Inflation plagues clean energy. How bad is it?

16 snips

Nov 3, 2023

The podcast discusses the challenges of inflation in clean energy, including the rising costs of wind, solar, and batteries. It explores the impacts on emerging sectors like offshore wind and hydrogen. The International Energy Agency's declaration of peak fossil fuel consumption is also discussed. The effects of inflation on the clean energy industry, including equipment costs and canceled projects, are examined. The impact of Basel III on renewable energy financing and the need for policy reforms are emphasized. The World Energy Outlook report's projections on the energy transition and progress in the clean energy sector are explored. Other topics include a battery electric locomotive, AI safety, drones, AI, Bitcoin, climate tech, and inflationary factors in the US.

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Introduction

00:00 • 2min

Inflation Challenges in Clean Energy and the Concept of Peak Fossil Fuel Consumption

01:35 • 3min

The Impact of Inflation on Clean Energy

04:43 • 17min

The Impact of Basel III and Inflation on Renewable Energy

21:44 • 8min

The World Energy Outlook: Projections and Implications for the Energy Transition

29:19 • 3min

Clean Energy Transition Progress and Financial Implications

32:39 • 14min

Battery Electric Locomotive and AI Safety

46:59 • 6min

Drones, AI, Bitcoin, Climate Tech, and Inflation: Exploring Various Topics

52:47 • 2min

Wind, solar and batteries have seen steady, fairly predictable cost drops over the last two decades. But a combination of pressures – supply chain turmoil, grid constraints, interest rates, labor costs – has raised costs for products and projects. And they’re challenging the commercial viability of emerging sectors like offshore wind and hydrogen.

So how will the market work through this inflationary blip? And are there other policy interventions to ease pressures? This week: we’ll explore the inflation problem for clean energy.

Then, the International Energy Agency says peak fossil fuel consumption is upon us. But what does that actually mean? We’ll put the “peak” into perspective.

Joining us this week are Katherine Hamilton of 38 North, Michael O’Boyle of Energy Innovation, and Maria Gallucci of Canary Media.

Stories we mention in this episode:

Latitude Media: The ripple effect of rising wind costs
WSJ: Green power gets pricier after years of declines
Canary Media: Offshore wind pushes ahead despite industry turmoil
NYT: IEA forecasts peak fossil fuel demand
Washington Post: “Peak” fossil fuels isn’t what it sounds like

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