Switched On

Addison Stark, CEO of Atmos Zero, discusses electrified steam solutions transforming industrial heating. Peter Madurinowski, CEO of Cirque, shares insights into recycling polyester and cotton blends for sustainable fashion. Mark Meldrum from Rondo reveals innovations in thermal energy storage to improve industrial efficiency. Lastly, Philippe Berlan of Everdye highlights breakthroughs in eco-friendly textile dyeing processes that slash energy use and harmful chemicals. Together, they paint a hopeful picture of a greener industrial landscape.

Nikolas Soulopoulos, Head of Commercial Transport at BloombergNEF, and Takehiro Kawahara, Aviation Specialist, dive into the urgent need for sustainable aviation practices. They discuss the high costs of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and explore various decarbonization methods, including hydrogen-powered engines and electric aircraft. The pair address consumer willingness to pay for greener options and the role of policy changes. With air travel demand soaring, they emphasize collaboration across the industry to navigate a sustainable future.

In this engaging conversation with Alexander Liddington, a food and agriculture analyst at BloombergNEF, the decline in agricultural funding takes center stage. Liddington discusses the shocking 76% drop in investments since 2021 and the impact on sustainable farming practices. He explores the intricate dance between agriculture and climate change, as well as consumer shifts towards lower-impact meats. The challenges of vertical farming and the innovation journey of a Thai company provide a glimmer of hope amid the ongoing funding crisis.

Eva Gonzalez Isla, a senior associate from BNEF’s grids team, delves into the shocking Iberian blackout that paralyzed Spain and Portugal. She highlights the conflicting reports from authorities on voltage fluctuations as the main cause and the ensuing chaos. The discussion sheds light on the failures in grid management and the urgent need for improved infrastructure. Eva emphasizes the importance of integrating renewable energy sources and implementing new technologies to ensure a more resilient energy future.

This week, we explore how the legislation’s attack on renewable energy may push up electricity bills and damage US competitiveness in AI. The tax credits in President Joe Biden’s sprawling Inflation Reduction Act were introduced to help the US keep up with rising electricity demand by making clean power sources cheaper. But now the big bill has changed all that, and an executive order issued days after its passage suggests his war on renewables isn’t over yet. Joining host Stephanie Flanders to discuss this dramatic turn of events are guests Ethan Zindler, head of country and policy research at BloombergNEF and previously climate counselor to US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, and Bloomberg lobbying and influence reporter Emily Birnbaum.  For more episodes of Trumponomics, subscribe on Apple or Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just how green are the investment portfolios of credit, equity and multi-asset funds? Building on its existing suite of banking and investment ratios, BloombergNEF has introduced the Energy Supply Fund-Enabled Capex Ratio, which assesses how much a given investment portfolio is contributing to low-carbon capital expenditures for every dollar directed to fossil fuels. Worldwide, low-carbon energy gets just 48 cents for every fossil-fuel dollar, but the regional picture when it comes to funding this new “industrial revolution” is far more complex. On today’s show, Dana Perkins is joined by BNEF finance and investment associate Ryan Loughead to discuss how investors are funding the low-carbon industrial revolution and the inaugural “Energy Supply Fund-Enabled Capex Ratio” report. Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF<GO> on the Bloomberg Terminal or on bnef.com Links to research notes from this episode: Energy Supply Fund Enabled Capex Ratio - https://www.bnef.com/insights/36751See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyone is talking about how much energy data centers and artificial intelligence will gobble up in the coming years. Yet AI is just one part of a vast, complex and constantly evolving energy landscape. So how will the AI revolution fit into a world where electric vehicles are displacing liquid road fuels, renewable-power projects are stuck in grid queues and big tech is investing in nuclear? On today’s show, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by Ian Berryman, BloombergNEF’s head of energy systems modeling, to discuss findings from this year’s edition of the New Energy Outlook. For the first time ever, BNEF’s flagship report has modeled the impact of data centers on the transition to a low-carbon economy. But how much of the global power supply will AI really require? And will additional clean energy sources be built to meet that added demand, or could the extra grid strain simply extend the lifespan of fossil-fuel generation? Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF<GO> on the Bloomberg Terminal or on bnef.com Links to research notes from this episode: New Energy Outlook 2025 - https://www.bnef.com/insights/36179 Executive Summary - https://about.bnef.com/insights/clean-energy/new-energy-outlook/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sales of electric vehicles are set for another record-breaking year. Thanks to falling battery costs and a rise in affordable models, plug-in EVs will represent a quarter of global passenger car sales in 2025. And while a rollback in government support has taken a bite out of EV uptake in the US, other countries are more than making up for this setback. Chinese automakers have been growing their footprint overseas, leading to strong growth in emerging markets. In China itself, organic consumer demand will lead to 50% of new vehicle sales this year coming with a plug, far surpassing government targets, and strong domestic sales of range-extended EVs have led them to become the fastest-growing drivetrain in the world. On today’s show, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by Colin McKerracher, BloombergNEF’s Head of Clean Transport, to discuss findings from this year’s Electric Vehicle Outlook. Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF<GO> on the Bloomberg Terminal or on bnef.com Links to research notes from this episode: Electric Vehicle Outlook 2025 - https://www.bnef.com/flagships/ev-outlookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this discussion, Chris Gadomski, Lead nuclear analyst at BloombergNEF, shares insights into the U.S. nuclear power landscape amidst global competition. He explains how recent executive orders aim to revive the nuclear sector while facing market uncertainties. Gadomski highlights the importance of public engagement and investment strategies, pointing out challenges like historical setbacks and cheaper energy options. The conversation also touches on the role of tech companies and next-generation reactor technologies in shaping the future of nuclear energy.

Solar module prices have been cratering in recent years, dragged down by global oversupply. Yet while this glut of photovoltaics has hammered manufacturer profits, it has also allowed emerging economies that are hungry for affordable energy to get into the solar game, and demand growth is still strong this year. So what lies ahead for this notoriously tricky market, could energy storage help mitigate electricity price spikes, and what impact could the Trump administration’s tariffs have on domestic US solar manufacturing? On today’s show, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by Jenny Chase, a BloombergNEF solar specialist, to discuss findings from her note “2Q 2025 Global PV Market Outlook.” Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF<GO> on the Bloomberg Terminal or on bnef.com Links to research notes from this episode: 2Q 2025 Global PV Market Outlook - https://www.bnef.com/insights/36693See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.