

Energy Evolution
S&P Global Commodity Insights
Interviews, analysis and reporting from S&P Global Commodity Insights on energy and commodities' transition to a cleaner future. Hosts Taylor Kuykendall and Eklavya Gupte speak with policymakers, industry professionals and SPGCI in-house experts worldwide on topics related to decarbonization, climate, emerging fuels and energy sources, and the outlook for commodity markets from oil to power to metals. The Energy Evolution podcast has merged with the Platts Future Energy podcast as of January 2025.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 23, 2024 • 21min
Are cheaper solar panels opening up less sunny markets?
The price of solar photovoltaic modules has declined around 40% in the past year due to high production in China. In this episode of Energy Evolution, we're exploring whether cheaper panels are unlocking the business case to build utility-scale solar in the Nordic region. With much fewer sun hours and ample wind and hydro, these northern European countries are no solar hubs – but this is starting to change. Energy Evolution correspondent Camilla Naschert spoke to Warren Campbell and Peter Tornberg of renewables developers Alight and OX2, as well as Justin FitzHugh of investment bank Arctic Securities, bringing a perspective from a region warming to solar energy. Tune in to Energy Evolution to stay up-to-date on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

Feb 16, 2024 • 17min
Crux co-founder on how the transferability of tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act is leveling the energy playing field
On this episode Energy Evolution podcast interviews Alfred Johnson, CEO and co-founder of Crux, about the shift towards clean energy and the tax credits offered by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA is creating hundreds of billions of dollars in tax credits for companies that deploy renewable energy. Transferable tax credits enable companies to sell those credits and access capital quickly. Crux is a platform for developers, tax credit buyers, and financial institutions to transact and manage transferable tax credits. The company’s inaugural market report on the state of clean energy tax credit transactions found that there was between $7 billion and $9 billion in volume of 2023 tax credit transactions. They reported that the transferability of the credits levels the playing field for smaller projects and new technologies. Please subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay current on the energy transition and its implications. Veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall co-host the show.

Feb 9, 2024 • 27min
Robotic power plant inspectors can boost sustainability by catching problems early
In this episode of the Energy Evolution podcast by S&P Global Commodity Insights, Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall speak to Troy Demmer, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer for Gecko Robotics, and Gilman Callsen, CEO and Founder of Rho Impact, about the use of robots in power plant inspections for sustainability. These robots can identify potential problems in power plants, allowing for preventive maintenance and reducing the reliance on backup generation sources, thus lowering emissions. Rho Impact has reported that robotic inspections combined with decision-making software could eliminate the equivalent of up to 4.8% of annual emissions in the US. Please subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay current on the energy transition and its implications. Veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall co-host the show.

Feb 2, 2024 • 23min
How a rural co-op is using artificial intelligence to get the most out of renewables
In the Energy Evolution podcast, Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall interview Jonathan Martell, COO of Mohave Electric Co-Op, and Larsh Johnson, CTO of Stem, to discuss rural power generators using artificial intelligence to help transition to clean energy. The guests discuss the challenges and solutions for increasing the share of renewables in the co-op retail energy mix, and a new solar-plus-storage project recently announced by Mohave. Please subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay current on the energy transition and its implications. Veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall co-host the show.

Jan 26, 2024 • 24min
At COP28, a pledge to triple nuclear capacity - but can it be done?
At the COP28 climate conference in December, more than 20 countries—including the US, the UK, France and Sweden—signed a declaration committing to a tripling of nuclear capacity by 2050. Correspondents Camilla Naschert and Camellia Moors spoke with experts across the nuclear energy and uranium mining industries about the declaration. Listen in to hear Antony Froggatt at Chatham House, Kirsty Gogan at TerraPraxis, Timothy Fox at ClearView Energy Partners, and Ross McElroy at Fission Uranium talk about the pledge, what it could mean for a global nuclear power expansion, and how the uranium industry is responding to promises of a nuclear build-out. Tune in to Energy Evolution to stay up-to-date on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

Jan 19, 2024 • 16min
A 'real chance' of tripling renewable energy by 2030, IEA says
The International Energy Agency, a Paris-based intergovernmental organization that analyzes the global energy sector and offers policy recommendations, has announced that renewable energy is expanding faster than at any time in the last three decades, with 507 GW of renewables installed in 2023 alone, almost 50% more than the previous year. Our correspondent Camilla Naschert speaks with Commodity Insights reporter Alex Blackburne about what the report means. Meanwhile, co-host Taylor Kuykendall brings the show a chat with Martin Pochtaruk, the president of North American solar manufacturer Heliene, about the findings of the report and what it is going to take to meet ambitious renewable deployment goals. Tune in to Energy Evolution to stay up-to-date on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

Jan 12, 2024 • 18min
Digging Space? Startups set sights on the moon, asteroids for resources
The Energy Evolution podcast explores the challenges and changes facing the transition to cleaner energy. One challenge is obtaining the materials necessary for the transition, such as lithium, copper, and rare earth metals. Space mining is a potential solution, with companies investing in research and development to mine asteroids and other celestial bodies for valuable metals and resources like water. The technology for space mining is in its early stages, and there are challenges, such as logistical and ethical considerations. Reporters from the S&P Global Commodity Insights team, Karl Decena, Kip Keen and Eri Silva, also discussed the potential impact of space mining on terrestrial markets and the need for regulatory frameworks for space mining. Related articles: Digging Space: Miners to ignite race for outer space ore https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/digging-space-miners-to-ignite-race-for-outer-space-ore-78269052 Digging Space: Asteroid mining unlikely to overwhelm metal markets https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/digging-space-asteroid-mining-unlikely-to-overwhelm-metal-markets-79716462 Digging Space: Galactic gold rush begins with fewer rules than the Wild West https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/digging-space-galactic-gold-rush-begins-with-fewer-rules-than-the-wild-west-79719853 Tune in to Energy Evolution to stay up-to-date on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

Jan 9, 2024 • 25min
What lies ahead for climate policy after COP28
As the dust settles after COP28, with world leaders finally agreeing to shift energy systems away from fossil fuels, scrutiny of the climate impact of energy policy is set to intensify in 2024. The thorny issue of finance is likely to dominate the climate debate this year, and with economic and geopolitical uncertainty still dominating the headlines, energy markets are in for a bumpy ride. In this episode of the Platts Future Energy podcast, S&P Global Commodity Insights' experts Anna Mosby, Sara Giordano, Agamoni Ghosh and Eklavya Gupte take a deep dive into some of the key outcomes from COP28 and how they might affect climate policy moving forward. Further reading: COP28: An in-depth review

Dec 29, 2023 • 14min
Energy Evolution crew previews energy transition themes to watch for in 2024
In this episode of Energy Evolution, hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall dive into the latest trends in the energy transition and their impact on the energy and mining sectors as we kick off 2024. Joining them are correspondents Camilla Naschert and Camellia Moors, who share their insights on the rapidly changing landscape of energy production and consumption. With the world moving towards more sustainable energy sources, the hosts and correspondents discuss how companies in the energy and mining sectors adapt to these changes. They also explore the challenges and opportunities for these industries as they strive to stay ahead of the curve. Tune in to Energy Evolution to stay up-to-date on the energy transition and its far-reaching implications.

Dec 22, 2023 • 19min
Communication technology and its role in the energy transition
In this episode of Energy Evolution, reporter Taylor Kuykendall interviews Ken Rabedeau, the Chief Technology Officer for Energy, Transportation and Public Sector at Nokia. Ken discusses Nokia's role today in the energy transition and how communication technology is helping industries such as the electricity, oil, gas, and mining sectors, to build more sustainable and cleaner business practices. Ken also shares insights on the concept of Industry 4.0 and how it empowers critical industries to blend the physical and digital, as well as the role of artificial intelligence in the energy transition. The interview also covers cybersecurity, mining, and Nokia's efforts to reduce emissions. Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the energy and mining sectors. Camellia Moors and Camilla Naschert, reporters who write about mining and power issues, are correspondents for Energy Evolution and regularly contribute to the show. Subscribe to Energy Evolution on your favorite platform to catch our latest episodes!


