

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

Nov 10, 2023 • 34min
Fighting climate change with carbon offsets and fossil fuel retirement credits
On this episode of Energy Evolution, we are talking about carbon offset markets and oil and gas retirement credits. What function do these tools serve in the broader decarbonization push, and how exactly are we calculating them anyway? What are the policies needed to make these offsets and credits work appropriately? How useful are these mechanisms in comparison to directly reducing emissions? Listen in to find out! Today’s speakers include Brad Handler, Program Manager for the Sustainable Finance Lab at the Colorado School of Mines’ Payne Institute for Public Policy, and Brian Prest, an economist and fellow at nonprofit Resources for the Future. Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the energy and mining sectors. In addition, 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!

Nov 3, 2023 • 22min
Biodiversity and wind power: Are they at odds, and what are the solutions?
Wind turbines are essential tools for the transition to cleaner energy systems, but as the buildout progresses, questions around their biodiversity impact on land and offshore are becoming louder. Many new projects face legal challenges over the protection of birds in particular. In Europe, the energy crisis following the war in Ukraine has led policymakers to reduce the compliance burden for new projects on land. Offshore, biodiversity advocates warn that a vast wind buildout risks the extinction of seabirds and sea animals. In our 100th episode of Energy Evolution, we hear from Lena Fritsche of wind developer ABO Wind about long delays to new projects due to biodiversity rules, and from Ewout van Galen, director of the North Sea Foundation, which works to protect ecosystems in one of the world’s busiest seas. Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the energy and mining sectors. In addition, 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! Read the full article on biodiversity considerations for wind power here: https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/biodiversity-questions-loom-larger-as-europe-s-wind-fleet-expands-77364736

Oct 27, 2023 • 22min
Power of AI: How artificial intelligence is changing the energy and mining sectors
Energy Evolution and Capitol Crude join forces to co-host today's episode, all about artificial intelligence being deployed in the energy and mining sectors. This week's guests are some of the journalists from the S&P Global Commodity Insights newsroom who worked together to write an expansive series of articles on the impact of AI. The pieces look at predictions around how much electricity demand AI will generate, the ways AI is improving productivity, resource discovery and trading, and more. In addition to the co-hosts and regular contributors to Energy Evolution, the podcast features Commodity Insights reporters Jared Anderson and Kip Keen. Capitol Crude is available on your platform of choice, including Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/capitol-crude-the-us-energy-policy-podcast/id1165562661 Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the energy and mining sectors. In addition, 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! A selection of stories from the Power of AI series: Wild predictions of electricity demand from AI put industry on edge https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/power-of-ai-wild-predictions-of-electricity-demand-from-ai-put-industry-on-edge-77859037 Surging datacenter load has Dominion bracing for AI's added demand https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/power-of-ai-surging-datacenter-load-has-dominion-bracing-for-ai-s-added-demand-77792886 AI's big promises start to deliver for miners adopting new tech https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/power-of-ai-ai-s-big-promises-start-to-deliver-for-miners-adopting-new-tech-77649571 Methane satellites proliferate, relying on AI to handle data deluge https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/power-of-ai-methane-satellites-proliferate-relying-on-ai-to-handle-data-deluge-77766461 While automation steams ahead, commodity traders eye AI cautiously https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/power-of-ai-while-automation-steams-ahead-commodity-traders-eye-ai-cautiously-77685642

Oct 20, 2023 • 35min
The hockey Hall-of-Famer installing geothermal systems in New York
Former New York Rangers goaltender Mike Richter has a long list of achievements on the ice, from winning a Stanley Cup to an Olympic silver medal. But in this episode of Energy Evolution, he joins to discuss his post-hockey career and current role as president of Brightcore Energy, which provides energy efficiency retrofits for the commercial sector, including innovative geothermal heating and cooling systems for buildings in dense, urban environments. Richter also shares thoughts on lessons from hockey he brings to cleantech, and the impact of climate change on winter sports. Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the energy and mining sectors. In addition, 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!

Oct 13, 2023 • 15min
Why there are so few women at the top of energy companies and why it matters
In this episode of Energy Evolution, the team talks about gender diversity in the boardrooms of energy companies. Thought gender parity was already in reach? Well, think again. Women hold less than 20% of c-suite leadership positions in utilities in the US and Europe, a data analysis by S&P Global showed. Abbie Bennett and Camilla Naschert, reporters covering the energy transition, discuss some of the key barriers to career progression and ways companies can improve gender diversity. We also hear from Meade Harris, the CEO of women energy leaders network Hawthorn Club, who shares stories from women energy executives and suggestions for men looking to support female colleagues in their careers. Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the energy and mining sectors. In addition, 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!

Oct 6, 2023 • 25min
National Grid Ventures' US Northeast President on the future of US offshore wind and more
In this episode of the Energy Evolution podcast by S&P Global Commodity Insights, co-host Dan Testa interviews Will Hazelip, president of National Grid Ventures, U.S. Northeast, about the company's involvement in offshore wind along the U.S. Atlantic Coast, renewable projects in the Midwest, and electric transmission projects in Europe. Hazelip emphasizes the need for offshore wind to meet decarbonization goals in the U.S. Northeast and in Europe, and discusses the challenges faced by offshore wind developers due to macroeconomic factors such as rising interest rates, inflation, and struggling supply chains. The episode also touches on National Grid Ventures' business in subsea electricity interconnectors between Britain and its neighbors, and opportunities for competitive electric transmission lines in the U.S. Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the energy and mining sectors. In addition, 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!

Oct 3, 2023 • 18min
Emerging battery technologies: Will sodium-ion batteries be a low-cost game changer?
In this series of podcasts, we explore and compare different battery chemistries against the dominant lithium-ion battery sector. Sodium-ion batteries have emerged as a strong competitor to lithium-ion batteries, particularly in the energy storage sector. Some have even hailed it as a game-changer in the entry-level or low-cost EV segment, and that it could threaten the long-standing dominance of lithium-ion batteries in the EV sector. In this episode, battery metals experts Euan Sadden, Leah Chen and Henrique Ribeiro explore the technical differences between sodium-ion and lithium-ion batteries, the pros and cons of sodium-ion batteries, and whether it ultimately plays a competitive or complementary role to lithium-ion batteries. Further reading Lithium price rally opens door for sodium-ion batteries Lithium demand destruction looms as project delays, cost pressures mount Related price assessments BATHY04 - Lithium Hydroxide DDP China Yuan/mt BATCA04 - Lithium Carbonate DDP China Yuan/mt BATLH04 - Lithium Hydroxide CIF North Asia $/mt BATLC04 - Lithium Carbonate CIF North Asia $/mt

Sep 29, 2023 • 30min
Improving nickel sustainability for electric vehicle batteries
On this episode of Energy Evolution, our guests discuss sustainability and reporting standards for nickel mining, an industry key to supporting electric vehicle battery production. Today’s guests include Alessandra Carreon, a member of the Michigan Public Service Commission; Ro Dhawan, CEO of the International Council on Mining and Metals; and Chris Showalter, CEO of Lifezone Metals. Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the energy and mining sectors. In addition, 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!

Sep 27, 2023 • 16min
How compressed air can make it easier to close coal, natural gas plants
In this episode of Energy Evolution, co-host Taylor Kuykendall interviews Curtis VanWalleghem, CEO of Hydrostor. VanWalleghem talks about his company's compressed air technology and the importance of using long-duration energy storage in the transition to clean energy. Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the energy and mining sectors. In addition, 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!

Sep 26, 2023 • 19min
American steelmakers lead in clean production amid global decarbonization efforts
Against the backdrop of Europe’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and a self-imposed deadline for a US Global Arrangement on Sustainable Steel and Aluminum, American steelmakers are stepping up investments in clean energy and working to ensure efforts to produce lower-emissions steel are recognized on the global stage. So how will policymakers view their initiatives, and will end-users be willing to pay more for material with a reduced-CO2 profile? S&P Global Commodity Insights' Christopher Davis, regional pricing director for metals in the Americas, talks with head of Americas metals news Justine Coyne and low-carbon electricity analyst Danylo Babkov about these topics and more. Related prices: Platts European HR Carbon-Accounted Steel Premium Eur/mt (EHRSA00) Platts Northwest Europe HRC Carbon-Accounted Steel Price Eur/mt (EHRSC00) Platts Ni-Co black mass DDP US $/mt (NBNED00) Related podcasts: How is Europe’s steel industry rising to the challenge of energy transition Decarbonization efforts in India: how ready is the steel industry? How will the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism affect global trade and carbon pricing?