Energy Evolution

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.

“One difficulty may be the wind side,” says Rich Voorberg, president of the North America hub of energy equipment provider Siemens Energy, on the sidelines of the CERAWeek conference in Houston. Meanwhile, the gas turbine and grids divisions are struggling to keep pace with surging demand, Voorberg tells Energy Evolution host Taylor Kuykendall. When it comes to the impact of tariffs, Siemens Energy and its competitors sit in the same boat, with limited relative competitive impact, Voorberg notes. 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 now regularly publish on Tuesdays.

As power demand rockets thanks in part to datacenter operators, the US grid needs more dispatchable power, FERC chairman Mark Christie tells Energy Evolution host Taylor Kuykendall on the sidelines of the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference in Houston. Taylor will be hosting additional episodes in addition to Energy Evolution's typical weekly schedule for the next several days, featuring guests attending CERAWeek. 

In this episode of Energy Evolution, host Taylor Kuykendall speaks with Mark Brownstein, leader of energy transition efforts at the Environmental Defense Fund about environmental and climate priorities related to the energy transition in 2025.  They discuss the evolving geopolitical landscape impacting energy policies, the role of market forces in advancing clean energy technologies, and private sector adaptation amidst changing political support. The conversation also touches on the need for collaborative efforts in permitting reform and the critical actions required to ensure the continued momentum of the energy transition into 2025 and beyond. Taylor will be hosting additional episodes in addition to Energy Evolution's typical weekly schedule for the next several days, featuring guests attending CERAWeek by S&P Global in Houston, Texas. Energy Evolution has merged with Platts Future Energy, and episodes are now regularly published on Tuesdays.

In this episode of the Energy Evolution podcast, host Taylor Kuykendall discusses the upcoming CERAWeek conference, scheduled for March 10-14 in Houston. He is joined by Ken Downey, Executive Director of Innovation Agora at CERAWeek, and Naki Mendoza, director of CERAWeek Programs at S&P Global.  Key topics for this year's conference include the changing geopolitical landscape, especially in light of recent elections. Mendoza and Downey said energy leaders will also be focused in on supply chains, AI's role in energy, and the growing importance of metals and mining to the energy transition. Energy Evolution has merged with Platts Future Energy, and episodes are now published on Tuesdays.

Join Patrick Bigger, a research director focused on military emissions, Lennard de Klerk, who evaluates the climate impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and Benjamin Neimark, a senior lecturer researching military carbon footprints. They discuss how military actions lead to a significant rise in greenhouse gas emissions, with the war in Ukraine alone exceeding emissions of several industrialized nations. The need for transparency in military emissions reporting and the environmental costs of warfare are emphasized, highlighting the urgent intersection of conflict and climate.

Joining the discussion are Neil Chatterjee, former FERC chairman and chief government affairs officer at Palmetto, Bruno Brunetti, head of Low Carbon Electricity Analytics at S&P Global, and Jonathan Schroth, a research analyst specializing in AI's impact on data centers. They dive into how AI technologies are influencing energy demand, particularly in data centers. The guests explore regulatory variations globally, including Ireland's environmental restrictions. They also discuss the challenges of balancing rapid tech advancement with sustainable energy practices.

Andreas Schierenbeck, CEO of Hitachi Energy, shares insights into the grid equipment bottleneck affecting renewable energy deployment. He discusses the complex manufacturing of transformers and the long lead times for essential components. The conversation addresses investment trends and the urgency of scaling production to meet rising energy demands. Additionally, the challenges of recruitment amid geographic supply chain issues highlight the necessity of strategic planning and collaboration to enhance infrastructure efficiency and support a cleaner energy future.