Energy Evolution

As more of the world’s power grids are supplied with renewables, accurate weather forecasting has become an increasingly important asset for power utilities. In this episode of Energy Evolution, correspondent Camilla Naschert speaks to Malte Rieck, meteorologist at Vattenfall, about the key parameters his team is watching, how AI is becoming a sharper tool for forecasting, and how extreme weather events may change the output profile of renewables fleets in the future.   Subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay current on the energy transition and its implications.

With the world’s renewable energy capacity reaching record levels, attention has shifted to the risks involved in sourcing critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and graphite, essential for sustaining these industries. China’s dominance over global critical minerals supply chains has led the US, EU, and other major consumers to diversify their foreign sources while also developing domestic resources and strengthening recycling capacity. In this podcast, S&P Global Commodity Insights’ Euan Sadden, senior editor for EMEA, is joined by Leah Chen, team lead for battery metals, and Nick Trickett, senior analyst for metals and mining. They examine this dynamic and consider whether China should be recognized as a partner or a competitor by Western economies in the realm of critical minerals and the renewable energy transition. Price assessments (subscriber content): BATCA04 Lithium Carbonate DDP China BATCN00 Recycled Lithium Carbonate DDP China  BATLS00 Lithium Spodumene 5.5% Li2O CIF China  BATSP03 Lithium Spodumene 6% FOB Australia  BATSS00 Lithium Spodumene 0.1% differential    LCCIF00 Lithium Carbonate CIF Europe  BATLA00 Lithium Triangle (LiT) FOB   ANINO00 Low-Grade Nickel Ore  ANIOC00 High-grade Nickel Ore

For this week's episode, Energy Evolution presents an episode of the Platts Commodities Focus podcast, another show in the network of S&P Global Commodity Insights' podcasts. Political experts say Nov. 5 will likely become known as one of the most pivotal elections in US history. Whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris wins the presidency, and whether Republicans or Democrats control Congress, the energy sector faces major potential shifts. There will be implications for supply chains, energy infrastructure, and the overall direction of US energy markets. Jasmin Melvin, senior editor and team lead for The Energy Daily, leads a discussion on what's at stake in the oil, gas, power and metals arenas with Commodity Insights reporters and analysts Zack Hale, Taylor Kuykendall, Starr Spencer and Anna Mosby. They examine the polarizing energy positions from the presidential candidates and how a potentially divided Congress could reshape energy policy. 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, routinely featuring the work of Commodity Insights journalists, including regular correspondent Camilla Naschert. 

In this episode of the Energy Evolution podcast, the focus is on the rise and fall of California solar pioneer SunPower, as well as its potential for a rebirth following a recent asset sale in its ongoing bankruptcy process. S&P Global Commodity Insights senior reporter Garrett Hering shares an interview with T.J. Rodgers, the former chairman of SunPower and founding CEO of Cypress Semiconductor, SunPower's former corporate parent. They delve into SunPower's history, its challenges, and the potential impact of its bankruptcy on the broader energy landscape and transition to lower-carbon energy. Rodgers, who has a long history with SunPower, shares his ambition to breathe new life into the company through the acquisition of key assets out of bankruptcy. 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, routinely featuring the work of Commodity Insights journalists, including regular correspondent Camilla Naschert. 

Ina Chirita, the Europe lead on biofuels research at S&P Global Commodity Insights, and Jamie Dorner, the US biofuels Senior Principal Research Analyst, dive deep into the evolving landscape of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). They discuss how different policies in Europe and the US impact production, highlighting Europe’s strict mandates versus America's incentive-based approach. The challenges of feedstock availability and fluctuating market conditions are explored, along with predictions for future SAF production capacities and their implications for the global market.

This episode of Energy Evolution features an interview with Corrado De Gasperis, Chairman and CEO of Comstock Inc., who explains the company's shift from a focus on precious metals mining to new business lines as well, including urban mining and recycling materials from end-of-life electrification products and solar panels. Comstock aims to commercialize decarbonization technologies while addressing the growing need for sustainable mineral sources. 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, which routinely features regular correspondents Camilla Naschert and Camellia Moors.

As airlines look to decarbonize and governments crack down on heavy industry carbon emissions, some in the aviation industry are turning to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). In this episode, correspondents Camellia Moors and Camilla Naschert speak with experts from across the SAF industry about what SAF is, how it’s being used, its potential to curb carbon emissions and the biggest challenges and opportunities in its global uptake. Today’s guests are Andrew Chen, principal for aviation decarbonization at RMI; Dick Benschop, board member and senior fellow at the Mission Possible Partnership; Phil Moore, global head of sustainable aviation fuel at EcoCeres; and Daniel Chereau, head of fuel at the International Air Transport Association. 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, which routinely features regular correspondents Camilla Naschert and Camellia Moors.

The US Department of Energy is on a roll when it comes to backing the US domestic battery industry.  In July, the agency’s Loan Programs Office announced a conditional commitment of up to $1.2 billion for a direct loan to battery separator, extruder, and engineering services company ENTEK to finance a lithium-ion battery separator facility in Indiana.  In June, the DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy, announced it would give $20 million to solid-state battery company ION Storage Systems for the development and commercialization of the company’s solid-state lithium-metal batteries.  In this episode, correspondent Camellia Moors speaks with Chelsea Sexton, director of the DOE’s Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Loan Program; Kim Medford, president for manufacturing at ENTEK; and Ricky Hannah, CEO and board director of ION, about what the federal government’s support means for the industry and US energy transition goals.  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, which routinely features regular correspondents Camilla Naschert and Camellia Moors. 

On this week’s episode of Energy Evolution, S&P Global Commodity Insights hydrogen specialists Shankari Srinivasan and Catherine Robinson discuss their research on the current state of the hydrogen industry just a few weeks before World Hydrogen Week, which will take place Sept. 30- Oct. 4 in Copenhagen.  While the mood has been dampened by project cancellations, the industry is now moving from planning to delivery, Srinivasan tells podcast correspondent Camilla Naschert. Blue hydrogen, made using gas and carbon capture, will play a major role, especially in Asia and the US, leveraging lower cost differentials and existing infrastructure, Robinson says. Subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay current on the energy transition and its implications.

Marie-Louise Du Bois leads the global carbon pricing team, joined by Dana Agrotti, a low carbon market analyst, Agamoni Ghosh, editor of global compliance carbon pricing, and Eklavya Gupte, editorial lead for carbon news. They discuss CORSIA's impact on aviation emissions and the challenges of carbon credit availability. The conversation dives into the phased implementation of the CORSIA initiative and its significance in the battle against climate change. Issues like market dynamics, supply constraints, and the implications for airlines are also explored, offering insights into the future of sustainable aviation.