

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

Aug 29, 2022 • 23min
Building electrification movement gathers East Coast momentum
Three years after a movement materialized in several West Coast cities to prohibit natural gas use in new buildings, those policies are gathering momentum along the East Coast. Strategies to require building electrification have advanced recently in New England and Washington, D.C., while an effort to prohibit local gas bans failed in Pennsylvania, a major gas-producing state. Joining us for this episode is Tom DiChristopher, a senior reporter for S&P Global Commodity Insights covering natural gas, to provide an update on gas restrictions and electrification mandates across the U.S. 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!

Aug 5, 2022 • 19min
How will US Democrats' new deal on climate affect the energy transition?
A new package of energy policy is moving through the U.S. Congress after Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., struck a deal with fellow Democrats. Energy Evolution recently sat down with colleagues from the S&P Global Commodity Insights newsroom to talk about the implications of the legislation. Guests include Molly Christian, Bill Holland and Camellia Moors. 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!

Jul 20, 2022 • 23min
How will the Supreme Court's West Virginia v. EPA decision impact the energy transition?
On June 30, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling in West Virginia v. EPA, limiting the agency's authority to deal with climate change. Energy Evolution recently sat down with colleagues from the S&P Global Commodity Insights newsroom to talk about the implications of the ruling. Guests include Glen Boshart, Zack Hale and Corey Paul. 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!

Jul 12, 2022 • 17min
Are the nickel and cobalt chemical markets shifting away from traditional pricing mechanisms?
Nickel and cobalt chemical prices have traditionally been determined by their respective finished metal prices, but lately they have shifted towards each being priced independently. Both nickel and cobalt metal are not driven by battery demand, so participants in the chemical products markets are seeking alternatives. In this episode of the Platts Future Energy podcast Scott Yarham, Jesline Tang and Michael Greenfield explore what the current state of play is and the reported move by the market to seek alternative pricing practices. Tell us more about your podcast preferences so we can keep improving our shows. Take our two-minute survey here: https://bit.ly/plattspod22

Jul 11, 2022 • 24min
A better way to finance energy efficiency investment
Energy efficiency as a service, or EEaaS, represents a growing model for investing in energy efficiency improvements allowing customers to reduce costs and emissions over the long term while minimizing or avoiding upfront expense. So how does it work? Aaron Block, CEO of Allumia, a leading EEaaS firm, joins us for this episode to break it down. 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!

Jun 28, 2022 • 24min
Emissions benchmarking in crude markets
In this episode of the Platts Future Energy podcast, Varaleka Pant and Arsalan Syed discuss with Deb Ryan the importance of evaluating the carbon intensity for crude and some of the major global crude grades, and explain the need for standards in this space to ensure consistency in low carbon crude trading. Tell us more about your podcast preferences so we can keep improving our shows. Take our two-minute survey here: https://bit.ly/plattspod22

Jun 24, 2022 • 12min
'The next OPEC' – Battery materials startup 6K on risks of US import dependence
The U.S. is highly dependent on other countries for lithium-ion batteries and materials. Aaron Bent, CEO of lithium-ion battery materials startup 6K, told Energy Evolution that could change with new technologies. 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! Inside Koch Industries' push into solar, batteries and electric cars: https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/inside-koch-industries-push-into-solar-batteries-and-electric-cars-69705159

Jun 15, 2022 • 31min
Crunch time for EU carbon market reform as legislators finalise negotiating positions
Attempts to overhaul the EU Emissions Trading System have entered a crunch period as the European Parliament and European Council aim to finalise their negotiating positions by the end of June. The EU Parliament rejected draft legislation proposed by lawmakers in its plenary vote on June 8, but is preparing for a second vote on June 22. EU ETS revisions are being considered against a backdrop of very high energy prices, surging inflation and a military conflict on Europe’s eastern flank. S&P Global Commodity Insights' Frank Watson and Michael Evans take a deep dive into the key elements in the negotiations and why they matter for carbon prices and other energy commodity markets in Europe. Tell us more about your podcast preferences so we can keep improving our shows. Take our two-minute survey here: https://bit.ly/plattspod22

Jun 13, 2022 • 24min
Path to net-zero: How large companies across sectors are tackling emissions
S&P Global Commodity Insights reporters dove into the net-zero goals of companies in the energy, mining, technology and communications, insurance and banking sectors. Several journalists who worked on the project joined us for this episode to discuss what they discovered. The first article in the series is available here: https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/path-to-net-zero-as-regulators-step-in-push-for-climate-disclosure-intensifies-70485484 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!

Jun 3, 2022 • 19min
‘TiVoing electricity’: How Wärtsilä is solving renewable energy’s biggest problem
Energy storage is a crucial piece of technology for advancing the energy transition. Andrew Tang, vice president of energy storage and optimization with Wärtsilä, joins Energy Evolution to talk about how batteries can overcome intermittency — the "Achilles heel" of renewable energy sources. 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!