Switched On

Mariko O’Neil and Yumi Kim, analysts from BNEF’s Global Power Markets Team, dive into Japan's power market, exploring its fascinating evolution post-Fukushima. They discuss the liberalization that has attracted foreign investors and the unique challenges of relying on imported fuels. With rising power demands from data centers and semiconductor manufacturing, they unveil opportunities for energy installations. Additionally, they address crucial topics like the role of nuclear energy and Japan's potential leadership in regional energy transitions.

Chris Gadomski, BloombergNEF’s lead nuclear analyst, discusses the intriguing revival of nuclear power driven by data-hungry tech giants. He emphasizes the potential of small modular reactors (SMRs) while addressing the challenges of new nuclear projects, including regulatory hurdles and cost concerns. The conversation dives into the impact of global events on nuclear perceptions and explores the shortage of skilled labor in the industry. Gadomski also highlights the innovative approaches tech firms are exploring to enhance energy sourcing amid rising demands and climate challenges.

Andrew Forrest, Founder and Executive Chairman of Fortescue, is on a mission for 'real zero' emissions. He shares insights from the BNEF Summit Shanghai about how green hydrogen and green iron are pivotal to sustainable mining. Forrest emphasizes the economic benefits of abandoning fossil fuels and discusses the growing demand for clean transport components in China. He tackles the challenges in the green hydrogen sector and the importance of mental health, advocating proactive strategies for well-being in both personal and professional life.

Emerging markets have big plans when it comes to the energy transition. Today, 95% of developing economies have a renewable energy target in place, and many of them are seeing massive growth in solar and other renewable power technologies. Yet this clean power revolution won’t come cheap. While EMDEs attracted more than $100 billion for clean energy development last year, that’s a drop in the bucket of what it’ll take to reach net zero, and many markets are racing to implement the policy and infrastructure needed to attract many billions more. On today’s show, BloombergNEF researchers Sofia Maia and Ana Paula Fonseca Teixeira present the newest edition of Climatescope, a public BNEF resource that evaluates and ranks emerging markets’ readiness to utilize energy transition investment. 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: Climatescope 2024 - www.global-climatescope.org    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Climate-tech funding is falling precipitously. During the third quarter of 2024, worldwide investment in the sector reached just $10.3 billion, a far cry from the $22.6 billion raised in the third quarter of 2023 and the $40.9 billion seen in 3Q 2022. These dramatic declines have been led in part by manufacturing overcapacity in China, where a collapse in market funding has allowed India to supersede China for the first time in BloombergNEF’s climate-tech rankings. With protectionism on the rise, questions have also arisen about how tariffs will impact equity funding moving forward, but where some see barriers, others see opportunities. On today’s show, Dana is joined by Mark Daly, BloombergNEF’s Head of Technology and Innovation, to discuss key findings from the recent report “Investment Radar 3Q 2024: Funding Drop Again”. 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: Investment Radar 3Q 2024: Funding Drop Again - https://www.bnef.com/insights/35203/viewSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this engaging discussion, Fauziah Marzuki, Global Head of Gas Markets at BloombergNEF, and Yumi Kim, a Power Markets Associate, dive into the complex world of coal and gas dynamics. They reveal how weather patterns, particularly the La Niña cycle, could extend coal's lifespan despite peak demand looming. With China dominating coal consumption, they explore contrasts in developed economies' push for cleaner energy. The conversation highlights the challenges of transitioning away from coal while meeting global energy needs.

Wind is key to tripling global clean energy capacity by 2030, but in recent years both onshore and offshore additions have been blowing cold. The landscape improves as we look ahead to 2030, when BloombergNEF expects annual installations of wind to have risen by a massive 70%. China, which is currently responsible for over a half of all global wind additions, is leading the charge. But now that its massive turbine manufacturing base is looking outside its borders, the picture for equipment exports is about to be shaken up. On today’s show, Tom Rowlands-Rees speaks with BNEF’s head of Wind Research, Oliver Metcalfe, about key findings from three recent reports: Unlocking Investment to Triple Renewables by 2030, 3Q 2024 Wind Turbine Order Dataset: Volume Surges, and Floating Offshore Wind: Big Potential But Big Price Tag. Together they discuss what it’ll take for wind to grow at the pace required to meet net-zero goals, the threat to western turbine manufacturers posed by rising Chinese exports, and the impact floating wind could have on the offshore market. 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: Unlocking Investment to Triple Renewables by 2030 - https://www.bnef.com/insights/34887/view 3Q 2024 Wind Turbine Order Dataset: Volume Surges - https://www.bnef.com/insights/35179/view Floating Offshore Wind: Big Potential But Big Price Tag - https://www.bnef.com/insights/34913See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Felicia Aminoff, an analyst from BNEF’s Grids and Utilities team, sheds light on the future of power grid investments. With $326 billion poured into grids in 2023, she discusses the urgent upgrades needed due to growing energy demands driven by AI and climate change. The conversation delves into how data centers are impacting power needs and strategies to shield grids from extreme weather. Additionally, Aminoff addresses the backlog of renewable energy projects and compares investment strategies across different regions, highlighting the contrasts between the US and Europe.

Antoine Vagneur-Jones and Matthew Hales from BNEF's Trade and Supply Chains team unpack the global clean technology race. They delve into the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act's transformative impact on trade relations and how Europe is responding with its Net-Zero Industry Act. The duo discusses the effectiveness of tariffs and the challenges of competing with Chinese manufacturers. They also explore the implications of impending U.S. elections on clean technology policies and the competitive landscape for both sides of the Atlantic.

Colin McKerracher, Head of Transport and Energy Storage at BloombergNEF, leads a riveting discussion with industry leaders. Freya Burton from LanzaTech shares insights on sustainable aviation fuel's development challenges. Chris Johnson of C2X highlights the promising future of green methanol production. Lara Naqushbandi from ETFuels delves into the complexities of e-fuels and the financial landscape for clean energy investment. Together, they explore the paths to decarbonizing heavy transport and the critical role of government policy in fuel adoption.