Energy Evolution

Jonathan Silver, chair of the Global Climate Council at Apollo Global Management and co-founder of Multiplier, shares expert insights on clean energy financing. He discusses the challenges startups face in connecting with customers and navigating fundraising. Silver highlights the impact of political shifts on clean energy investments, yet emphasizes the unstoppable momentum of clean technologies. He also touches on the vital role of federal support, explores future opportunities in solar and wind, and addresses the necessity for clear corporate messaging amidst political changes.

In this episode of Energy Evolution, host Eklavya Gupte speaks with Tim Gould, chief energy economist at the International Energy Agency (IEA). Gould shares his insights on how the expansion of renewables, coupled with geopolitics and evolving economic policies, is reshaping energy security. Gould explains the need to adapt energy supply security measures as the growth of clean energy leads to new risks, such as those arising from critical minerals and supply chain vulnerabilities. He also tells us how the IEA is beginning to see some shifts in broader energy investment trends due to a “climate of uncertainty" exacerbated by escalating trade tensions. This interview was recorded at the Summit on the Future of Energy Security in London, where representatives from over 60 governments and several energy companies convened to collaborate on the key issues facing energy markets. 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 moderates a panel discussion at the Tom Tom Festival in Charlottesville, Virginia, focusing on the question of how to fund solutions to climate change.  The panelists highlighted the current challenges faced by climate tech companies in securing funding, particularly in a volatile political and economic landscape. Their conversation delves into the complexities of measuring climate impact, the importance of transparency in forecasting, and the necessity for businesses to effectively communicate their value propositions to both investors and the public.  The panel features Anne Clawson, principal at Cascade Advisory; Bettina Ring, Virginia state director for the Nature Conservancy; Gilman Callsen, founder and CEO of Rho Impact; and Michael Bobbin, senior director of mergers and acquisitions advisory at DNV. The podcast includes highlights from the lengthier April 17 discussion.  Energy Evolution has merged with Platts Future Energy, and episodes are now regularly published on Tuesdays. 

The International Maritime Organization recently agreed to a global deal to tackle shipping emissions after over a year of tense and fraught talks, with the US dramatically exiting discussions. The agreement includes mandatory marine fuel standards and a carbon trading mechanism. It will need to be adopted in October, but some countries still vocally oppose the measures. In this episode of Energy Evolution, host Eklavya Gupte speaks with Commodity Insights journalist Max Lin, Edmund Hughes from the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA), and Georgios Kasimatis from DNV Maritime to gain insight into the complexities of these regulations and their implications for the decarbonization of the maritime sector. Energy Evolution has merged with Platts Future Energy, and episodes are now regularly published on Tuesdays. 

Efforts to simplify the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism reflect a broader struggle within the bloc to balance environmental goals with economic realities. In this episode of Energy Evolution, host Eklavya Gupte speaks with Commodity Insights senior director Coralie Laurencin, Dan Maleski of Redshaw Advisors, and Nick Ogilvie of CarbonChain, who dig deep into what these proposed changes mean for both the EU’s industrial and climate strategy and the broader global energy transition. The guests also provide us with insight on how various industries, commodities, governments and policymakers are reacting to the carbon pricing mechanism, which is expected to have a profound impact on global trade. Energy Evolution has merged with Platts Future Energy, and episodes are now regularly published on Tuesdays.

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.

In this discussion, guest Camilla Naschert, a podcast correspondent, delves into the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal and its attempts to boost the clean tech sector amidst aggressive global competition. She analyzes the €100 billion investment aimed at avoiding deindustrialization. Ben McWilliams from think tank Bruegel highlights the dynamics of clean tech trade, addressing the challenges posed by Chinese imports while emphasizing the need for stronger domestic manufacturing. They compare Europe's strategies to the U.S., highlighting crucial investment differences in clean technology.

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.

In this episode of Energy Evolution, host Taylor Kuykendall engages with more industry leaders at CERAWeek, including Maria Pope, CEO of Portland General Electric; John Pettigrew, CEO of National Grid; and Rebecca Kujawa, CEO of NextEra Energy.  The discussion revolves around the rapid growth of datacenters and the evolving energy landscape. Pope highlights the significant role of semiconductor manufacturing and AI in shaping energy consumption patterns. Pettigrew discusses National Grid's ambitious $75 billion capital investment plan, focusing on enhancing network reliability and capacity to accommodate increasing energy demands. Kujawa underscores the importance of renewable energy and storage solutions in meeting new load growth driven not only by AI but also by reshoring manufacturing capabilities in the US. Energy Evolution has merged with Platts Future Energy, and episodes are now regularly published on Tuesdays.