Energy Evolution

What to know about Africa's green hydrogen potential Dec 20, 2024

With ample renewable resources, several African markets are tipped as key suppliers of green hydrogen for European industry.

In this episode of Energy Evolution, hydrogen analyst Oghosa Erhahon and clean energy investor Kevin Anderson lay out which regions have the biggest potential, which constraints need to be tackled and how to ensure investments benefit local stakeholders.

Beyond the export potential, markets in Africa may also develop significant local off-take for green hydrogen and its derivatives, the experts tell correspondent Camilla Naschert.

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How connecting datacenters to new housing could help address two big issues in California Dec 13, 2024

A proposal by Pacific Gas and Electric and real estate developer Westbank aims to connect datacenters and up to 4,000 new residential units in a net zero district energy system in downtown San Jose, California. The project could be a blueprint for tackling AI-driven datacenter demand and the need for housing.

In this episode, Mike Medeiros, PG&E's vice president of South Bay delivery, talks with Dan Testa about the new project's possibilities.

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COP29 in oil and gas nation Azerbaijan – What was achieved? Dec 06, 2024

In this episode, S&P Global Commodity Insights reporter Eklavya Gupte reflects on the outcomes of UN climate conference COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan in conversation with correspondent Camilla Naschert.

What has been achieved and how did the oil and gas nation do as a host?

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Are the courts an effective tool for climate action? Nov 22, 2024

In this episode of the Energy Evolution Podcast, host Taylor Kuykendall discusses climate litigation with legal experts Hannah Weisman, a professor of law at Penn State University, and Phil Goldberg, special counsel with the Manufacturers Accountability Project.

Weisman argues that litigation is a crucial avenue for accountability in the face of legislative inaction on climate change, while Goldberg contends that courts lack the tools to effectively address broader policy issues and that litigation may divert attention from meaningful legislative solutions. The conversation highlights the differing perspectives on the role of the judiciary in climate action, with Weisman emphasizing the urgency of the crisis and Goldberg cautioning against using the courts as a primary mechanism for policy change.

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What the GOP sweep of the US election means for the energy transition Nov 15, 2024

In the latest episode of Energy Evolution, hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall analyze the energy transition implications of Donald Trump's return to the presidency and the Republican control of Congress.

They discuss potential shifts in energy policy, including anticipated deregulation that may benefit traditional energy sources while slowing the momentum for renewable initiatives. Key topics include the future of the Inflation Reduction Act, the outlook for offshore wind projects, and the evolving landscape for hydrogen and nuclear energy.

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X-energy CEO talks small nuclear reactors, partnership with Amazon Nov 08, 2024

In this episode of the S&P Global Commodity Insights Energy Evolution podcast, host Taylor Kuykendall interviews J. Clay Sell, the CEO of X-energy, a company focused on advanced small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs).

X-energy is pioneering a new generation of nuclear technology that promises safer, more economical, and more efficient power generation. The episode follows the announcement of a recent $500 million Series C financing round led by Amazon. The two companies aim to develop over 5 GW of SMR power projects across the U.S. by 2039. The discussion covers the potential of SMRs, the importance of government support and the challenges of deploying this technology.

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US coal plants are fading, but miners still see a future for the black rock Nov 01, 2024

In this episode of Energy Evolution, host Taylor Kuykendall engages with CEOs Jimmy Brock of CONSOL Energy and Randall Atkins of Ramaco Resources to discuss the evolving role of coal in the energy landscape.

Although coal's share of US electricity generation has declined significantly, both executives argue that coal remains vital, particularly in steel production. They explore coal's diversification into new markets, including rare earth elements and advanced carbon products, while also discussing the future of carbon capture technologies.

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Why electric utilities need meteorologists Oct 25, 2024

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.

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How the 2024 elections could reshape US domestic energy policy Oct 18, 2024

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.

The rise, fall and potential rebirth of solar trailblazer SunPower Oct 11, 2024

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.

Urban mining: Digging for value in electrification waste Oct 04, 2024

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.

The (flight) path to net zero with sustainable aviation fuel Sep 27, 2024

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.

How the US government is charging up the American battery industry Sep 20, 2024

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.

What to watch as hydrogen moves into execution phase Sep 13, 2024

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.

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A closer look at Utah project converting renewables into hydrogen for later use Sep 06, 2024

Today's episode of Energy Evolution is all about the Advanced Clean Energy Storage project in Delta, Utah. ACES will use electrolysis to convert renewable energy into hydrogen and store it so that the otherwise intermittent resources will be dispatchable on demand from storage in large salt caverns underground. The first project will convert and store up to 100 metric tons per day of hydrogen and is expected to enter commercial-scale operations in mid-2025.

Chevron recently acquired Magnum Development LLC and a majority interest in the project, which is a joint venture with Mitsubishi Power Americas.

Our guests discussing the topic are Austin Knight and Michael Ducker. Knight is the vice president of hydrogen for Chevron New Energies, a division of Chevron USA Inc. Ducker is the President & CEO of MHI Hydrogen Infrastructure, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Power Americas and a power solutions brand of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

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.

How an AI-powered robot is speeding up solar installation Aug 30, 2024

This week's episode of Energy Evolution features a conversation with Deise Yumi Asami, the founder of Maximo, an AI-powered robot that automates the heavy lifting for placing and attaching solar modules. The project is being run by AES Corp., a Virginia-based utility and power generation company.

In the episode, Asami explains how the robot uses AI to improve its own performance, how it is changing the way solar is installed and the broader implications of AI and automation in the energy transition.

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.

Adair Turner on Trump 2.0, Chinese solar panels and the hydrogen hype Aug 23, 2024

This week on Energy Evolution we hear from Lord Adair Turner, British businessman and former chairman of the UK Financial Services Authority.

Turner is now heading up the Energy Transitions Commission, an industrial collective. He tells Taylor Kuykendall and Camilla Naschert about the risks he sees for America's climate goals if Donald Trump is re-elected, the challenges of deindustrialization in Europe and why a carbon border is needed.

Turner also argues that concerns over dependence on Chinese cleantech are overblown and that AI datacenters may need regulatory guardrails.

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 business case for solar power in the US energy transition Aug 16, 2024

Solar power is the fastest growing source of electricity in the US. But as adoption of solar and other renewable power generation grows, developers are facing new realities when it comes to financing projects and setting expectations about their returns.

In this episode, guest Sheldon Kimber, founder and CEO of independent power producer Intersect Power, speaks with correspondent Camellia Moors about the business case for solar power development in the US, some of the policies surrounding the industry, and solar power’s role in the US energy transition.

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.

What it means to be green: Steel market lacks consensus on what low-carbon looks like Aug 09, 2024

“Green steel” is becoming an increasingly desirable product around the world as more end users establish decarbonization goals and legislation like the EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) goes into effect. But with no single definition, steel market participants are having to come up with their own standards as they pursue lower-carbon steelmaking.

In this episode, Laura Varriale, managing editor of the ferrous metals team, EMEA, at S&P Global Commodity Insights and Guido Kerkhoff, management board chairman and CEO of the European unit of German steel service company Klöckner & Co., talk about the state of the European and US green steel markets, challenges and advancements, and how steel trading might be affected by CBAM and the decarbonization drive.

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.

Direct air capture may sound like science fiction, but investors are taking it seriously Aug 02, 2024

Vacuuming CO2 out of the atmosphere may be possible, but at a cost of nearly $1,000 per metric ton of carbon captured and stored. Nevertheless, direct air capture is attracting serious investment from the US government, oil and gas companies and Microsoft. In this episode of Energy Evolution, hosts Taylor Kuykendall and Dan Testa and reporter Siri Hedreen discuss what the public and private sectors are doing to make this nascent technology a large-scale commercial reality.

First, they hear from the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Sasha Mackler on why direct air capture is a worthy investment, and why now. Next, Heirloom Carbon Technologies’ Max Scholten tells S&P Global Commodity Insights what the company is doing to lower the cost of carbon removal. Scholten also explains how clean electricity is a limiting factor, and how Heirloom’s technology design attempts to solve for the intermittency of wind and solar energy.

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.

Unintended consequences: When politicians reshape utility regulation Jul 26, 2024

In this episode of Energy Evolution, host Taylor Kuykendall and S&P Global Commodity Insights climate and energy reporter Karin Rives discuss the increasing involvement of state lawmakers in electric utility regulations and their impact on the power industry and ratepayers.

Guests on today's show are Lillian Federico, a research director with Commodity Insights, California state Senator Josh Becker and Paul Alvarez with the consulting firm Wired Group.

They highlight how the energy transition and concerns over climate change have prompted lawmakers to shape energy policy, disrupting the traditional relationship between regulators, politicians and ratepayer advocates.

The episode explores various cases where legislators have pushed for utility investments, resulting in unintended consequences and financial burdens for ratepayers. It also examines the challenges of regulatory lag and the uncertainty created by swings in 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, which routinely features regular correspondents Camilla Naschert and Camellia Moors.

Climate tech as economic driver — a chat with former US Commerce Secretary Bill Daley Jul 19, 2024

In this episode of the Energy Evolution podcast, host Taylor Kuykendall interviews William "Bill" Daley, who was White House Chief of Staff under President Barack Obama and Commerce Secretary during the administration of President Bill Clinton. Daley joined Taylor to discuss the role of climate technologies in driving economic growth and job creation. Daley explained the work of Crux Climate, a sustainable finance technology company, and how they facilitate the transferability of energy credits. He also emphasized the need for government support and investment in advanced manufacturing and new energy sources. Daley also highlighted the opportunities for economic development in various sectors, including solar, wind, batteries, hydrogen and nuclear energy. Daley also addressed the role of large organizations in the climate technology space and the importance of a balanced approach to energy sources.

Subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay current on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

Five years later, looking back at the Berkeley gas ban Jul 12, 2024

In this episode of Energy Evolution, host Taylor Kuykendall is joined by Tom Dichristopher, senior reporter at S&P Global Commodity Insights, to discuss the movement to ban new gas hookups and require all-electric construction for new buildings.

In 2023, a court struck down a gas ban in Berkeley, California, which was the first of its kind in the nation. The decision came as part of a legal settlement with the California Restaurant Association, and Berkeley will no longer enforce the ban while it goes through the process of repealing it.

The court opinion that led to the settlement is expected to set a precedent for other cities and counties in California and West Coast policymakers to reconsider their own gas bans and building electrification policies. Despite the repeal in Berkeley, many cities in California have implemented their own versions of gas bans, and there is still momentum to transition buildings away from natural gas in several states.

Local areas are exploring options to strengthen building codes and encourage electrification without violating federal energy laws.

Subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay current on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

Five years later, looking back at the Berkeley gas ban Jul 12, 2024

In this episode of Energy Evolution, host Taylor Kuykendall is joined by Tom DiChristopher, senior reporter at S&P Global Commodity Insights, to discuss the movement to ban new gas hookups and require all-electric construction for new buildings.

In 2023, a court struck down a gas ban in Berkeley, California, which was the first of its kind in the nation. The decision came as part of a legal settlement with the California Restaurant Association, and Berkeley will no longer enforce the ban while it goes through the process of repealing it.

The court opinion that led to the settlement is expected to set a precedent for other cities and counties in California and West Coast policymakers to reconsider their own gas bans and building electrification policies. Despite the repeal in Berkeley, many cities in California have implemented their own versions of gas bans, and there is still momentum to transition buildings away from natural gas in several states.

Local areas are exploring options to strengthen building codes and encourage electrification without violating federal energy laws.

Subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay current on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

CORRECTION NOTICE: At one point during the podcast, it was mistakenly said that the gas ban was repealed in April 2024. The ban was repealed in 2023.

So you want to buy an EV: Moving past adoption barriers Jul 05, 2024

Electric vehicles are growing in popularity in the US, but purchasing one can come with a host of hurdles to navigate, from tax credits to charger availability.

In this episode of Energy Evolution, correspondent Camellia Moors interviews Bryan Birsic, CEO of Motor, about the challenges faced by EV drivers and headwinds to wider EV adoption. Backed by The AES Corp. and Mitsubishi Corp., Motor provides services designed to help drivers discover, switch to, and stick with EVs.

Subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay current on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

As the EU cracks down on 'forever chemicals,' is the energy sector prepared? Jun 28, 2024

Also known as 'forever chemicals', PFAS materials can be found in frying pans and rain coats, but also in hydrogen electrolyzers and batteries.

After a group of countries proposed a ban on PFAS chemicals in the EU in 2023, legislators are expected to restrict their use.

On this episode, correspondent Camilla Naschert hears from scientists Christina Jönsson (Research Institutes of Sweden) and Karsten Pinkwart (Fraunhofer Institut) about how this ban could work and what the energy sector now needs to consider in preparation.

Gerardo Familiar of chemicals giant and PFAS maker Chemours argues that the compounds are crucial for the energy transition and that a blanket ban has to be avoided.

Subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay current on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

US government stepping into battery metals where private capital is hesitant Jun 21, 2024

In this episode of Energy Evolution, the teams is joined by two special guests: Jigar Shah, the director of the Loan Programs Office of the US Department of Energy, and Jonathan Evans, the President and CEO of Lithium Americas.

The US Department of Energy has shown interest in the metals and mining space, particularly in critical mineral mining and extraction projects. Additionally, the DOE's Loan Programs Office has committed to providing a $2.26 billion loan to Lithium Nevada Corp. for the construction of a lithium carbonate processing plant at Thacker Pass in Nevada.

Subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay current on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

Europe has voted – What does the rightward shift mean for energy? Jun 14, 2024

Right-wing parties have made gains in the EU parliamentary elections this past week, but a coalition of centrists remains likely.

Correspondent Camilla Naschert tells host Taylor Kuykendall what the result means for energy policymaking in the 27-member bloc.

The main message: Net zero is still on, but the pace of climate lawmaking may slow in coming years.

Subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay current on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

Increasing electric vehicle range with new semiconductor technology Jun 07, 2024

In this episode of Energy Evolution, host Taylor Kuykendall interviews Dan Brdar, the CEO of Ideal Power. Ideal Power is developing a bidirectional semiconductor power switch with a wide range of applications, including electric vehicles, renewable energy and datacenters.

The technology enhances energy efficiency and is starting to gain traction in the industry. Ideal Power is partnering with Stellantis, an automotive giant, to develop a custom power module for use in next-generation electric vehicle platforms.

Brdar says his company's technology can increase the range of electric vehicles by 7% to 10%, addressing the issue of range anxiety that is holding back adoption of new EVs. He also talks about the cost of electric vehicles and the need for a charging infrastructure as challenges for wider EV adoption.

Energy Evolution is a podcast dedicated to exploring the latest innovations, trends, and challenges in the energy sector. We bring you expert interviews, insightful discussions, and thought-provoking analysis to help you stay informed and engaged in the rapidly evolving world of energy.

Subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay current on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

Microreactors promise nuclear power anywhere, deliverable by truck May 31, 2024

Today's episode of Energy Evolution, your podcast for all things energy transition, focuses on small micronuclear reactors and their role in the energy transition. Our guest, Jay Yu, is the founder of Nano Nuclear Energy. Their products include microreactors, which produce one to 20 megawatts of thermal energy that can be used directly as heat or converted to electricity. They are compact, modular, and can be deployed in various locations, including remote areas. They offer a reliable and sustainable source of energy, with reduced greenhouse gas emissions compared to something like a diesel generator. Subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay current on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall. Energy Evolution is a podcast dedicated to exploring the latest innovations, trends, and challenges in the energy sector. We bring you expert interviews, insightful discussions, and thought-provoking analysis to help you stay informed and engaged in the rapidly evolving world of energy.

Bridging the gap between conventional energy resources and newer technologies May 24, 2024

In this episode of Energy Evolution, host Taylor Kuykendall sits down with Emily Easley, CEO of Novus Energy Advisors. Emily, who hails from the Texas oil and gas fields, now works in the world of renewable energy. During their conversation, Taylor and Emily delve into the topic of bridging the gap between conventional fuels and new energy technologies. They explore the lessons that can be learned from both sides of the energy spectrum and how these insights can be applied to drive innovation and sustainability.

Subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay current on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

Venture capital arm of mining giant Vale hunting for sustainable mining tech May 17, 2024

In this episode of Energy Evolution, Taylor Kuykendall interviews Bruno Arcadier, head of Vale Ventures, the venture capital arm of international mining giant Vale. Vale Ventures aims to invest in cutting-edge technologies that will revolutionize the mining industry and make it more sustainable. The mining sector plays a critical role in the energy transition because metals like copper, nickel and cobalt are essential components in renewable energy technologies. The challenges in promoting the energy transition in mining include decarbonizing the supply chain, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and addressing waste management. Vale Ventures focuses on four verticals: decarbonization, circular mining, sustainable mining of the future, and energy transition metals. Arcadier said the company takes a portfolio approach to mitigate risks associated with early-stage investments. He also said that Vale Ventures not only provides capital but also offers access to expertise, R&D centers, partnerships and a global network of experts.

Maintaining reliability in the face of an increasingly complex US power grid May 10, 2024

As utilities grapple with how best to expand the US electric grid to improve reliability and support technologies like electric vehicles, they’re turning to a host of technologies like grid storage and AI that can help with planning and managing new demands.

On this week’s episode, co-host Taylor Kuykendall and correspondent Camellia Moors speak with guests Anthony Allard, executive vice president and head of North America at Hitachi Energy, Josh Brumberger, CEO of Utilidata, Robert Piconi, chairman and CEO of Energy Vault, and Paul Doherty, principal communications representative at PG&E.

Subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay current on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

Space-based solar: Vast promises and major challenges May 03, 2024

Capturing solar energy in space promises 24/7 renewable energy at a competitive cost. But to get space solar to scale, scientists and engineers need to tackle questions around technology management in space, social acceptance of power beaming and ground infrastructure, as well as financing hurdles.

On this week's episode of Energy Evolution, reporter Camilla Naschert discusses all of this with Sanjay Vijendran, who leads the European Space Agency's space solar program, and Martin Soltau, founder and co-CEO of UK startup Space Solar.

Subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay current on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

The century-old US law complicating offshore wind goals Apr 26, 2024

A maritime law from 1920 prevents non-US ships from operating in and out of US ports. The problem for offshore wind? There are no large turbine installation ships under US flag yet.

In this episode of Energy Evolution, we hear from industry experts how the Jones Act affects a fledgling offshore wind buildout and how developers found workarounds to get turbines offshore.

Guests are Dominion Energy SVP Mark Mitchell, Ørsted SVP Troy Patton and S&P Global Commodity Insights analyst John Murray. Subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay current on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

How renewables and AI drive cyber threats for utilities Apr 19, 2024

Cyber threats are mounting for utilities' critical infrastructure assets globally. If used by savvy hackers, AI also provides new tools for those trying to disrupt power supply or extract data.

Decentralization of assets through the rollout of renewables is growing the attack vector for malign actors, NERC SVP Manny Cancel tells Energy Evolution correspondent Camilla Naschert.

Cybersecurity expert Andrew Ginter of Waterfall Security lays out the threat landscape and why IT teams and engineers need to layer their prevention approaches.

Subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay current on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

Catching up with Innovators throughout the battery materials supply chain Apr 12, 2024

Wrapping up the series of episodes featuring interviews gathered at CERAWeek by S&P Global, co-host of Energy Evolution Taylor Kuykendall shares bits of conversations with executives from new, innovative companies across different parts of the battery materials supply chain. Guests on this episode are: Gabi Knesel, a senior vice president at Locus Fermentation Solutions; Mahesh Konduru, CEO of Momentum Technologies; Srini Godavarthy, CEO of Li Metal; and John Busbee, the CEO and co-founder of Xerion Advanced Battery Corp.

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.

National Grid, Portland General Electric CEOs share thoughts on the energy transition Apr 05, 2024

Energy Evolution continues to showcase interviews with influential leaders in the energy transition after co-host Taylor Kuykendall returned from CERAWeek 2024 by S&P Global, the company's flagship energy conference.

In this episode of the Energy Evolution podcast, Maria Pope, President and CEO of Portland General Electric, and John Pettigrew, CEO of National Grid, discuss the future of energy and the challenges facing the industry in the coming years. PGE provides electricity to a service area with a population of about 1.9 million people. National Grid is a large investor-owned utility with operations in the UK and in the northeastern US.

Subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay current on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Svante CEOs on the future of carbon capture Apr 03, 2024

Energy Evolution continues to showcase interviews with influential leaders in the energy transition after co-host Taylor Kuykendall returned from CERAWeek 2024 by S&P Global, the company's flagship energy conference.

For this episode, Taylor sat down with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America CEO Takajiro Ishikawa and Svante President and CEO Claude Letourneau about the past and future of carbon capture projects. Carbon capture is a key technology for reducing emissions, particularly for hard-to-abate sectors such as heavy industry and transportation. These sectors are responsible for significant global carbon emissions and are difficult to decarbonize using conventional methods. Carbon capture technology offers a promising solution by capturing carbon dioxide emissions before they are released into the atmosphere and storing them safely and securely.

Subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay current on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

Catching up with the CEO behind the largest clean energy infrastructure project in US history Mar 29, 2024

Energy Evolution continues to showcase interviews with influential leaders in the energy transition as co-host Taylor Kuykendall returns from CERAWeek 2024, by S&P Global, the company's flagship energy conference.

In this episode, we talk with Hunter Armistead, the CEO of Pattern Energy. Pattern Energy is developing SunZia Wind and Transmission to capture energy from the winds of New Mexico to power three million Americans in the western US. Hunter and Taylor talk about the challenges and opportunities of renewable energy, the importance of transmission in meeting demand, and the role of green fuels. They also touch on the difficulties of financing large-scale projects like SunZia, as well as the policy changes that could make it easier to build transmission and allocate costs.

Subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay current on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

Energy transition insights from a former DOE Secretary and the COP24 President Mar 27, 2024

Energy Evolution continues to showcase interviews with influential leaders in the energy transition as co-host Taylor Kuykendall returns from CERAWeek 2024, by S&P Global, the company's flagship energy conference.

On this episode, we start with a chat with Ernest Moniz, former US energy secretary under the Obama administration, and now president and CEO of the Energy Futures Initiative think tank. Then, we talk to Michał Kurtyka, a fellow with the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center, the first minister of Poland’s Ministry of Climate and the President of COP24 — the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties in Poland.

In wide-ranging conversations, Energy Evolution talks to the two officials about policy changes, the need to act on climate and rapidly changing energy technologies — from coal to hydrogen to fusion.

Subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay current on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

Curbing emissions in the oil and gas industry Mar 22, 2024

This week, Energy Evolution reports from CERAWeek, S&P Global's flagship energy conference.

Today’s conversation is with Colin Parfitt, vice president of Midstream at Chevron Corporation.

Parfitt discussed Chevron’s approach to cutting carbon emissions intensity in the oil and gas business amid growing energy demand, the role of liquified natural gas in the energy space, and the pace of energy sector decarbonization with podcast co-host Taylor Kuykendall on the sidelines of the event.

Subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay current on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

Virtual power plants and the future electric grid Mar 21, 2024

This week, Energy Evolution reports from CERAWeek, S&P Global's flagship energy conference.

Today’s conversation is with Meghan Nutting, executive vice president of Government and Regulatory Affairs at Sunnova Energy.

Virtual power plants (VPPs) can help manage grid demand and support electrification, Nutting told podcast co-host Taylor Kuykendall on the sidelines of the event. She also talked about Sunnova’s Project Hestia, how VPPs may fit in with large conventional power plants, and policy levers to support solar power deployment.

Subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay current on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

Commodities leave crisis era as demand booms, economist says Mar 20, 2024

This week, Energy Evolution reports from CERAWeek, S&P Global's flagship energy conference.

While the event has become increasingly focused on the energy transition, one commodity trading house says the good times for fossil fuels are far from over.

Demand for oil and gas, as well as key metals such as copper, is set to grow across most global markets, Trafigura chief economist Saad Rahim tells Taylor Kuykendall on the sidelines of the event.

Subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay current on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

AI is changing the energy system, putting premium on flexibility Mar 19, 2024

This week, Energy Evolution reports from CERAWeek, S&P Global's flagship energy conference.

Our first conversation from the 'Super Bowl of energy' is with Arshad Mansoor, president of the Electric Power Research Institute.

With AI changing the energy landscape at lightning speed, grid flexibility is increasingly indispensable, Mansoor tells podcast co-host Taylor Kuykendall.

Given that, innovation and deployment of small modular reactors and hydrogen cannot come fast enough, Mansoor says.

Subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay current on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

Previewing 2024 cleantech trends ahead of CERAWeek 2024 Mar 15, 2024

Energy Evolution podcast co-host Taylor Kuykendall interviews researchers behind S&P Global Commodity Insights' Top Ten Cleantech Trends in 2024 for insight into what might be at the front of mind as energy leaders from around the world converge in Houston for CERAWeek 2024.

This show's guests are Cormac Gilligan, an associate director at S&P Global Commodity Insights who focuses on solar and energy storage research, and D'avack Francesco, principal analyst, global power and renewables, climate & sustainability for S&P Global Commodity Insights.

Subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay current on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

Decarbonizing heavy industry with technology and policy Mar 13, 2024

What industries produce the most greenhouse gas emissions, and how are they changing as the energy transition proceeds? What are the major technological and policy solutions to cutting emissions in the iron and steel, chemicals, and cement and concrete sectors?

Energy Evolution correspondent Camellia Moors spoke with Jeff Rissman, senior director for industry at Energy Innovation, about his new book on industrial emissions and emissions mitigation strategies, Zero-Carbon Industry: Transformative Technologies and Policies to Achieve Sustainable Prosperity.

Subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay up to date on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

Building from scrap: Fueling EV batteries with recycled materials Mar 08, 2024

As electric vehicle and clean energy technology demand ramps up, so is interest in sourcing the critical minerals they need from recycled materials.

Energy Evolution correspondent Camellia Moors spoke with guests Ahmad Ghahreman, CEO, president and co-founder of rare earths recycler Cyclic Materials, and Julian Proelss, director of business management battery recycling at chemical company BASF, about how these materials are extracted from old equipment and used in new batteries.

Subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay up to date on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

Powering up the US EV battery manufacturing boom in Michigan Mar 01, 2024

Green tech, mining and energy company Fortescue announced in January that it plans to create an advanced manufacturing hub in Detroit, joining a host of companies starting up or expanding EV battery production facilities around the US.

What does Fortescue’s announcement mean for the Michigan EV battery supply chain, and how is the state working to encourage similar projects? How do investments in US EV battery production stack up against those around the world?

Energy Evolution correspondent Camellia Moors spoke with guests Quentin Messer Jr., CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and President and Chair of the Michigan Strategic Fund, and Nick Nigro, founder of data-driven research and advisory group Atlas Public Policy.

Tune in to Energy Evolution to stay up to date on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

Are cheaper solar panels opening up less sunny markets? Feb 23, 2024

The price of solar photovoltaic modules has declined around 40% in the past year due to high production in China.

In this episode of Energy Evolution, we're exploring whether cheaper panels are unlocking the business case to build utility-scale solar in the Nordic region. With much fewer sun hours and ample wind and hydro, these northern European countries are no solar hubs – but this is starting to change.

Energy Evolution correspondent Camilla Naschert spoke to Warren Campbell and Peter Tornberg of renewables developers Alight and OX2, as well as Justin FitzHugh of investment bank Arctic Securities, bringing a perspective from a region warming to solar energy.

Tune in to Energy Evolution to stay up-to-date on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

Crux co-founder on how the transferability of tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act is leveling the energy playing field Feb 16, 2024

On this episode Energy Evolution podcast interviews Alfred Johnson, CEO and co-founder of Crux, about the shift towards clean energy and the tax credits offered by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA is creating hundreds of billions of dollars in tax credits for companies that deploy renewable energy. Transferable tax credits enable companies to sell those credits and access capital quickly. Crux is a platform for developers, tax credit buyers, and financial institutions to transact and manage transferable tax credits. The company’s inaugural market report on the state of clean energy tax credit transactions found that there was between $7 billion and $9 billion in volume of 2023 tax credit transactions. They reported that the transferability of the credits levels the playing field for smaller projects and new technologies.

Please 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.

Robotic power plant inspectors can boost sustainability by catching problems early Feb 09, 2024

In this episode of the Energy Evolution podcast by S&P Global Commodity Insights, Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall speak to Troy Demmer, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer for Gecko Robotics, and Gilman Callsen, CEO and Founder of Rho Impact, about the use of robots in power plant inspections for sustainability. These robots can identify potential problems in power plants, allowing for preventive maintenance and reducing the reliance on backup generation sources, thus lowering emissions. Rho Impact has reported that robotic inspections combined with decision-making software could eliminate the equivalent of up to 4.8% of annual emissions in the US.

Please 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.

How a rural co-op is using artificial intelligence to get the most out of renewables Feb 02, 2024

In the Energy Evolution podcast, Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall interview Jonathan Martell, COO of Mohave Electric Co-Op, and Larsh Johnson, CTO of Stem, to discuss rural power generators using artificial intelligence to help transition to clean energy. The guests discuss the challenges and solutions for increasing the share of renewables in the co-op retail energy mix, and a new solar-plus-storage project recently announced by Mohave.

Please 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.

At COP28, a pledge to triple nuclear capacity - but can it be done? Jan 26, 2024

At the COP28 climate conference in December, more than 20 countries—including the US, the UK, France and Sweden—signed a declaration committing to a tripling of nuclear capacity by 2050. Correspondents Camilla Naschert and Camellia Moors spoke with experts across the nuclear energy and uranium mining industries about the declaration. Listen in to hear Antony Froggatt at Chatham House, Kirsty Gogan at TerraPraxis, Timothy Fox at ClearView Energy Partners, and Ross McElroy at Fission Uranium talk about the pledge, what it could mean for a global nuclear power expansion, and how the uranium industry is responding to promises of a nuclear build-out. Tune in to Energy Evolution to stay up-to-date on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

A 'real chance' of tripling renewable energy by 2030, IEA says Jan 19, 2024

The International Energy Agency, a Paris-based intergovernmental organization that analyzes the global energy sector and offers policy recommendations, has announced that renewable energy is expanding faster than at any time in the last three decades, with 507 GW of renewables installed in 2023 alone, almost 50% more than the previous year. Our correspondent Camilla Naschert speaks with Commodity Insights reporter Alex Blackburne about what the report means. Meanwhile, co-host Taylor Kuykendall brings the show a chat with Martin Pochtaruk, the president of North American solar manufacturer Heliene, about the findings of the report and what it is going to take to meet ambitious renewable deployment goals.

Tune in to Energy Evolution to stay up-to-date on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

Digging Space? Startups set sights on the moon, asteroids for resources Jan 12, 2024

The Energy Evolution podcast explores the challenges and changes facing the transition to cleaner energy. One challenge is obtaining the materials necessary for the transition, such as lithium, copper, and rare earth metals. Space mining is a potential solution, with companies investing in research and development to mine asteroids and other celestial bodies for valuable metals and resources like water. The technology for space mining is in its early stages, and there are challenges, such as logistical and ethical considerations. Reporters from the S&P Global Commodity Insights team, Karl Decena, Kip Keen and Eri Silva, also discussed the potential impact of space mining on terrestrial markets and the need for regulatory frameworks for space mining.

Related articles:

Digging Space: Miners to ignite race for outer space ore https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/digging-space-miners-to-ignite-race-for-outer-space-ore-78269052

Digging Space: Asteroid mining unlikely to overwhelm metal markets https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/digging-space-asteroid-mining-unlikely-to-overwhelm-metal-markets-79716462

Digging Space: Galactic gold rush begins with fewer rules than the Wild West https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/digging-space-galactic-gold-rush-begins-with-fewer-rules-than-the-wild-west-79719853

Tune in to Energy Evolution to stay up-to-date on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.

Energy Evolution crew previews energy transition themes to watch for in 2024 Dec 29, 2023

In this episode of Energy Evolution, hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall dive into the latest trends in the energy transition and their impact on the energy and mining sectors as we kick off 2024. Joining them are correspondents Camilla Naschert and Camellia Moors, who share their insights on the rapidly changing landscape of energy production and consumption.

With the world moving towards more sustainable energy sources, the hosts and correspondents discuss how companies in the energy and mining sectors adapt to these changes. They also explore the challenges and opportunities for these industries as they strive to stay ahead of the curve.

Tune in to Energy Evolution to stay up-to-date on the energy transition and its far-reaching implications.

Communication technology and its role in the energy transition Dec 22, 2023

In this episode of Energy Evolution, reporter Taylor Kuykendall interviews Ken Rabedeau, the Chief Technology Officer for Energy, Transportation and Public Sector at Nokia. Ken discusses Nokia's role today in the energy transition and how communication technology is helping industries such as the electricity, oil, gas, and mining sectors, to build more sustainable and cleaner business practices. Ken also shares insights on the concept of Industry 4.0 and how it empowers critical industries to blend the physical and digital, as well as the role of artificial intelligence in the energy transition. The interview also covers cybersecurity, mining, and Nokia's efforts to reduce emissions.

Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the energy and mining sectors. 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!

The startups grappling with wind power’s recyclability problem Dec 15, 2023

Wind turbines are widely recyclable – apart from their large rotor blades. As more wind farms get decommissioned, more blades end up in landfill or get burned, making recycling one of the industry’s biggest PR and sustainability challenges.

Developers also pay increasing attention to emissions in the production of steel for towers.

Two start-ups, Germany’s Voodin Blades and Sweden’s Modvion, say they have found solutions – by making the components entirely out of wood. Energy Evolution correspondent Camilla Naschert discusses this with CEOs Tom Siekmann and Otto Lundman.

Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the energy and mining sectors. 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!

Tackling the challenge of tracking Scope 2 emissions Dec 08, 2023

Scope 2 emissions are indirect greenhouse gas emissions from the consumption of purchased electricity, heat, or steam. In this episode of Energy Evolution, hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall bring on guest Marek Zhang, vice president of operations and service delivery at CFEX, to discuss the company's decarbonization platform that helps businesses account for and track Scope 2 emissions. Zhang explains the challenges surrounding Scope 2 emissions, such as limited control, complex accounting and reporting processes, and lack of transparency.

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!

US utility execs share plans for continuing the energy transition amid rising costs Dec 01, 2023

This episode of Energy Evolution is all about utilities' capital plans and how they are adapting to the current economic climate. The episode features Darren Sweeney, a senior reporter in the S&P Global Commodity Insights newsroom, who attended the Edison Electric Institute Financial Conference in Phoenix and interviewed executives from Duke Energy, Exelon, and NiSource about their plans for the future. The executives discussed how they are navigating the energy transition and working to keep costs down for their customers in this high-cost environment, and also shared insights on potential growth opportunities and newer technologies like hydrogen and small modular reactors.

Energy Evolution guests this episode are Shawn Anderson, executive vice president and CFO at NiSource in Indiana; Brian Savoy, executive vice president and CFO at North Carolina-based Duke Energy; and Jeanne Jones, the executive vice president and CFO at Chicago-headquartered Exelon. 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!

The path to net-zero: An overview of efforts across commodity companies Nov 17, 2023

In this week's episode of Energy Evolution, the hosts discuss a new series of articles out of the S&P Global Commodity Insights' newsroom that examines how some of the largest companies in the world are working to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 or sooner. Co-hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall summarize some of the findings of the team's reporting before interviewing correspondents Camellia Moors and Camilla Naschert about their reporting on net-zero efforts in the European power and global metals and mining sectors. The episode also features an interview with Pedro Martins Barata, associate vice president for carbon markets and private sector decarbonization at the Environmental Defense Fund, on the state of industrial decarbonization. He talks about the different major features of decarbonization plans that companies might have and the role of policy in placing pressure on these industries to decarbonize.

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!

Fighting climate change with carbon offsets and fossil fuel retirement credits Nov 10, 2023

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!

Biodiversity and wind power: Are they at odds, and what are the solutions? Nov 03, 2023

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

Power of AI: How artificial intelligence is changing the energy and mining sectors Oct 27, 2023

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

The hockey Hall-of-Famer installing geothermal systems in New York Oct 20, 2023

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!

Why there are so few women at the top of energy companies and why it matters Oct 13, 2023

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!

National Grid Ventures' US Northeast President on the future of US offshore wind and more Oct 06, 2023

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!

Improving nickel sustainability for electric vehicle batteries Sep 29, 2023

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!

How compressed air can make it easier to close coal, natural gas plants Sep 27, 2023

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!

How does the Biden administration plan to fix permitting? Sep 22, 2023

In this episode of Energy Evolution, co-host Taylor Kuykendall interviews Eric Beightel, the executive director of the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council. The council was established in 2015 to improve the transparency and predictability of the federal environment review and authorization process for certain critical infrastructure projects.

Beightel discusses the challenges of permitting reform and the need for more resources, staff, and funding for agencies charged with the permitting process. He also emphasized the importance of early stakeholder engagement and community outreach to reduce the risk of litigation and improve the efficiency of the permitting process.

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!

Artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency guzzle electricity, but can they also support the grid? Sep 15, 2023

As it gets harder for bitcoin miners to access power, some say mining is a balancing opportunity for the grid. We speak to mining startup founder Andrew Webber about his vision for data centers in grid flexibility and look ahead at the scaling of AI computing. Could data centers using AI algorithms become flexibility assets, and if so, which use cases could be suitable? On that, we hear from S&P Global tech analyst Jonathan Schroth and professor Ben Lee of the University of Pennsylvania.

Supporting community efficiency with the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Sep 08, 2023

In this episode of Energy Evolution, guest Jahi Wise, senior adviser to the administrator and acting director of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund at the EPA, joins us to talk about a $27 billion grant program under the Inflation Reduction Act and efforts to use the funding to support the National Clean Investment Fund and efficiency improvements across the country, especially in disadvantaged communities.

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!

Mining the magnet minerals key to decarbonization Sep 01, 2023

In this episode of Energy Evolution, guest Tom Schneberger, CEO of USA Rare Earth, joins us to talk about rare earths supply chains and the production of rare earth magnets key to energy transition technologies like electric vehicles and wind turbines.

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!

We want to hear about your podcast preferences so we can keep improving our shows. Take our podcast survey here and share your thoughts: https://www.surveylegend.com/s/4xyz

Energy transition drives a jobs and manufacturing boom in the US Aug 25, 2023

On this episode of Energy Evolution, our guests discuss the recent boom in jobs and manufacturing in the renewable energy sector in the United States. The one-year-old Inflation Reduction Act drives much of this growth, which is leading to significant cost savings projected for wind and solar developers using U.S.-made components.

Today's guests include Matthew Rand, managing director, research and analytics, at Link Logistics, and Ben Beachy, manufacturing and industrial policy vice president, at the BlueGreen Alliance, a coalition of labor and environmental organizations.

CORRECTION: A previous version of these notes misidentified Matthew Rand's current job title. The episode misidentifies Rand's title at the time of the interview. Matthew Rand is the managing director, research and analytics, at Link Logistics. The episode also mentions that Link "estimates that renewable energy companies currently drive 5-10% of its leasing volumes." This figure represents specific markets rather than the company's national portfolio, in which Rand said it represents "2.3% to 3% of leasing activity."

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!

We want to hear about your podcast preferences so we can keep improving our shows. Take our podcast survey here and share your thoughts: https://www.surveylegend.com/s/4xyz

Brewing up sustainability: Decarbonizing beer and other industries reliant on steam Aug 18, 2023

In this episode of the Energy Evolution podcast by S&P Global Commodity Insights, we discuss decarbonizing New Belgium's beer brewing operations. In addition to speaking with Andy Collins, the utilities and carbon neutral engineer at New Belgium, podcast host Taylor Kuykendall interviews Addison Stark, the CEO of AtmosZero. Backed by the U.S. Department of Energy, AtmosZero recently introduced a carbon-neutral electrified boiler that decarbonizes process steam used in various industrial applications across multiple industries.

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!

We want to hear about your podcast preferences so we can keep improving our shows. Take our podcast survey here and share your thoughts: https://www.surveylegend.com/s/4xyz

Possibilities for generative AI to transform energy sector 'nearly endless' Aug 11, 2023

Artificial intelligence has captured the interest of the world in recent months, particularly as advances in generative AI continue to push the envelope. In this episode of the Energy Evolution podcast, Hussein Shel, director, chief technologist for energy and utilities at Amazon Web Services, discusses the $100 million Generative AI Innovation Center launched by AWS. The program aims to help enterprises develop and experiment with generative AI. Energy Evolution co-host Taylor Kuykendall asked Shel about using artificial intelligence to optimize energy production.

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!

We want to hear about your podcast preferences so we can keep improving our shows. Take our podcast survey here and share your thoughts: https://www.surveylegend.com/s/4xyz

How renewables supported the Texas grid through intense heat Aug 04, 2023

In this Energy Evolution episode, we talk about how renewable energy resources played a critical role in supporting Texas' electricity grid during a recent heat wave. Our guests discuss the importance of a mix of renewable energy sources, battery storage, and reforms that will support developers and make it easier to develop renewable energy projects. Our hosts are joined by Katya Ghosh, a business strategist at Kayrros, who used satellite imagery to forecast and monitor the progress of solar capacity additions in Texas. They also talk to Michael Lee, the CEO of Octopus Energy, and Devrim Celal, the CEO of KrakenFlex, about the importance of demand response programs, which incentivize customers to reduce their energy consumption during periods of high demand and high energy prices.

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!

We want to hear about your podcast preferences so we can keep improving our shows. Take our podcast survey here and share your thoughts: https://www.surveylegend.com/s/4xyz

Finding the metals critical to an energy transition Aug 03, 2023

In this episode of Energy Evolution, we discuss where we will find the metals and minerals necessary for the energy transition. Our guest is Kwasi Ampofo, head of metals and mining at Bloomberg NEF and the lead author of the company's recent Energy Transition Metal Production Scores report.

The report ranks the readiness of global economies to boost the production of minerals such as as lithium, copper, graphite and more. Kwasi explains the report ranks the readiness of 10 countries to boost critical mineral supply based on factors such as sector strategy, political stability, talent, and environmental and social frameworks.

BNEF placed Australia, Canada and China on the top of this year’s ranking.

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!

We want to hear about your podcast preferences so we can keep improving our shows. Take our podcast survey here and share your thoughts: https://www.surveylegend.com/s/4xyz

Supporting rooftop solar power for rentals and apartments Jul 28, 2023

Residential rooftop solar is booming in popularity as policy incentives, driven by decarbonization goals, encourage homeowners to install panels of their own. But for those who rent their home or live in multifamily dwellings like apartment buildings, installing solar panels and accessing their financial benefits may be more complicated. In this episode, Mel Bergsneider, executive account manager at Allume Energy, and Jan Osenberg, policy adviser at SolarPower Europe, join Energy Evolution to talk about some of the challenges and solutions to expanding solar access in rentals and apartment buildings in the US, Europe, and elsewhere.

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!

We want to hear about your podcast preferences so we can keep improving our shows. Take our podcast survey here and share your thoughts: https://www.surveylegend.com/s/4xyz

Grid operator PJM navigates surge in renewables and rapid fossil retirements in the US Jul 21, 2023

The PJM Interconnection, the nation's largest electricity grid operator, is working to alleviate a logjam of renewable projects waiting to be connected to its system, while also warning in a recent analysis that thermal generation retirements could outpace these new intermittent resource replacements. Darren Sweeney, a senior reporter at S&P Global Commodity Insights, joined Energy Evolution for this episode to share interviews with James Wilson, an economist who has critiqued PJM's energy transition analysis, along with Sierra Club senior attorney Casey Roberts and Todd Snitchler, president and CEO of the Electric Power Supply Association.

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!

We want to hear about your podcast preferences so we can keep improving our shows. Take our podcast survey here and share your thoughts: https://www.surveylegend.com/s/4xyz

Electrifying commercial vehicle fleets, one charger at a time Jul 14, 2023

For major companies with large vehicle fleets, a core tenet of decarbonization efforts can be found in fleet electrification. A host of large corporations including Amazon, UPS, and Walmart have all made EV fleet commitments or signed agreements to purchase electric delivery vehicles. Patrick Sullivan, co-founder and CEO of EV Realty, a California-based company focused on accelerating the adoption of commercial EV fleets and building out their charging infrastructure, joined Energy Evolution to talk about fleet electrification and the challenges of constructing a charging network to support it.

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!

We want to hear about your podcast preferences so we can keep improving our shows. Take our podcast survey here and share your thoughts: https://www.surveylegend.com/s/4xyz

To read more about the California Public Utilities Commission report on distribution grid constraints and utility upgrade costs through 2035, click: https://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Efile/G000/M508/K423/508423247.PDF

To read the California Energy Commission’s assessment of EV charging infrastructure requirements in the state, click: https://www.energy.ca.gov/data-reports/reports/electric-vehicle-charging-infrastructure-assessment-ab-2127

Crux startup aims to unlock hundreds of billions in clean energy tax incentives Jul 07, 2023

In this episode of Energy Evolution, co-host Taylor Kuykendall talks with Alfred Johnson, co-founder and CEO of Crux, about funding energy transition projects. Johnson, the former deputy chief of staff to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, discusses the Inflation Reduction Act, which makes tax credits available to companies producing clean power and materials, and how Crux provides an ecosystem for developers, tax credit buyers, and financial institutions to manage and transact these transferable tax credits.

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!

We want to hear about your podcast preferences so we can keep improving our shows. Take our podcast survey here and share your thoughts: https://www.surveylegend.com/s/4xyz

Mining industry increasingly a larger part of the energy transition discussion Jun 30, 2023

This episode of Energy Evolution by S&P Global Commodity Insights discusses the mining sector's importance in the worldwide shift to greener energy. The materials that make up energy transition technologies are often mined materials and the demand for minerals is expected to increase by as much as six times what our use is today by 2040. The podcast features interviews with Tony Sage, executive chairman of Critical Metals Corp.; Rebecca Campbell, who leads the Global Mining and Metals team at international law firm White & Case; and David Kanagy, executive director and CEO of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration.

Our guests discuss the potential for bottlenecks in the supply chain for clean energy due to permitting, China's claim to much of the minerals and processing of minerals used for clean energy and what some believe are outdated regulations in the industry.

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!

We want to hear about your podcast preferences so we can keep improving our shows. Take our podcast survey here and share your thoughts: https://www.surveylegend.com/s/4xyz

Vast CEO aims to bring concentrated solar power tech back into focus Jun 28, 2023

Vast has developed concentrated solar power that can capture, store and deliver dispatchable solar power and heat on a 24/7 basis. It recently proved its technology with a grid-connected project in Australia. Vast CEO Craig Wood joins Energy Evolution to talk about the revival of concentrated solar power technology and the role it can play in the energy transition.

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!

We want to hear about your podcast preferences so we can keep improving our shows. Take our podcast survey here and share your thoughts: https://www.surveylegend.com/s/4xyz

Wind turbine makers' peril and what size has to do with it Jun 23, 2023

Renewables enjoy unprecedented momentum, but the makers of wind turbines have suffered major losses due to supply chain disruption and high commodity prices in recent years.

A voracious race for ever-larger turbines may have also played a role, argues Hans Martin Smith, chief financial officer of the world's largest turbine maker Vestas Wind Systems, in an interview with energy correspondent Camilla Naschert.

Sector expert Andrei Utkin of Commodity Insights puts the sector's headwinds and opportunities into perspective.

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!

Commodity trading giant Trafigura shares a path to greener shipping Jun 21, 2023

Global commodities trader Trafigura released a report in May showing that shipping is responsible for around 3% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. The report also found a lot of opportunities to reduce those emissions while increasing economic opportunities for countries that step up to supply low-emission fuels to the industry. In this bonus episode, in addition to our typical weekly programming, Energy Evolution speaks with Margaux Moore, head of Trafigura’s energy transition research group, and Rasmus Bach Nielsen, the company’s head of fuel decarbonization.

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!

We want to hear about your podcast preferences so we can keep improving our shows. Take our podcast survey here and share your thoughts: https://www.surveylegend.com/s/4xyz

24/7 Clean energy: How hourly matching enables big energy buyers to go carbon-free Jun 16, 2023

Large energy buyers, including governments and corporations, are embracing a concept known as hourly matching, or 24/7 carbon-free energy. In this episode, Energy Evolution is joined by Nate Hausman, clean energy markets manager for World Resources Institute, for an update on the concept and challenges ahead.

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!

We want to hear about your podcast preferences so we can keep improving our shows. Take our podcast survey here and share your thoughts: https://www.surveylegend.com/s/4xyz

Crafting tomorrow’s electric vehicle battery chemistries Jun 09, 2023

As electric vehicle manufacturers prepare for a demand surge, many are looking to novel battery chemistries that cut back on materials that may be costly, difficult to access, or that come with labor and environmental concerns. Energy Evolution correspondent Camellia Moors spoke with Reed Blakemore, deputy director with the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center, and Mujeeb Ijaz, CEO at battery developer Our Next Energy, about today’s battery landscape and the market for battery chemistry innovation.

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!

To read the Battery Next series from S&P Global Commodity Insights’ metals and mining team, click the following:

Metal supply concerns push EV makers to new battery chemistries: https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/battery-next-metal-supply-concerns-push-ev-makers-to-new-battery-chemistries-75884340

EV makers use Model T playbook due to metal supply fears: https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/battery-next-ev-makers-use-model-t-playbook-due-to-metal-supply-fears-75880328

Emerging chemistries create trade-offs in cost, performance: https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/battery-next-emerging-chemistries-create-trade-offs-in-cost-performance-75866899

EVs to use silicon, solid state for next-generation batteries: https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/battery-next-evs-to-use-silicon-solid-state-for-next-generation-batteries-75864189

We want to hear about your podcast preferences so we can keep improving our shows. Take our podcast survey here and share your thoughts: https://www.surveylegend.com/s/4xyz

The role of the US nuclear fleet, old and new, in the energy transition Jun 02, 2023

As U.S. utilities and power providers explore numerous new technologies in their pursuit of a cleaner energy future, industry experts believe it is important not to lose sight of the evolution of an existing carbon-free resource. Darren Sweeney, a senior reporter at S&P Global Commodity Insights, joined Energy Evolution for this episode to share interviews about nuclear energy with Xcel Energy Chairman, President and CEO Bob Frenzel and John Kotek, a Senior Vice President of Policy Development and Public Affairs at the Nuclear Energy Institute.

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!

We want to hear about your podcast preferences so we can keep improving our shows. Take our podcast survey here and share your thoughts: https://www.surveylegend.com/s/4xyz

Europe’s solar revival dream overshadowed by harsh new realities May 26, 2023

This episode takes you into the German Solar Valley, which was once the world’s largest production hub but was abandoned in the 2010s as China became solar powerhouse Number One. Now, companies like Meyer Burger Technology are ramping up the old factories, gunning for a revival of European production. But, CEO Gunter Erfurt tells the podcast, panels have evolved from commodity to geopolitical poker chip, and Europe risks losing the game without injecting more money into the sector. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, solar expert Edurne Zoco of S&P Global Commodity Insights also sees more incentives for U.S. factories than European ones. Still, ESG considerations and shorter supply routes could increasingly make the case for home-grown products, too. 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!

We want to hear about your podcast preferences so we can keep improving our shows. Take our podcast survey here and share your thoughts: https://www.surveylegend.com/s/4xyz

Electric vehicles: Earning money from the grid, keeping batteries cool and extracting lithium from oilfield brines May 19, 2023

This Energy Evolution episode features three guests from across the electric vehicle supply chain.

Our first guest is David Slutzky, the founder and CEO of Fermata Energy. The company hopes to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles and the transition to renewable energy. Fermata's bidirectional charging technology enables customers to earn revenue from their electric vehicles while combatting climate change and supporting grid resilience.

Our second guest is Kulr Technology Group CEO Michael Mo. Kulr is also accelerating a transition to broader electrification. The company's technology ensures that batteries stay cool and safe.

We also chat with Volt Lithium President and CEO Alex Wylie about his company's efforts to extract lithium from oilfield brines in Canada. The company recently announced a resource report indicating 4.3 million tonnes of lithium resources at its Rainbow Lake project.

Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the energy and mining sectors. They are joined by correspondents Camellia Moors and Camilla Naschert, reporters who write about mining and power issues for S&P Global Commodity Insights. Subscribe to Energy Evolution on your favorite platform to catch our latest episodes!

Cloud technology and smart grid modernization with Amazon Web Services and Duke Energy May 12, 2023

Last year, Duke Energy and Amazon Web Services announced they would be collaborating to build out cloud technologies to support Duke's Intelligent Grid Services. The technology is aimed at helping the utility anticipate energy demand and identify where and how it should update its power grid.

The use of the cloud opens up a wealth of opportunities for data collection and analysis and is essential to Duke's efforts to transform the grid. For this episode, Energy Evolution spoke with Sarah Cooper, the general manager of AWS industry products, and Bonnie Titone, the senior vice president and CIO of Duke Energy, one of the nation's largest energy holding companies, serving 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Duke has targeted a 50% carbon reduction from its electric generation by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the energy and mining sectors. They are joined by correspondents Camellia Moors and Camilla Naschert, reporters who write about mining and power issues for S&P Global Commodity Insights. Subscribe to Energy Evolution on your favorite platform to catch our latest episodes!

Scale up to phase down: World Bank's roadmap to finance energy transition in developing countries May 05, 2023

Transitioning the world to cleaner forms of energy will require a significant infrastructure transformation.

World Bank released a new framework on April 20 for overcoming the challenges created, particularly in developing countries, as renewable energy scales up and fossil fuel generation is phased down.

For this episode, Energy Evolution spoke with Demetrios Papathanasiou, the organization's global director for energy and extractives.

View the full report here: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/energy/publication/scaling-up-to-phase-down

Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the energy and mining sectors. They are joined by correspondents Camellia Moors and Camilla Naschert, reporters who write about mining and power issues for S&P Global Commodity Insights. Subscribe to Energy Evolution on your favorite platform to catch our latest episodes!

Building out green steel for the energy transition Apr 28, 2023

Some members of the steel industry, which is known for being carbon-intensive, are looking toward cleaner primary steel production pathways to cut down on carbon emissions. One avenue is the production of “green steel,” which uses hydrogen instead of fossil fuels in the iron ore smelting process.

Energy Evolution correspondents Camellia Moors and Camilla Naschert spoke with Chathu Gamage, a manager in the Climate-Aligned Industries Program at RMI, and Kajsa Ryttberg-Wallgren, head of hydrogen at H2 Green Steel, about the green steel production process and how views about the product are changing in response to the energy transition.

Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the energy and mining sectors. Subscribe to Energy Evolution on your favorite platform to catch our latest episodes!

Tackling the challenges electric vehicles present for utilities, featuring Sunny Elebua from Exelon Apr 21, 2023

Energy Evolution co-host Taylor Kuykendall shares one last interview from this year's CERAWeek by S&P Global conference. Sunny Elebua, the senior vice president and chief strategy and sustainability officer at Exelon Corp., joined the show to talk about some of the problems and solutions associated with the rapid rise of electric vehicles.

Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the energy and mining sectors. They are joined by correspondents Camellia Moors and Camilla Naschert, reporters who write about mining and power issues for S&P Global Commodity Insights. Subscribe to Energy Evolution on your favorite platform to catch our latest episodes!

Solar as a service versus a product sale and the race for green energy Apr 14, 2023

Sunnova Energy President and CEO John Berger joined the podcast from the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference to discuss solar energy deployment in the U.S. Sunnova Energy is an American residential and commercial solar energy company based in Houston, Texas. Also joining from the sidelines of the energy conference is former U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. Moniz, the founder of the think tank Energy Futures Initiative, discussed how current geopolitical events might impact the clean energy transition.

Smart buildings, vehicle chargers and the energy transition with Powerflex and GridPoint Apr 07, 2023

During CERAWeek by S&P Global in Houston, Energy Evolution co-host Taylor Kuykendall spoke with Raphael Declercq, the CEO of PowerFlex. Declercq's company is a solar-powered electric vehicle microgrid developer. Kuykendall also spent a few moments with Mark Danzenbaker, the CEO of GridPoint. GridPoint is an energy management platform for commercial buildings. The company's technology is already in more than 17,000 commercial buildings across the U.S.

Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the energy and mining sectors. They are joined by correspondents Camellia Moors and Camilla Naschert, reporters who write about mining and power issues for S&P Global Commodity Insights. Subscribe to Energy Evolution on your favorite platform to catch our latest episodes!

Building a global green hydrogen ecosystem, featuring Plug Power Chief Strategy Officer Sanjay Shrestha Mar 31, 2023

Plug Power is a company providing hydrogen fuel cell systems to power electric motors in place of conventional batteries. Energy Evolution co-host Taylor Kuykendall spoke with Plug Power General Manager of Energy Solutions and Chief Strategy Officer Sanjay Shrestha during the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference in Houston in early March. Tune in to their conversation about challenges in the hydrogen space, building out hydrogen supply chains, and the policy environment for green hydrogen projects.

Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the energy and mining sectors. Subscribe to Energy Evolution on your favorite platform to catch our latest episodes!

Hitting net-zero targets across industries, featuring 8 Rivers President Damian Beauchamp Mar 24, 2023

8 Rivers is a company providing net-zero solutions across a wide range of sectors, including the oil industry, the renewable sector and so-called hard-to-abate sectors such as cement and steel makers.

Energy Evolution co-host Taylor Kuykendall spoke with 8 Rivers President and Chief Development Officer Damian Beauchamp at the company's booth during the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference in Houston in early March.

Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the energy and mining sectors. Subscribe to Energy Evolution on your favorite platform to catch our latest episodes!

Funding the energy transition, with Jigar Shah of DOE's Loan Program Office Mar 17, 2023

An influx of public funding for energy transition technologies via the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act is keeping the U.S. Department of Energy quite busy.

S&P Global Commodity Insights' Energy Evolution caught up with Jigar Shah, director of the DOE's loan programs office. In this exclusive interview, Shah talks about the large-scale, all-of-the-above energy infrastructure projects his office is funding in the United States.

Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the energy and mining sectors. Subscribe to Energy Evolution on your favorite platform to catch our latest episodes!

Battery makers and miners turn to blockchain to solve transparency concerns, incentivize investment Mar 10, 2023

Pressure to improve metals supply chain transparency is growing, spurred by legislation as well as requirements set by end users like electric vehicle battery makers as they sign supply agreements with miners. At the same time, commodity producers are looking for ways to lure a new investor base to the industry. Supply chain participants are now turning to blockchain to help solve both problems.

Energy Evolution correspondent Camellia Moors spoke with the leaders of two companies at the intersection of blockchain-based technologies and commodities markets. This episode features interviews with Doug Johnson-Poensgen, founder and CEO of Circulor, which develops blockchain track and trace systems for industrial supply chains, as well as Duane Parnham, CEO of Madison Metals, a uranium mining and exploration company offering a uranium-backed NFT.

Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the energy and mining sectors. Subscribe to Energy Evolution on your favorite platform to catch our latest episodes!

New lithium battery tech an energy transition game-changer, says Li-Metal President Kunal Phalpher Mar 03, 2023

Li-Metal Corp. is a company working with lithium metal and anode technology to be used in next-generation lithium batteries.

The company's newly appointed president, Kunal Phalpher, said it is an exciting time to be involved in lithium. The development of battery technologies is moving along faster than he anticipated. As vehicle makers increasingly embrace electric vehicles, a race for differentiating technology could produce interesting new types of batteries that pave the way for new consumer products and services such as electric aviation, Phalpher said in an interview with S&P Global Commodity Insights.

Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the energy and mining sectors. Subscribe to Energy Evolution on your favorite platform to catch our latest episodes!

The Russia-Ukraine conflict and the energy transition Feb 24, 2023

Russia's invasion of Ukraine sapped its dominance as an energy and battery metals superpower, putting the energy transition at risk as countries scramble to source key resources elsewhere. While traders are still moving Russia's gas, nickel, and aluminum around the globe, prices for energy and key metals have jumped, wreaking havoc on the energy and mining industries in Europe and raising questions about global dependence on Russia for crucial supplies. On this episode, Energy Evolution shares some insights from experts we talked to on a recent live webinar hosted by S&P Global. Our guests on the webinar were Melanie Kenderdine, principal at Energy Future Initiative; Morgan Bazillian, director of the Payne Institute and professor of public policy at the Colorado School of Mines; Ben Cahill, senior fellow with the energy security and climate change program at the Center for Strategic & International Studies; and Georg Zachmann, senior fellow at Bruegel, a think tank focused on economic and policy issues.

Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the energy and mining sectors. Subscribe to Energy Evolution on your favorite platform to catch our latest episodes!

Check out the full webinar mentioned today here: https://pages.marketintelligence.spglobal.com/Russia-war-and-the-energy-transition-Registration-February-2023.html

Are world superpowers in a green tech arms race? Feb 17, 2023

The U.S. Inflation Reduction Act is expected to unleash a wave of investment in renewable energy infrastructure. However, it also heavily favored investments at home, causing some concern among trading partners, including the European Union. Now, the EU is increasing its own efforts to promote the development of renewable energy.

S&P Global Commodity Insights reporters Molly Christian and Alex Blackburne join the show to discuss the differences in approaches between the U.S. and EU. The show also welcomes guests Michael Cerasoli, a portfolio manager of energy infrastructure strategies at Eagle Global Advisors, and Melanie Brusseler, a senior researcher at climate think tank E3G.

Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the energy and mining sectors. Subscribe to Energy Evolution on your favorite platform to catch our latest episodes!

Investing in the battery minerals fueling the energy transition Feb 10, 2023

Electric vehicle demand is on an upward trend, generating excitement among some investors about the prospects of electric vehicle manufacturers and the miners supplying the materials needed for their batteries.

What retail investors lack, however, is direct exposure to minerals prices to avoid risks associated with investing in manufacturers and miners that may be untested or located in geopolitically hazardous areas, EMG Advisors CEO Will McDonough told metals and mining reporter and Energy Evolution correspondent Camellia Moors.

McDonough joins Energy Evolution to talk about investment opportunities in energy transition metals, EMG Advisors’ new metals-focused exchange traded fund, and the electric vehicle battery chemistries that will define the future of the energy transition. Please note that in this episode, which was recorded before a company name change, EMG Advisors is referred to as "Charged Funds."

Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the energy and mining sectors. Subscribe to Energy Evolution on your favorite platform to catch our latest episodes!

How big are the implications of the nuclear fusion ignition breakthrough? Feb 03, 2023

In December, the U.S. Department of Energy announced that researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory achieved nuclear fusion ignition, a major scientific breakthrough and a potentially big step for clean energy.

Joining us to discuss the scientific, commercial and climate implications of this breakthrough are Tammy Ma, a plasma physicist at the Livermore National Lab, and Andrew Holland, CEO of the Fusion Industry Association.

Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the energy and mining sectors. Subscribe to Energy Evolution on your favorite platform to catch our latest episodes!

A transition to cleaner energy drives demand for new nickel mines Jan 20, 2023

The world is clamoring for more nickel to feed the energy transition, particularly for use in electric vehicle batteries. Lifezone Metals aims to not only fill the need for nickel but also to differentiate itself by creating a much less carbon-intensive product.

Lifezone CEO Chris Showalter joins Energy Evolution to talk about the prospects for global nickel markets and what his company is doing to clean up nickel's environmental footprint.

Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the energy and mining sectors. Subscribe to Energy Evolution on your favorite platform to catch our latest episodes!

Looking ahead to the energy transition in 2023 Jan 19, 2023

In this episode, Energy Evolution hosts chat about the year ahead with S&P Global Market Intelligence's Steve Piper, the director of energy research, and Mark Ferguson, director of research for metals and mining.

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!

Recycling batteries will be key to meeting future lithium demand, says Li-Cycle CEO Dec 28, 2022

The world is increasingly in need of more lithium and other battery metals to meet the growing demand for electric vehicles, but there are doubts that mining can scale up quickly enough. Li-Cycle President, CEO and co-founder Ajay Kochhar joins the podcast to talk about recycling batteries to recover valuable materials inside.

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!

Carbon offsets and the path to net-zero emissions Dec 12, 2022

In this episode, S&P Global Commodity Insights reporter Karin Rives joins to share her interview with ZeroSix CEO Martijn Dekker. ZeroSix is a Houston-based venture focused on closing oil and gas wells and creating carbon offset credits for associated emissions that are avoided.

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!

Europe's looming energy crisis Nov 22, 2022

Europe’s energy economy changed almost overnight when Russia invaded Ukraine, cutting off access to a massive source of cheap, abundant natural gas. Now the EU is scrambling to secure new fuel sources and shield residents from soaring energy costs. Is this the new normal?

In this episode, S&P Global Commodity Insights reporters Alex Blackburne and Camilla Naschert discuss these developments as part of their four-part series on the European energy crisis.

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!

New York's aggressive climate goals create a market for manufacturers Nov 18, 2022

New York's climate goals are among the most aggressive in the U.S., creating a vast need for equipment and materials to supply the clean energy transition. Can the state's manufacturing sector meet the moment?

Joining us for this episode are John Williams of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, Clint Wilder of Clean Edge, Whitney Skeans of National Grid, Marnie LaVigne of Launch New York, and John Cerveny of the New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium.

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!

Climate, conflicts prompt reappraisal of nuclear power Nov 08, 2022

Climate change and the global energy crisis are making nuclear power attractive again to countries and utilities that were once eager to reduce or eliminate reactors. But whether the uranium mining sector sees sufficient price signals to expand production remains to be seen. And many cost and execution issues facing new nuclear construction are not resolved.

In this episode, S&P Global Commodity Insights reporters Abbie Bennett, Camellia Moors and Kip Keen discuss these developments as part of their 3-part series on nuclear power.

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!

US climate law to fire up public power sector's investment in clean energy Oct 03, 2022

The Inflation Reduction Act contains many provisions aimed at accelerating the development of clean power. In this episode we talk about one, in particular: the new law’s so-called direct pay provision, which is expected to help municipal utilities, electric cooperatives and other public, tax exempt utilities to tap federal clean energy incentives.

To talk about it, we're joined by Nick Chaset, CEO of East Bay Community Energy, a community choice aggregator in California.

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!

A skills shortage imperils the global energy transition Sep 12, 2022

The energy transition will require a huge influx of new workers with new skills. Where those workers will come from, and how they will be trained, are questions that big energy companies and policymakers in Europe and in North America are wrestling with as the shift to renewable energy sources gathers steam.

Joining us to discuss these challenges in this episode are: S&P Global Commodity Insights Reporter Camilla Naschert; Kerstin Knapp of Vestas; Tom Hopkinson of Taylor Hopkinson; Louise Christensen and Stefan Hobmair of Baywa r.e.; and Nate Manning of Johnson Controls.

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!

Building electrification movement gathers East Coast momentum Aug 29, 2022

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!

How will US Democrats' new deal on climate affect the energy transition? Aug 05, 2022

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!

How will the Supreme Court's West Virginia v. EPA decision impact the energy transition? Jul 20, 2022

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!

A better way to finance energy efficiency investment Jul 11, 2022

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!

'The next OPEC' – Battery materials startup 6K on risks of US import dependence Jun 24, 2022

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

Path to net-zero: How large companies across sectors are tackling emissions Jun 13, 2022

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!

‘TiVoing electricity’: How Wärtsilä is solving renewable energy’s biggest problem Jun 03, 2022

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!

Examining the energy implications of Russia's war on Ukraine May 20, 2022

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has major consequences for the energy transition in Europe, from cutting reliance on Russian gas to accelerating renewable deployment to extending the lives of coal and nuclear plants. Joining us to discuss these issues are Kristian Ruby, secretary general of Eurelectric, the trade group for European utilities; Roman Kramarchuk, head of future energy analytics at S&P Global Commodity Insights; and Florian Widdel of BEE, the German renewable energy federation.

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!

The consumer side of the energy transition Apr 25, 2022

In this episode, Taylor talks with Aaron Berndt, head of energy industry partnerships at Google, who works with utilities to distribute the Nest home automation system, which can conserve energy by controlling thermostats, smart light bulbs and more.

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!

Heliene president says financing solar manufacturing in North America remains a challenge Apr 12, 2022

Heliene President Martin Pochtaruk told the Energy Evolution podcast that financing continues to be a challenge for solar manufacturers in the U.S. and Canada as supply chain bottlenecks impact global suppliers. Heliene manufactures solar photovoltaic modules at its U.S. and Canadian facilities.

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!

Meet a few of the women driving the energy transition Mar 29, 2022

Energy Evolution sat down with several women with careers focused on the energy transition and sustainability for an episode celebrating Women's History Month.

Guests include Enel Green Power's Maggie Teliska and Israa Ismail, Agoro Carbon Alliance's Anastasia Pavlovic and Giulia Sartori, and Angie Slaughter with Anheuser Busch.

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!

Plug Power CEO says hydrogen's here today, not a fuel of the future Mar 15, 2022

Hydrogen’s role in decarbonization is under the microscope as developers aim for large-scale global deployment of technologies like fuel cells. For this episode, we spoke with Plug Power CEO Andy Marsh about the fuel’s widespread appeal.

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!

How to launch a clean energy business Mar 01, 2022

What happens after a clean energy startup achieves a major technological or scientific breakthrough? To survive and scale up as a clean energy business you need the right mix of funding, timing, strategy and many other variables. For this episode we talk to Tim Latimer, CEO of geothermal developer Fervo Energy, and Eric Dresselhuys, CEO of long-duration battery storage producer ESS, about their experiences launching businesses.

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!

A preview of energy transition hopes and hurdles for 2022 Feb 02, 2022

Seven guests from across a wide swath of energy organizations join Energy Evolution to talk about the issues likely to affect the transition to cleaner energy in 2022. Guests are Sheila Hollis of the U.S. Energy Association; John DiStasio of the Large Public Power Council; Julia Hamm of the Smart Electric Power Alliance; Maria Korsnick, of the Nuclear Energy Institute; Arshad Mansoor of the Electric Power Research Institute; Jim Matheson of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and Greg Wetstone from the American Council on Renewable Energy.

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!

National Grid US president sees federal support as crucial for energy transition infrastructure Jan 19, 2022

National Grid USA President Badar Khan said he is optimistic about global climate action in 2022, but also outlined several challenges ahead in a recent interview for the latest episode of S&P Global Market Intelligence's Energy Evolution podcast.

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!

Energy Evolution's year in review Dec 18, 2021

From hydrogen and wind power to COP26 and severe weather events that tested the grid, 2021 was a year of major advancements and challenges for the energy transition.

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!

Former DOE Secretary Ernest Moniz talks energy and innovation Nov 10, 2021

As world leaders gathered for global climate talks in Glasgow, former U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz joined Market Intelligence Live for an online video chat about climate solutions and decarbonization innovation. This episode features the audio recording of the discussion between Moniz and Energy Evolution co-host Taylor Kuykendall.

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!

COP26 preview: World leaders aim to strengthen climate commitments Oct 29, 2021

World leaders are gathering for global climate talks in Glasgow. For this episode, we talked to several climate experts from the U.S. and abroad who are familiar with past negotiations including Kelly Sims Gallagher, Carol Browner, Helen Mountford, Rachel Kyte, Thom Woodroofe, and Amal-Lee Amin.

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!

Mining lithium in North America to feed growing EV appetite Oct 12, 2021

Piedmont Lithium President and CEO Keith Phillips sat down with the show to talk about the North Carolina-based company's efforts to tap into lithium supplies. Demand for the battery material is rapidly increasing as a critical component of electric vehicles.

Check out S&P Global's recent dive into the growing electric vehicle sector here.

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!

U.S. poised for Atlantic Coast offshore wind power boom Sep 20, 2021

With construction set to begin on the 800-MW Vineyard Offshore Wind farm, the U.S. is on the cusp of a massive buildout of offshore wind generation along the Atlantic Coast. But challenges loom, from an arduous permitting process to grid interconnection to financing. In this episode the team talks to Ørsted COO Troy Patton, Dominion Energy's Mark Mitchell, Wells Fargo tax equity banker Samantha Buechner, Lesley Jantarasami of the Bipartisan Policy Center and Christy Guthman of GE Renewable Energy.

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!

FERC's chairman on the urgent need for more transmission lines to combat climate change Aug 25, 2021

Richard Glick, chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, joins Energy Evolution to discuss what it will take deliver more clean energy to U.S. consumers. FERC recently began a push to address obstacles that are holding up the development of electric transmission in a bid to connect more consumers to less emissions-intensive energy and avert the worst impacts of a changing climate. Glick said he is confident that the U.S. can drastically increase its electric transmission capacity by mid-century to meet that goal. 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!

In ESG era, shale gas drillers try going green Jul 21, 2021

Natural gas producers are partnering with data companies to reduce emissions amid growing pressure to decarbonize supplies. This episode features interviews with Chris Romer, the co-founder and CEO of Project Canary, and Andrew Baxter, the Environmental Defense Fund's director of energy strategy. The team also spoke with Andrew Logan, senior director for oil and gas at nonprofit investor network Ceres.

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!

Helping communities impacted by the energy transition Jul 02, 2021

The move from fossil fuels to cleaner energy sources can have a big impact on the communities that once depended on those industries.

Our guest for this episode is Brian Anderson, director of the National Energy Technology Laboratory. He was recently tasked with leading the Biden administration's Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization. In this role, he aims to identify and ameliorate the economic and social problems encountered by communities reliant on fossil fuel extraction, as those fuels account for a smaller proportion of energy production.

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!

Utilities eager to charge a growing US electric vehicle fleet Jun 15, 2021

U.S. utilities are responding to growing demand for electric vehicles by forming new coalitions to build charging infrastructure for their consumers. Energy Evolution spoke with two leaders in the utility space to better understand the trend. This episode features interviews with Badar Khan, the U.S. President of National Grid and Matthew Forck, the vice president of community economic development and energy solutions for Ameren Missouri. The team also spoke with Kara Kockelman, a professor of transportation engineering at the University of Texas Austin and Amanda O’Toole, a specialist in clean economy investing and portfolio manager for AXA Investment Managers. 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!

Booming electric vehicle demand spurs on mining, metals sector May 11, 2021

Electric vehicle demand is expected to skyrocket worldwide and that could require a lot more minerals than currently being supplied today for the necessary batteries.

S&P Global Market Intelligence expects sales of passenger plug-in electric vehicles to increase from just over three million units in 2020 to over 11 million units by 2025. Meanwhile, the International Energy Agency recently suggested that government action will be needed to ensure adequate supplies exist of nickel, cobalt and rare earth elements given the "looming mismatch" between expected demand and planned investments in supply.

This episode features interviews with Nikit Abyankar, a scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and David Wooley the executive director of the Center for Environmental Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley. The team also spoke with S&P Global Market Intelligence metals analysts Jason Sappor and Alice Yu, and Payal Sampat, the mining program director at Earthworks.

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!

Surging demand for battery metals drives push to mine ocean floor Apr 20, 2021

The world is moving closer to mining the deep sea to accommodate surging demand for battery metals needed in the global energy transition, but opposition to the practice is also mounting.

After years of review, the International Seabed Authority, or ISA, is nearing completion of regulations that would allow entities to begin collecting lumps of metal from the deep ocean. While some tout the process as a greener alternative to terrestrial mining, several ocean scientists and environmental groups are urging caution.

This episode features interviews with: Douglas McCauley, a professor of ocean science at the University of California, Santa Barbara; Matthew Gianni, co-founder of the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition; DeepGreen Metals Inc. CEO Gerard Barron; and Jeffrey Drazen, a professor at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa.

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!

The mess with Texas Mar 16, 2021

The February winter storm that crippled the Texas power grid left millions of residents without light and heat for days, and drove natural gas prices to record highs. So how did this happen? What does it mean for the future of the energy industry?

Joining the discussion are Jay Hakes, an author and former administrator of the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Emily Grubert, a professor at Georgia Tech, International Energy Agency analysts Keith Everhart and Gergely Molnar, and Shayle Kann with Energy Impact Partners.

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!

US returns to Paris climate agreement, but faces 'credibility gap' Feb 19, 2021

President Joe Biden moved quickly to return the United States to the Paris climate. He is likely to take major steps forward on climate policy that could impact the energy transition as the world heads to the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference later this year. However, the United States also faces a credibility problem on climate change issues after the Trump administration withdrew from the agreement.

During this episode, we hear from multiple guests on the U.S. returning to climate talks, and what the implications could be for on the energy transition already underway: Christine Todd Whitman, former New Jersey governor and EPA chief; Eric Usher, the head of the United Nations’ Environmental Program Finance Initiative; Jonathan Elkind, a senior research scholar at the center on global energy policy at Columbia University; Amanda O’Toole, global portfolio manager and clean economy strategy manager with AXA Investment Managers; and Paul Baiocchi, senior investment strategy advisor at SS&C ALPS Advisors.

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!

Has hydrogen energy's time come? Jan 25, 2021

Hydrogen is generating a lot of buzz in the U.S. energy world, but what might look like a nascent technological revolution is not going to occur overnight, according to several experts interviewed on this episode.

But while hydrogen has received its fair share of hype in the past, this time may be different as the growth of sustainability-driven investments, rising pressure to act on climate change and shifting economics are increasingly favoring hydrogen 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!

Sustainability-linked bonds: A financial tool to lower power sector emissions Dec 18, 2020

New financial tools are emerging alongside new technology to help companies address greenhouse gas emissions.

Unlike green bonds, where the proceeds from the bond are used for new and existing projects with environmental benefits, sustainability-linked bonds can be more flexible.

NRG Energy announced the issuance of a $900 million sustainability-linked-bond earlier in December. The company says that is going to help them achieve a 50% reduction of absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 and reach net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 from a 2014 baseline.

Gaetan Frotte, the senior vice president and Treasurer at NRG Energy, spoke with Energy Evolution co-host Taylor Kuykendall about the latest announcement.

Pipeline company executives lead oil, gas firms toward net zero emissions Dec 09, 2020

As the world aims to hit global climate goals, countries and companies around the world are setting targets and making plans to reduce emissions of greenhouse gas. While utilities are leading the way in the energy sector, rising pressure from investors has the oil and gas sector working to catch up.

S&P Global Market Intelligence's Energy Evolution interviewed Williams Cos. Inc. President and CEO Alan Armstrong and Enbridge Inc. Chief Sustainability Officer Peter Sheffield on their companies' recently-announced ambitions to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

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!

How the Biden administration could accelerate the energy transition Nov 24, 2020

President-elect Joe Biden is expected to enter the White House with big plans to address climate change, a goal with substantial implications for the energy sector.

Biden's climate plan is a $2 trillion economywide proposal that looks to cut or eliminate emissions from power generation, transportation, buildings, agriculture and more. S&P Global Market Intelligence's Energy Evolution team briefly previews some potential implications for the energy sector with senior policy correspondent Molly Christian.

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!

The 2020 election's implications for fracking, FERC and utilities Oct 27, 2020

While Democratic nominee Joseph Biden and Republican President Donald Trump have different stances on fossil fuels, much of the demand for clean energy is being driven at the state and individual consumer level, where it may be difficult to reverse the momentum of a transition toward more renewables. But there are several ways that transition could be slowed or accelerated by the outcome of the election.

In the second of two episodes on the Nov. 3 contest, S&P Global Market Intelligence's Energy Evolution team spoke about potential impacts to the oil, gas and utility sectors with Lillian Federico, energy research director for Regulatory Research Associates, Sarah Ladislaw, a senior vice president and director of the energy security and climate change program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and Christine Tezak, managing director of research at ClearView Energy Partners.

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!

Energy executives assess what's at stake in 2020 election Oct 19, 2020

With the upcoming U.S. presidential election offering two very different visions for the energy industry's future, some executives remain confident the renewable energy transition has gained a permanent foothold no matter the outcome. On Energy Evolution's latest episode, Sunnova CEO John Berger, Hannon Armstrong Managing Director Susan Nickey, Ramaco Resources Chairman Randall Atkins and former Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz game out what's at stake in 2021, based on who prevails in November.

Co-hosts Dan Testa, Allison Good and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the utility, oil and gas and mining sectors. Be sure to subscribe to Energy Evolution on your favorite platform to catch our latest episodes!

Growing battery storage market key to adding renewables to grid Sep 16, 2020

As the 2020 wildfire season continues to inflict damage across the American West, a key question will be how much, and how fast, the battery storage sector can mobilize to reinforce the power grid in California and elsewhere. S&P Global Market Intelligence examines the prospects of battery storage technology in our latest episode featuring Fluence Energy LLC COO John Zahurancik; Dan Finn-Foley, head of energy storage with consultancy Wood Mackenzie's energy transition practice and Dharik Mallapragada, a research scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Energy Initiative.

Co-hosts Dan Testa, Allison Good and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the utility, oil and gas and mining sectors. Be sure to subscribe to Energy Evolution on your favorite platform to catch our latest episodes!

Energy sector grapples with growing environmental justice movement Aug 17, 2020

As calls for racial justice grow across the U.S., the impacts of energy infrastructure projects on communities of color are also getting more attention. Does the cancellation of a major project like the Atlantic Coast gas pipeline mark a turning point for the movement? In this episode, S&P Global Market Intelligence's Energy Evolution podcast team spoke about the implications for the sector with experts Jean Su of the Center for Biological Diversity and University of Michigan Professor Tony Reames, as well as community activists Vicki Dobbins and Richard Walker.

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 to catch upcoming episodes!

Grassroots movement working to keep natural gas out of new buildings Jul 08, 2020

Local governments around the United States are making it more difficult to include natural gas as a fuel option in new building construction. S&P Global Market Intelligence senior reporter Tom DiChristopher joins the podcast with interviews about the varied approaches communities are taking on natural gas infrastructure and how the industry is responding.

Former DOE chief envisions a jobs revival coming from the energy transition Jun 01, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic is wreaking havoc on the world economy. Could the global energy transition and the jobs that come with it be a part of the cure? Former U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz believes it will be. He is behind a new initiative to develop the framework for a modern energy economy that prioritizes the creation and preservation of high-quality jobs. Energy Evolution called the former Obama Administration official to talk about the potential of this new effort, which energy sources will be a part of the jobs revolution, the role government can play to encourage new energy technology and more.

Energy transition to be shaped by world response to COVID-19 Apr 30, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic could help accelerate the investment shift from oil and gas to renewable energy. But the pace of that transition depends heavily on how governments direct economic recovery spending, and whether the consumer behavior changes induced by the pandemic prove permanent. In this episode, the Energy Evolution team spoke about these issues with Fatih Birol of the International Energy Agency, environmentalist and writer Bill McKibben, Amy Myers Jaffe of the Council on Foreign Relations, and Mark Lewis, head of climate change investment research at BNP Paribas Asset Management. Check out the article accompanying the episode here. 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 to catch upcoming episodes!

Small reactors could be a big deal for nuclear industry Mar 30, 2020

States developing long-term plans to zero out carbon emissions by mid-century are key to driving adoption of advanced nuclear technology, Dr. José Reyes, a co-founder of NuScale Power said on S&P Global Market Intelligence's Energy Evolution podcast.

NuScale is developing a new design for nuclear small modular reactors, or SMRs, which could be useful for states moving toward a system in which "firm" carbon-free power generation technology is needed to complement renewables.

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 to catch upcoming episodes!

Coronavirus pandemic, oil price crash shake up energy industry Mar 13, 2020

As the COVID-19 pandemic drives crude oil prices into the $30 per barrel range, the Energy Evolution team takes a look at what the global economic slowdown means for fossil fuels, utilities and renewable energy. Listen to the episode, and subscribe to catch future episodes. (Photo: AP)

Climate concerns are driving the financial world away from fossil fuels Feb 20, 2020

BlackRock Inc., the world's largest asset manager, recently announced it would be pulling out of its investments in certain parts of the coal sector. The move is part of a broader trend where banks, insurers and other parts of the finance world are pledging to stay away from fossil fuels to address concerns about climate change. Join us on Energy Evolution, where this month we check in on what is being said about the rising fossil fuel divestment trend and talk to activists, analysts and a representative of the largest coal company in the U.S. about what is going on and what may be next.

The forces driving a gas-fired power plant glut Jan 23, 2020

After an S&P Global Market Intelligence investigative team uncovered the powerful incentives to build natural gas-fired power plants in the U.S., the Energy Evolution podcast interviewed some of the "Overpowered" series' sources and authors to follow up on why utilities are adding gas generation despite flat demand and some states' efforts to adopt more renewable energy.

Energy Evolution also talked to sources from the Overpowered series about why the PJM Interconnection — the country's largest market for electric power — may continue to over-procure gas generation capacity, how Virginia state officials are starting to push back against Dominion Energy Inc.'s electricity demand forecasts and what the Oxnard, Calif., city council is doing to acquire more power from renewable resources after rejecting the Puente Power Project proposed by NRG Energy Inc. and Edison International utility Southern California Edison Co.

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(Photo: AP)

A very special Energy Evolution holiday episode Dec 18, 2019

From turkeys and LED lights to celebrating Hanukkah with solar energy, the Energy Evolution team breaks down power usage during the holidays with efficiency tips, fun facts and a cooking tutorial.

The fourth episode also features answers to questions about the history behind Americans' holiday light tradition, which variety of stuffing is best and how regional grid operators prepare to accommodate soaring demand.

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(Photo: AP)

Why solar energy could get even cheaper Nov 20, 2019

The price of producing electricity from solar energy has dropped rapidly in the last several years and nothing is stopping it from dropping even further, an expert recently told the hosts of Energy Evolution, an S&P Global Market Intelligence podcast. There is still room for reducing the cost of solar, both by improving the physical workings of the technology itself and by reducing the cost of production and deployment of solar photovoltaics, said Greg Nemet, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who researches technological shifts and how public policy can affect those changes. Once denounced as too expensive, solar energy is already displacing other fuel sources as the cheapest form of generation in some regions. Nemet, who wrote the recently published book "How Solar Energy Became Cheap," noted one of the challenges with solar energy is that once it is installed it essentially becomes a zero variable cost source of electricity. That could contribute to under investment on the part of utilities. The solution, he said, is to modernize utility regulations that in many cases were created decades ago in order to better accommodate renewable energy resources and other technologies.

Listen to the full episode to hear more, and subscribe to Energy Evolution to catch future episodes.

(Photo: AP)

US energy officials push innovation to meet evolving energy needs Oct 21, 2019

As technological innovation is spurs opportunities in the energy sector, the U.S. government wants to facilitate a major shift in how the nation generates its power, top federal energy officials said during a new S&P Global Market Intelligence podcast. "We are in this incredible American moment where we are really seeing a fascinating transition in our energy landscape," Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Neil Chatterjee said on S&P Global Market Intelligence's second episode of Energy Evolution. "The challenge is that this transition is putting pressure on traditional forms of baseload power, namely coal and nuclear. As the regulator responsible for the reliability of the grid, ensuring that we can make that transition while maintaining reliability is a challenge." The administration has taken several steps to try to support coal and nuclear power. However, agencies like FERC and the U.S. Department of Energy are also supporting the development of policies and technology that would support the growing role renewable energy plays in U.S. electricity generation. "If the cost of renewables, the cost of storage, gets to a point where it can compete, I think that's great for consumers," Chatterjee said. "It's great for the economy. It's great for the environment and it's great for America." The U.S. electricity grid has already undergone a massive change as cheap natural gas from new shale gas drilling technologies pushed coal-fired generation out of the market. Now, growing renewable energy deployment is causing a "bit of a strain on the system," said Brian Anderson, director of the DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory. "What we're looking for in the future are the options for large scale grid storage of electricity," Anderson said on the Energy Evolution podcast. "There are only a few options: battery packs — the costs are coming down tremendously — and other grid-scale storage options for storing electrons. We're going to start seeing a grid that is much different than we are used to because we need to be able to follow the dynamic nature of intermittent renewables." The DOE is working on finding a part of that solution. For example, they are studying materials that could be used to create a new generation of battery storage technology that does not have the same limitations as current batteries utilizing lithium-ion. "Lithium ion's done a great job for the last two or three decades, providing storage capabilities," said Dan Brouillette, the deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy who has recently been tapped to succeed outgoing Energy Secretary Rick Perry. "But it is limited and the ability to do utility-scale or large-scale storage still eludes us. That's why we've seen perhaps a slower adoption of some of the renewable technologies and we might otherwise have had." DOE is examining the possibility of using magnesium-ion instead of lithium-ion, for instance, which may prove to be a better means of storing power for later use. Battery storage research and development, he added is a high priority for the DOE as the technology is expected to be a "very important component" of the U.S. electricity generation mix in the coming years. The agency is also looking to more futuristic technology such as being able to beam power from one point to another without the use of wires. "Think about that," Brouillette said on the podcast. "Think about a world in which hurricanes matter perhaps a little bit less for the provision of electricity or the recovery from a major catastrophe like that. Those are some of the things we're thinking about at the DOE. And it's a very exciting place to be." Subscribe to Energy Evolution on Soundcloud to catch future episodes. (Photo: AP)

Energy futurist sees major obstacles for renewables in next 30 years Sep 19, 2019

Population growth and mineral resource scarcity will hamper the global energy sector's transition from hydrocarbons to renewables even as activist investors push many oil and gas companies to pivot toward more sustainable electricity sources, financial forecaster and futurist Jason Schenker says in the inaugural episode of Energy Evolution, a new S&P Global Market Intelligence podcast. Schenker is the Chairman of The Futurist Institute and the President of Prestige Economics. He has also authored several books on disruptive emerging technologies, including "The Future of Energy". Subscribe to Energy Evolution on Soundcloud to catch upcoming episodes! (Photo: AP)

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