Energy Evolution

Despite serving multiple purposes in the energy transition, batteries have their own footprint, and downstream players want to have that addressed. With automakers on the driving seat, ESG requirements over the battery supply chains have been spreading out, despite the lack of standardized guidelines. In this episode of the Platts Future Energy podcast, metals editors Henrique Ribeiro and Leah Chen discuss the main ESG challenges faced by the battery industry and what steps are being taken to mitigate the risks.  Related price assessments: BATLC04 - Lithium Carbonate CIF North Asia $/mt BATCA04 - Lithium Carbonate DDP China Yuan/mt BATLH04 - Lithium Hydroxide CIF North Asia $/mt BATHY04 - Lithium Hydroxide DDP China Yuan/mt BATSP03 - Lithium Spodumene 6% FOB Australia $/mt Wkly BATCO04 - Cobalt Sulfate 20.5% CIF North Asia $/mt BATCS04 - Cobalt Sulfate min 20.5% DDP China BATCH04 - Cobalt Hydroxide CIF China $/lb BATNS04 - Nickel Sulfate DDP China Yuan/mt BATMS00 - Manganese Sulfate DDP China Yuan/mt

Europe’s energy economy changed almost overnight when Russia invaded Ukraine, cutting off access to a massive source of cheap, abundant natural gas. Now the EU is scrambling to secure new fuel sources and shield residents from soaring energy costs. Is this the new normal? In this episode, S&P Global Commodity Insights reporters Alex Blackburne and Camilla Naschert discuss these developments as part of their four-part series on the European energy crisis. Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa, Allison Good and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the utility, oil and gas and mining sectors. Subscribe to Energy Evolution on your favorite platform to catch our latest episodes!

New York's climate goals are among the most aggressive in the U.S., creating a vast need for equipment and materials to supply the clean energy transition. Can the state's manufacturing sector meet the moment? Joining us for this episode are John Williams of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, Clint Wilder of Clean Edge, Whitney Skeans of National Grid, Marnie LaVigne of Launch New York, and John Cerveny of the New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium. Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa, Allison Good and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the utility, oil and gas and mining sectors. Subscribe to Energy Evolution on your favorite platform to catch our latest episodes!

Gulf countries attending the ADIPEC conference in October made it clear that oil and gas will be needed for decades to come, and the region has the least carbon-intensive barrels to fuel a global economy seeking to lower its emissions. How does this play against the United Nations’ assertion that new hydrocarbon investments are incompatible with credible net-zero targets? S&P Global Commodity Insights news editors Dania El Saadi and Henry Edwardes-Evans compare notes. Click here to explore Platts Dimensions Pro Click here to interact with our Hydrogen Price Wall

Climate change and the global energy crisis are making nuclear power attractive again to countries and utilities that were once eager to reduce or eliminate reactors. But whether the uranium mining sector sees sufficient price signals to expand production remains to be seen. And many cost and execution issues facing new nuclear construction are not resolved.  In this episode, S&P Global Commodity Insights reporters Abbie Bennett, Camellia Moors and Kip Keen discuss these developments as part of their 3-part series on nuclear power.  Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa, Allison Good and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the utility, oil and gas and mining sectors. Subscribe to Energy Evolution on your favorite platform to catch our latest episodes!

Plug Power, one of the leading green hydrogen companies in the US, has put a lot of investment and attention in the European green hydrogen market over the years. But its attention is now expected to shift back to the US side of its business following the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and its generous hydrogen tax credits. There’s broad consensus that the IRA makes US green hydrogen far more competitive than before, but can it now outcompete EU hydrogen? Plug Power CEO Andy Marsh joins S&P Global Commodity Insights reporter Brandon Mulder to share his insights on the IRA and what it means for the US market. Then SPGCI hydrogen analyst Brian Murphy and pricing reporter Santiago Canel share their thoughts about the US’s green hydrogen export potential. Learn more about regional differences in hydrogen prices around the world with SPGCI's Hydrogen Price Wall, and analysis of global hydrogen news and developments with the quarterly Hydrogen Market Monitor on Platts Dimensions Pro.

With geopolitical and economic pressures altering the context dramatically since the last meeting in Glasgow, S&P Global Commodity Insights tackles the most pressing questions ahead of this global climate gathering. Vandana Sebastian speaks to Roman Kramarchuk and Dan Klein on what to expect at COP27, whether countries can reach a consensus on climate goals, the significance of decarbonization in a world of evolving energy priorities, and the relevance of COP27 amid the global energy crisis.

The Inflation Reduction Act contains many provisions aimed at accelerating the development of clean power. In this episode we talk about one, in particular: the new law’s so-called direct pay provision, which is expected to help municipal utilities, electric cooperatives and other public, tax exempt utilities to tap federal clean energy incentives. To talk about it, we're joined by Nick Chaset, CEO of East Bay Community Energy, a community choice aggregator in California. Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa, Allison Good and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the utility, oil and gas and mining sectors. Subscribe to Energy Evolution on your favorite platform to catch our latest episodes!

Australia has accelerated its climate ambitions with a new commitment to cut emissions by 43% by 2030, which translates into having about 82% renewable power in its energy mix. Alongside that, the 2019 National Hydrogen Strategy aims to position the country as a top global exporter of the energy carrier. Demonstrations, pilot projects and hubs are being developed around the country, such as the first international pilot to export hydrogen. In this episode of the Platts Future Energy podcast, Ruchira Singh discusses the contours of the Australian government’s climate policy measures, and the considerations around hydrogen for the nation’s decarbonization journey with Mendo Kundevski, Ankit Sachan and Anton Ferkov. Related price assessments: Hydrogen Western Australia SMR with CCS (inc. CAPEX) A$/kg (HYAAZ00) Hydrogen Western Australia Alkaline Electrolysis $/kg (HYAES00) Hydrogen Queensland PEM Electrolysis (inc. CAPEX) $/kg (HYABR00) Hydrogen South Australia PEM Electrolysis A$/kg (HYABW00) Japan Hydrogen Alkaline Electrolysis (incl CAPEX) $/Kg (IGYFU00)

The energy transition will require a huge influx of new workers with new skills. Where those workers will come from, and how they will be trained, are questions that big energy companies and policymakers in Europe and in North America are wrestling with as the shift to renewable energy sources gathers steam. Joining us to discuss these challenges in this episode are: S&P Global Commodity Insights Reporter Camilla Naschert; Kerstin Knapp of Vestas; Tom Hopkinson of Taylor Hopkinson; Louise Christensen and Stefan Hobmair of Baywa r.e.; and Nate Manning of Johnson Controls. Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa, Allison Good and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the utility, oil and gas and mining sectors. Subscribe to Energy Evolution on your favorite platform to catch our latest episodes!