Energy Evolution

Coralie Laurencin, Senior Director at S&P Global, Dan Maleski from Redshaw Advisors, and Nick Ogilvie of Carbon Chain discuss the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and its complexity. They unravel the balance between climate goals and economic realities facing industries. Insights include the compliance burdens on importers, reactions from the solar sector, and challenges posed by global market pressures. The trio also highlights the importance of accurate emissions data and the impact of protectionist sentiments on international trade.

This episode of Energy Evolution focuses on the recent executive order signed by President Donald Trump to boost domestic mineral production in the US. This order seeks to reduce reliance on foreign mineral supplies, particularly from China, which dominates the mining and refining sectors for critical minerals. Lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements are just a few materials essential for energy transition technologies, including batteries for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. For this week's episode, host Taylor Kuykendall is joined by Francesca Price, a senior analyst in the metals and mining research team at S&P Global Commodity Insights; Mark Smith, executive chairman, president, and CEO of NioCorp Developments; Pat Risner, president of South 32 Hermosa; and Athan Manuel, director of the Sierra Club's Lands Protection Program. Energy Evolution has merged with Platts Future Energy, and episodes are now regularly published on Tuesdays.

Having ramped down imports of Russian gas at the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, the European Union may need to answer industry calls for higher imports if peace or a ceasefire are achieved. But will politicians be comfortable with this, and what about the damaged Nord Stream pipelines? And how does the US approach the topic, having become a major LNG supplier to Europe in the past few years? Laurent Ruseckas, executive director for gas at S&P Global Commodity Insights, shares his analysis with host Eklavya Gupte and correspondent Camilla Naschert. Energy Evolution has merged with Platts Future Energy, and episodes are now regularly published on Tuesdays.

The EU's Clean Industrial Deal aims to back cleantech manufacturing with a whopping €100 billion. Experts discuss how this could fend off deindustrialization amid fierce global competition, especially from China. With a focus on solar, batteries, and electric vehicles, the conversation highlights the need for local production to diminish reliance on imports. Additionally, geographical investment trends reveal key hot spots in Germany and Hungary sparking growth, while a comparison of EU and US investment strategies sheds light on the race for clean technology dominance.

In this episode of Energy Evolution, host Taylor Kuykendall chats with Ernest Moniz, founder and CEO of the EFI Foundation and the former US Department of Energy Secretary during the Obama administration. We'll also talk to Vast Energy CEO Craig Wood and Plug Power Chief Strategy Officer Sanjay Shrestha.   The discussions, held on the sidelines of the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference, focus on innovations in energy technology, particularly the role the Department of Energy plays in early investment and how it might change under President Donald Trump. Vast Energy and Plug Power are both companies that have partnered with the DOE in the past, and both remain optimistic about the future. Energy Evolution has merged with Platts Future Energy, and episodes are now regularly published on Tuesdays.

Industry leaders discuss the booming energy needs driven by AI and semiconductor manufacturing. A CEO reveals a bold $75 billion plan to enhance grid reliability amidst rising demands. Another emphasizes renewables and storage solutions to support the reshoring of US manufacturing. The transformative role of AI in energy management takes center stage, including a significant investment in innovative startups. Affordability challenges are highlighted, especially in the Northeast, as utilities navigate the complexities of infrastructure modernization.

In this episode of Energy Evolution, co-host Taylor Kuykendall delves into developments in battery technology with Pure Lithium founder and CEO Emilie Bodoin and explores methods for extracting lithium with International Battery Metals CEO Iris Jancik from the sidelines of the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference. The episode also addresses electric vehicle adoption, the impact of changing political climates on incentives, and the need for innovation in the face of a looming natural resource crisis.  Energy Evolution has merged with Platts Future Energy, and episodes are now regularly published on Tuesdays.

In this episode of Energy Evolution, host Taylor Kuykendall sits down with Hannah Hauman, head of carbon trading with multinational commodities company Trafigura, to learn more about the world of carbon markets.  After a brief overview of carbon markets, listeners will learn more about the impacts of geopolitical changes, artificial intelligence and more shaping carbon trading. Hauman emphasized the importance and complexities of carbon accounting and the need to recognize that carbon markets are a vital part of business strategy and not merely a philanthropic endeavor.  Energy Evolution has merged with Platts Future Energy, and episodes are now regularly published on Tuesdays.

As CERAWeek by S&P Global wraps up, Taylor Kuykendall sits down with Commodity Insights co-president Dave Ernsberger, LNG news reporter Corey Paul and power news reporter Kassia Micek to tease out the interesting themes and moments from the conference.  With the AI race front and center at CERAWeek, some of the biggest conversations revolved around powering datacenters, and with a new Trump administration looming large as the backdrop, the spotlight shifted from decarbonization and clean tech in past years to a new emphasis on investment and production, with a constant eye toward energy policy and geopolitics. Energy Evolution has merged with Platts Future Energy, and episodes are now regularly published on Tuesdays.

Grid planning and capacity optimization in the US have much room for improvement, for instance through new AI capabilities, Arshad Mansoor, president and CEO of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), says on the sidelines of the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference. Increased flexibility could stave off the potential of rising power bills for general consumers in light of the country's rapid load growth, he tells Energy Evolution host Taylor Kuykendall. While the US is blessed with abundant gas as well as renewables potential, much remains to be done on the accompanying grid expansion, Hunter Armistead, CEO of Pattern Energy, tells Taylor in this episode from CERAWeek. Taylor will be hosting additional episodes in addition to Energy Evolution's typical weekly schedule for the duration of CERAWeek, featuring guests attending the conference. Energy Evolution has merged with Platts Future Energy, and episodes are now regularly published on Tuesdays.