Energy Evolution

Seen by hundreds of thousands, Swedish utility Vattenfall’s expletive-laden campaign with Hollywood icon Samuel L Jackson asks the question: Offshore wind farms, yes or no? On this week’s episode of Energy Evolution, Vattenfall’s head of brand Monica Holmvik Persdotter explains the process behind the campaign and how the utility thinks about public discourse regarding the technology. Effective communication and local engagement have tangible impact on green-lighting new offshore wind projects, David Bidwell, professor of Marine Affairs at the University of Rhode Island in the US, told correspondent Camilla Naschert. Audio clips sourced via European Commission and Vattenfall AB.

In the US, the Trump administration's rollback of federal incentives supporting electric vehicle adoption will put states back in the driver's seat on encouraging the transition to electric vehicles. With states varying wildly in their interest and support in electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, what will happen to the deployment of lower-carbon transportation in the country during the current president's term? Host Taylor Kuykendall discusses the issue with Daniel Weeks, energy transition reporter for S&P Global Commodity Insights; Suzanna Massingue, low-carbon transportation analyst at Commodity Insights; and Alan Collins, director of the division of resource economics and management at West Virginia University. What do the administration's budget bills mean for the trajectory of EVs and how might states react? Tune in to learn more. 

In this episode, Commodity Insights analysts Tiffany Wang and Cinthya Pena explain the implications of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act for US renewables supply chains and project development. The OBBBA was a sweeping budget reconciliation bill which US President Donald Trump signed on July 4. Cuts to the tax credit regime introduced in the Inflation Reduction Act will effectively curb the bill’s 45Y and 48E clean electricity production and investment tax credits. Yet, some US companies remain optimistic for long-term success, senior reporter Garrett Hering lays out on the podcast. Energy Evolution has merged with Platts Future Energy, and episodes are now regularly published on Tuesdays.

In this week’s episode, energy reporters Camilla Naschert and Alex Blackburne explain the ongoing debate around the way in which price zones are divided in Europe’s power markets. In markets with only one price zone, such as Germany and Britain, widening geographic distances between demand centers and new renewables development are starting to raise questions around grid bottlenecks, redispatch costs and incentives for new renewables. But there are also political and organizational realities to consider in a potential split, so the answer for regulators and politicians is not straightforward. Energy Evolution has merged with Platts Future Energy, and episodes are now regularly published on Tuesdays.

In this episode of Energy Evolution, we delve into the latest developments around Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and explore how various governments and companies are building critical infrastructure for carbon trading and global climate cooperation. Host Eklavya Gupte speaks with Gurvinder Bains, Director of Business Development of Environmental Solutions at S&P Global Commodity Insights, who highlights the pivotal role of carbon registries in securing financing and scaling project development under Article 6. We also hear from Hugh Salway, Senior Director of Market Development and Partnerships at Gold Standard, who shares insights on how countries are increasingly viewing carbon credits as national assets and establishing domestic programs. The discussion addresses the challenges posed by an increasingly fragmented carbon market and the implications for effective global climate action. Energy Evolution has merged with Platts Future Energy, and episodes are now regularly published on Tuesdays. Links: Platts CEC $/mtC02e PCECA00Platts Household Devices $/mtCO2e CNHDD00 Unlocking the potential of carbon markets: Designing carbon registries for success (white paper) Register for APPEC Carbon Markets Conference

In this episode of Energy Evolution, we explore how heat waves are driving fundamental shifts in European power demand patterns and stress-testing the region's energy infrastructure. Host Eklavya Gupte speaks with Glenn Rickson, head of short-term European power analysis at S&P Global Commodity Insights, who breaks down the supply and demand pressures that are emerging from warmer temperatures. Correspondent Camilla Naschert interviews Brian Motherway, head of the office of energy efficiency and inclusive transitions at the International Energy Agency, on Europe's growing appetite for air conditioning and its impact on EU climate and energy efficiency goals. Energy Evolution has merged with Platts Future Energy, and episodes are now regularly published on Tuesdays. Links: EEX France Fin Baseload power AAOAM00 Platts UK GTMA Baseload power FUKXY01Western Europe endures record June heat stress: EU's climate monitor (subscriber content)

Francesco Sciortino, CEO of Proxima Fusion, and Steve Piper, Director of Energy Research at S&P Global Commodity Insights, dive into the promising landscape of nuclear fusion. Sciortino highlights the $7.1 billion raised in global fusion startups and emphasizes that investors are eager to get involved. Piper discusses how Big Tech is driving this surge, influenced by the energy demands of data centers. Together, they explore the potential of stellarators and the critical collaboration needed to make fusion a competitive energy source.

In this episode, host Eklavya Gupte sits down with Matt Hoisch, senior price reporter at Platts, to explore how the energy-intensive fertilizer industry is navigating extraordinary turbulence, from supply chain shocks to spiralling energy costs, while potentially becoming an enabler of the energy transition itself. They look at ammonia's pivotal role as both a key ingredient in nitrogen fertilizer production and a potential game-changer for clean energy storage and transport. Hoisch also discusses how the emerging low-carbon ammonia market could nearly double demand for ammonia by 2050, positioning itself as a viable next-generation fuel. Links: Ammonia CFR Northwest Europe $/mt AMMOC00Ammonia CFR West Coast India ACWCI00 Granular urea FOB Algeria GLUAD00Ammonia FOB US Gulf AFUSG00  

In this episode of Energy Evolution, host Taylor Kuykendall speaks with Gerard Barron, CEO of The Metals Co. Barron and his company are looking to mine the ocean floor for metals like cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements as demand for the materials surges due to the rise of renewable energy technologies and electric vehicles. Barron discusses the potential of polymetallic nodules found in the depths of the Pacific Ocean, the technology used to mine the ocean and the environmental implications of mining in such delicate ecosystems. The conversation also touches on recent developments in US policy supporting mineral independence and the challenges ahead as the Metals Co. seeks to transition from exploration to commercial recovery. 

The global energy transition was already facing headwinds even as trade tensions and geopolitical uncertainty escalated. Supply chain disruptions, elevated interest rates, and persistent inflation have created additional hurdles for renewable projects. But could rising resource nationalism paradoxically accelerate the transition by spurring countries to prioritize domestic renewable energy development? In this episode, host Eklavya Gupte and Commodity Insights journalist James Burgess explore this complex dynamic with two guests who offer different perspectives. Dan Klein, head of future energy pathways at Commodity Insights, explains how nations are recalibrating their energy strategies to balance security concerns with decarbonization goals in an increasingly volatile geopolitical environment. Ben Hoff, Societe Generale’s global head of commodity research, argues that the momentum behind the energy transition is unstoppable, and that protectionist measures could nurture domestic renewables sectors despite short-term disruptions. Energy Evolution has merged with Platts Future Energy, and episodes are now regularly published on Tuesdays.