe.

With deep expertise in clean infrastructure and a commercial lens honed through years of development and advisory.

Ed shares practical insights on:

•⁠ ⁠Transforming industrial power supply – How Sonora is delivering off-site private wire projects to help manufacturers access cheaper, cleaner energy at scale. •⁠ ⁠Why one-size-fits-all doesn’t work – Navigating regulatory, cultural, and economic nuances across the UK, France, and Germany—and why localised strategy is key. •⁠ ⁠From startup to scale-up – Lessons from raising capital, building a cross-border team, and growing a business with replicability and impact in mind. •⁠ ⁠Leadership in action – How Ed is shaping Sonora’s culture with transparency, ownership, and a commitment to diversity from day one.

This episode is full of candid reflections on energy markets, startup leadership, and how to move beyond pilot projects toward real decarbonizsation. Whether you’re in infrastructure, ESG, or renewables, Ed’s journey offers a blueprint for scaling sustainable solutions with commercial edge.

🔗 Connect with Ed Pateman-Jones: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-pateman-jones/ ⁠https://sonauraenergy.com/⁠

🌍 Our Links: ⁠https://www.sonderandmetric.com/⁠

https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-foulkes-46273388/