Switched On

The passing of the Inflation Reduction Act by the Biden administration was partly designed to stimulate US clean-tech energy projects and equipment production. In the nine months since its introduction, has the IRA succeeded in increasing domestic renewables production, and what has been the reaction to it outside the US? On today’s show Antoine Vagneur-Jones, BNEF’s head of trade and supply chains, returns to talk to Dana. Together, they discuss a variety of topics, including the potential fracturing of existing supply chains as countries attempt to onshore their clean-tech production, the policies that other nations and trading blocs have introduced in response to the IRA, and the dangers posed to international net-zero targets by these structural shifts. BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF Links to research notes from this episode: Energy Transition's New Industrial Landscape - https://about.bnef.com/blog/energy-transitions-new-industrial-landscape/ Europe's Bid to Reshore Clean Tech Pulls Its Punches - https://www.bnef.com/insights/31053 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For more than a century, the ESG label has been used to describe investments that take environmental, social and governance concerns into account. Recently, the label has become a political flashpoint, buffeted between lawsuits from the right and accusations of greenwashing from the left. So where does ESG investing go from here? On today’s show, Dana talks with Maia Godemer, a Senior Associate from BNEF’s Sustainable Finance team. Together they discuss a variety of topics, including how ESG fits into different investment strategies, the greenwashing risks attached to the label, and where ESG sits within the turbulent political landscape in the US. BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF Links to research notes from this episode: Mass ESG Fund Downgrades That Rocked Market May Be Reversed - https://www.bnef.com/news/1131545 Unpacking ESG ETFs' Fall From Grace - https://www.bnef.com/insights/31157 US Lawmakers Hoisted By Own Petard With Anti-ESG Push - https://www.bnef.com/insights/31121 To Stop Greenwashing We First Need to Agree on What It Is - https://www.bnef.com/insights/30359 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Having overtaken China as the world’s most populous nation, and with a developing economy that’s rapidly industrializing, India’s energy demand is growing. But as other countries move toward green energy sources and net-zero targets, can India, this year’s G-20 host, find a way to successfully transition away from its coal-dominated energy market? On today’s show, Dana talks with Rohit Gadre, a Senior Associate from BNEF’s New Delhi office. Together they discuss a variety of topics, including the current makeup of India’s energy sector, the IPPs and global companies taking part in India’s energy auctions, and how – and whether – the country can achieve its net-zero goals. BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CEPSA, the Spanish multinational traditionally known for its oil and gas expertise, is looking toward a greener future with its new Positive Motion strategy. On today's show, Albert Cheung, Deputy CEO at BNEF, speaks with CEPSA CEO Maarten Wetselaar about what it means to rethink the future of a business that has traditionally focused on hydrocarbons. Together they discuss a variety of subjects, including how the implementation of the Positive Motion strategy is successfully transitioning the company across multiple sectors, conflicting approaches between public and private multinational investment in renewables, and recent international competition between nations within the green energy space. Complimentary research from BNEF on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, on bnef.com, or on the BNEF mobile app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Presidential candidate Anies Baswedan spoke to BloombergNEF about his vision for a cleaner future for Indonesia. He shared his views on the country’s 2060 net-zero target, potential funding models for the transition of its domestic energy market, the challenges and opportunities presented by the rapid urbanization of Indonesia’s population, and how a targeted buildup of domestic industry could reduce its overall carbon footprint. Baswedan was interviewed by Ben Vickers, chief editor at BNEF. Complementary research on Indonesia’s transition in energy, transport and commodities can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, on bnef.com, or on the BNEF mobile app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carbon credit schemes in Europe and North America are making the roll-out of electric vehicle charging infrastructure increasingly profitable. In this episode of Switched On, we hear from BloombergNEF’s Ryan Fisher, electric vehicle charging specialist and Jade Patterson, renewable fuels specialist. They discuss what the proliferation of carbon credit schemes means for the future of biofuels and electric vehicles. Will the impacts differ in the near and longer term? What should we keep in mind when considering the role that carbon credit schemes play in decarbonization? This podcast draws upon research found in the BNEF research notes titled EV Chargers, Biofuels Square Off in Billion-Dollar Tussle and Carbon Credits Could Be the Key to EV Charging Conundrum. Complementary research includes 2023 US Biofuels Outlook: Ethanol and Batteries and Biofuels Will Share Europe’s Roads. BNEF subscribers can find research at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, on bnef.com or on the BNEF mobile app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Renewable energy power purchase agreements have been integral to many companies’ sustainability strategies. Google was early to enter this space and is now thinking about how to take its targets a step further with around-the-clock carbon-free energy. But what differentiates Google's new strategy from others that are predominantly based on power purchase agreements, and how does this impact the broader decarbonization of electricity grids? In today’s show, Caroline Golin, global head of energy market development and policy at Google, shares her views. She is interviewed by Kyle Harrison, head of sustainability research at BloombergNEF. Complementary research from BNEF on corporate sustainability strategies and power purchase agreements can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, on bnef.com or on the BNEF mobile app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Although the end of winter is approaching, the energy crisis will not end when flowers bloom in the spring. Policymakers around the world are hard at work and considering the actions that will ensure energy security at an affordable price for their country. In this episode of Switched On, Germany’s Dr. Patrick Graichen, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, sits down in conversation with Emma Champion, Head of Regional Energy Transitions at BloombergNEF. They discuss Germany’s approach to the energy crisis and the things we need to watch in the months, seasons and years ahead. Subscribers can read related research on the energy transition at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, at bnef.com, or on our mobile app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hydrogen's role in the energy transition is hotly debated. Technology costs, the practicalities of distribution and storage, and potential applications in hard-to-abate industries are just a few of the discussion topics surrounding this little molecule. In today’s show, we consider the future of hydrogen by zooming in on the electrolyzer market. Cumulative electrolyzer installations are expected to grow from 2 gigawatts in 2022 to roughly 240 gigawatts by 2030. Europe and China are already major electrolyzer markets, and with the advent of the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the hydrogen market in the United States is likely to grow. Today’s show features BNEF hydrogen analysts Adithya Bashyam and Matthew Bravante, who draw upon insights found in BNEF's Global Electrolyzer Outlook 2030 as they lead us through this fascinating field. Subscribers can read this BNEF research note at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, at bnef.com, or on our mobile app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining market share and reducing transportation-related emissions around the world. Facilitating this roll-out are the critical charging networks. When supplied with clean energy, these networks can further decarbonize vehicles, and their expansion can combat range anxiety and facilitate user adoption. On today’s episode of Switched On, Colin McKerracher, Head of Advanced Transport at BloombergNEF, speaks with Melanie Lane, CEO of Shell Recharge Solutions Europe, about the role of charging networks in the broader EV landscape, challenges the industry is currently facing and how EV networks may shape our future. Related research on Advanced Transportation can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, at bnef.com or on our mobile app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Covid-19 disrupted global supply chains, many people realized for the first time how vulnerable these complex systems really are. Some Western governments have responded by looking to expand manufacturing on their own soil. In today’s episode, we are joined by Antoine Vagneur-Jones, BNEF’s Head of Trade and Supply Chains, to discuss what a turn toward domestic clean-energy manufacturing may mean for battery and solar value chains. As Antoine explains, any such shift would bring benefits – but also come at a cost. This podcast is based on the BNEF Research Note titled Localizing Clean Energy Supply Chains Comes at a Cost. This can be read at BNEF < GO> on the Bloomberg Terminal, at bnef.com or via our mobile app. This episode was produced by Mariko O'Neil. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 27th Conference of the Parties has concluded in Egypt, with the annual UN climate summit finally reaching a deal after two days of overtime. In today’s show, we take a closer look at the Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan. Headed into COP27, many referred to the event as the “implementation COP,” given the need to deliver on previous commitments. To tell us how this year’s COP performed against stated objectives, we speak with Victoria Cuming, global head of policy at BNEF. From loss and damage, to carbon trading, to funding the $100 billion of climate finance promised to developing nations, Vicky shares her scorecard on how this COP measured up against expectations. This podcast is based off the BNEF research note “Implementation COP Fails to Implement Much Climate Action.” It can be read at BNEF< GO> on the Bloomberg Terminal, at bnef.com or via our mobile app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Europe is constructing a more flexible electricity grid to prepare for what is shaping up to be a volatile transition to net zero. There is a range of projects ranging from the mega, such as the proposal to build artificial islands in the North Sea, to the micro, for example, deploying distributed resources to make residential and industrial customers more flexible. In this episode, Sanjeet Sanghera speaks with Chris Peeters, CEO of Elia Group. They explore what Elia is doing in both of these domains of grid flexibility and how Europe is preparing for this winter. Research on electricity grids by BloombergNEF can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, at bnef.com, or on BNEF's mobile app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Natural gas prices remain elevated and security of supply is uncertain. In Europe, the reduced flows of natural gas coming from Russia have impacted everything from home heating to manufacturing. As we head into winter in the Northern Hemisphere, what is likely to happen in natural gas markets and what factors are important to consider when we think about implications beyond this year? In today’s episode, we hear from Stefan Ulrich and Arun Toora, who are both European gas specialists at BNEF. They address outstanding questions like whether Europe has enough gas in storage to make it through this winter and how big of a role demand destruction could play. Complimentary research from BNEF includes the ‘European Gas Winter Outlook 2022: Demand Swings Too Far?’ and ‘Global LNG Winter Outlook 2022-2023.’ These can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, at bnef.com and on our mobile app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The voluntary carbon offsets market is growing as companies and countries look to meet their climate goals. Offsets from agriculture have been getting attention recently. While they comprise only 1% of total offsets today, their potential to spur innovation and change in agricultural practices means there is scope for a much bigger impact. From soil management to livestock-related activities, farmers are at the heart of the agriculture offsets market. Today, we speak about what agriculture carbon offsets are, what one needs to think about when considering whether the emissions reductions are additional, and who is keeping an eye on them. To provide us with those details, Kyle Harrison, Head of Sustainability Research at BNEF, joins us on the show. For further reading on this topic, BNEF subscribers can read, Agriculture Carbon Offsets Outlook: Barren to Bountiful, at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, and bnef.com or via our mobile app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Several countries in Africa are looking to expand their energy systems to meet rising electricity demand. The question remains whether they will industrialize in the same way developed nations have done in the past, or whether they will install a greater proportion of low-carbon technologies. The region is at an inflection point and just like in Robert Frost’s poem The Road Not Taken, choosing the road less traveled may have benefits. As we look ahead to the COP27 summit, which will be held in Egypt in November 2022, climate finance for the developing world will be in the spotlight. Today, we speak with Chasity McFadden, an energy transition analyst at BloombergNEF focused on Africa, about what she is seeing in the region. Through case studies in Namibia and South Africa, we think about what the future energy system could look like in Sub-Saharan Africa. For additional information, BNEF subscribers can read the research notes titled Namibia Spearheads Energy Storage in Sub-Saharan Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa’s Power Technology Debate, and South Africa Tackles Power Outages Through Private Sector. These can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, at bnef.com, or on BNEF's mobile app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Solar has a critical role to play in decarbonizing the global energy system. It also has the potential to reduce power price volatility by increasing domestically produced energy supply in some parts of the world. In 2022, BloombergNEF expects to see yet another record year of solar build. This is all the while the cost of components, materials and projects remains elevated. In today’s episode of Switched On, Dana Perkins speaks with Jenny Chase, head of solar at BNEF, about what is happening in the solar industry today and what she expects to see going forward. This podcast draws upon research found in the BNEF 3Q 2022 Global PV Market Outlook, which can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, at bnef.com, or via our mobile app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Batteries for electric vehicles and stationary storage are increasingly in demand. But while ever-cheaper batteries were expected only a couple of years ago, supply turbulence for the key metals needed has increased prices in 2022 and made future costs uncertain. Depending on the chemistry selected, battery metals can make up 60-80% of a battery’s total cost. Alongside human rights concerns, metals prices have led battery manufacturers to take a closer look at their chemistries. In today’s episode of Switched On, we speak with Kwasi Ampofo, head of metals and mining at BNEF, about the outlook for battery metals – specifically, lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, and graphite. This episode draws upon the research found in BNEF’s 1H 2022 Battery Metals Outlook: Supply Turbulence Ahead, which can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, at bnef.com, or via our mobile app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not long ago, floating offshore wind turbines were treated as conceptual cleantech. More recently, they have become reality with gigawatts of capacity slated for installation within this decade. In this episode, we discuss the potential for floating wind, its growth drivers and cost trends with Oliver Metcalfe, head of wind research at BloombergNEF, and Luisa Amorim, the offshore wind specialist at BNEF. This episode draws upon research found in the BNEF 1H 2022 Offshore Wind Market Outlook and was produced by Sanjeet Sanghera. To access this research, subscribers can find it at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, at bnef.com or via our mobile app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the years following the Fukushima nuclear disaster of 2011, the conversation around decarbonizing the energy sector moved away from nuclear. However, current commodity price volatility has brought nuclear back to the fore and countries that were previously focused on decommissioning nuclear power stations are now, once again, discussing its virtues. Will this spur a nuclear renaissance and how might this time be different from the 1960s and 1970s? What technology breakthroughs could make the future of nuclear different, and will they happen quickly enough to respond to current market signals? To address these questions and more, Dana Perkins speaks with Chris Gadomski, lead nuclear analyst at BloombergNEF. This episode of Switched On draws upon a BNEF research note titled, Nuclear 1H 2022 Market Outlook: Unprecedented Opportunity. To access this research, BNEF subscribers can find it at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, at bnef.com or via our mobile app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.