Switched On

Elon Musk put out a $100 million prize earlier this year for innovation in 'carbon negative solutions', or pulling carbon dioxide (CO2) out of the air. But BloombergNEF carbon capture analyst David Madrid says Musk is missing the point -- what is needed for direct air capture is scale, not new technologies., This week, Switched On speaks with David about direct air capture, how it works, and the pilot projects aimed at bringing the technology down the cost curve.This episode is based on a report titled Material Tech Highlight: Direct Air Capture. BNEF clients can access this at BNEF<GO> on the Bloomberg Terminal, or on bnef.com or BNEF Mobile.Switched On is hosted this week by Mark Taylor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why does the threat of climate change give some nightmares while others simply ignore it? Where do perceptions lie and how do they differ by country, age, education level, or political affiliation? This week, Switched On speaks with BloombergNEF consumer research analyst, Hugh Bromley, about several recent surveys that ask how people perceive climate change and whether they see it as a top risk.This episode is based on a report titled What Divides and Unites on Climate Action and Awareness. BNEF clients can access this at BNEF<GO> on the Bloomberg Terminal, or on bnef.com or BNEF Mobile.Switched On is hosted this week by Dana Perkins and Mark Taylor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year is looking like a major year for dialogue on - and commitments to - climate action. This week, Switched On speaks with two BloombergNEF colleagues to put this Summit into context and discuss some early indicators of how countries plan to meet their net-zero targets: Victoria Cumming, global policy lead, and Ali Izadi-Najafabadi, Head of Asia Pacific Research.This episode is based on our ongoing research on national climate commitments and the run-up to COP26 later this year. BNEF clients can access this research at BNEF<GO> on the Bloomberg Terminal, or on bnef.com or BNEF Mobile.Switched On is hosted this week by Dana Perkins.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The global wind market is booming, with nearly 100 gigawatts of new capacity going online in 2020. Today, Switched On speaks with BloombergNEF wind analysts Isabelle Edwards and Leo Wang, who talk about what made 2020 a record year for installations, where the growth is happening, who is supplying all those turbines, and how all of this is just the start of things to come.This episode is based on a report titled 2020 Global Turbine Market Shares. BNEF clients can access this at BNEF<GO> on the Bloomberg Terminal, or on bnef.com or BNEF Mobile.Switched On is hosted this week by Mark Taylor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Switched On speaks with U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, who was sworn into office on February 25th. One of Secretary Granholm's objectives at the Department of Energy will be to set the U.S. on a path to achieving President Biden’s goal of net-zero carbon emissions from the power sector by 2035 by advancing cutting-edge clean energy technologies, and creating millions of clean energy jobs.Ethan Zindler, head of Americas for BloombergNEF did the interview as part of the BNEF New York Summit on April 13th.BNEF users can see this interview and more, including all the BNEF Analyst Talks on bnef.com or BNEF Mobile, or at BNEF<GO> on the Bloomberg Terminal.Switched On is hosted this week by Dana Perkins.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

European utility strategy continues to evolve as the energy transition moves forward. Today, Switched On speaks with BloombergNEF carbon analyst, Bo Qin, and decentralized energy analyst, Michael Kenefick. They will tell us about how low gas prices, combined with high carbon prices and renewables output, are squeezing coal out of the merit order in Europe, and how retail power continues to be a highly competitive market.This episode is based on a report titled European Utility Company Profiles 2020. BNEF clients can access this report on at BNEF<GO> on the Bloomberg Terminal, or on bnef.com or BNEF Mobile.Switched On is hosted this week by Dana Perkins.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On March 15, Volkswagen signaled its ambition to compete in the growing electric vehicle market by building out battery production and charging infrastructure, as well as adding new EV models. And in January, General Motors announced its plan to only sell zero-emission light-duty vehicles by 2035, on its way to becoming carbon-neutral. This week, Switched On speaks with Colin McKerracher, head of transport research for BNEF, about VW, and electric vehicle analysts Alejandro Zamorano Cadavid and Nikolas Soulopoulos about GM's plans. They will tell us about the motivations behind these announcements, the strategies involved, and how clarity of mission could help these companies compete with EV frontrunner Tesla.This episode is based on a report titled Volkswagen's Plan to Bridge the Tesla Charging Gap, and another titled GM to Deal With Electrification Transition Risks, BNEF clients can access these reports on at BNEF<GO> on the Bloomberg Terminal, or on bnef.com or BNEF Mobile.Switched On is hosted this week by Dana Perkins and Mark Taylor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The transition to a low-carbon economy has been at the center of policy making in the European Union over the last decade. But Europe is still not on track to meet its 2030 clean energy and climate goals. This week, Switched On speaks with Dario Traum, global head of energy transition research for BloombergNEF, and Andreas Gandolfo, head of European power research. They will tell us about progress on climate targets in Europe, and what might accelerate things. They also say that change could happen a lot faster than we think.This episode is based on a report titled European Energy Transition Outlook 2021, BNEF clients can access this report on bnef.com or BNEF Mobile, or at BNEF<GO> on the Bloomberg Terminal.Switched On is hosted this week by Dana Perkins.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prolonged frigid temperatures last weekend caused electricity demand in the Texas power grid, or ERCOT, to explode. The extreme cold resulted in more than 30GW of power plant outages, and a situation where demand outstripped supply by 30%. This resulted in millions of Texans being without power, heat, and clean water. This week, Switched On speaks with Anastacia Dialynas, head of US oil research, and Nick Steckler, head of North America power analysis for BNEF. They're going to tell us about how the state’s power, oil and gas sectors went down at once, and what Texas might consider to 'build back better'.BNEF users can find ongoing coverage of U.S. power, oil and gas markets on bnef.com, the bnef mobile app, and the Bloomberg terminal.Switched On is hosted this week by Mark Taylor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The EU Taxonomy regulation, which defines what the European Union considers an environmentally sustainable economic activity, will require additional disclosures from large listed companies in Europe starting in January 2022. This week, Switched On speaks with Maia Godemer, sustainable finance analyst for BNEF, about what the new rules mean for large European companies and asset managers.This episode is based on a report titled EU Taxonomy: How to Prepare Your Reporting for 2022, BNEF clients can access this report on bnef.com or BNEF Mobile, or at BNEF<GO> on the Bloomberg Terminal.Switched On is hosted this week by Dana Perkins and Mark Taylor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.