EnergyCents

Africa is often discussed as a single entity, but the energy profiles differ widely between North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa as well as within the 54 countries that define those regions. Much of North Africa, for example, enjoys universal access to electricity while 50% of the Sub-Saharan African population outside of South Africa does not. S&P Global Energy Experts Silvia Macri and Anastasia P...

Global solar installations slow after a record-setting 2025 as growth in the rest of the world fails to cover an expected 33% decline in annual additions by China. This expectation and nine other trends will help shape energy markets in 2026, according to the recently published S&P Global Energy Horizons Top Trends 2026 report. S&P Global Energy Expert Francesco d'Avack joins Hill Vaden and Sam Hu...

We welcome back S&P Global Energy experts Reed Olmstead and David Vaucher for our annual year-in-review and resolutions episode. Hosts Sam Humphreys and Hill Vaden check in to consider some of the past year's biggest trends and offer market predictions and personal resolutions for 2026. Access prior year-end conversations with Reed and David here: 2024: Defying gravity: Energy soars in 2024 and wi...

Adaptation vs mitigation. The conversation continues to permeate global climate goal discussions as the world attempts to reach net zero. But with adaptation becoming more and more preferable, challenges on how to finance this remain. Peter Zaman, Partner at HFW, joins hosts Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss where we stand on adaptation financing and the gap between the public and private se...

GreenFront Energy Partners, an investment bank based in Richmond, Va., is on a self-imposed mission to bring together the financial, intellectual, entrepreneurial, and natural resources to meaningfully decarbonize the global economy. The six-year-old firm caters to clients active in the energy-transition and offers services that include M&A advisory, capital raising, and corporate advisory. GreenF...

After a period of tightening natural gas supply since the Russia-Ukraine conflict, we are entering a time of oversupply, as more LNG hits the market.  S&P Global Energy Global Gas expert Laurent Ruseckas, joins Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss the interesting dynamic between falling prices and the impact this has, as natural gas is being considered crucial to the energy expansion.  Learn mo...

The opportunity for carbon capture technology is expanding as the role of natural gas in power generation grows in an emissions-constrained world. Ion Clean Energy, which includes Chevron, ExxonMobil, Williams, and Carbon Direct as investors, is working to address this opportunity with its proprietary absorbent technology. Tim Vail, CEO of Ion Clean Energy, joins Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to di...

Energy forecasters have long been calling for a near-term peak in global oil demand as year-over-year growth slows in the largest consumer markets of US, China, and Europe. These outlooks are being revisited as electric vehicle penetration underwhelms and the opportunity for petrochemical demand expands. Karim Fawaz, an S&P Global expert in global oil markets, joins Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to...

Earlier this year, New Zealand reversed a self-imposed ban on offshore oil and gas exploration begun in 2018 and is now allowing companies to apply for new licenses. Frankie Hulbert, an S&P Global expert in upstream exploration and development, joins Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss how New Zealand's renewed interest in domestic natural gas supply led to the reversal and whether operators n...

The upstream industry has faced many challenges over the last few years, but global sentiment seems to be shifting. In an environment of rapidly evolving geopolitics and a continued demand for resources, we explore how the industry is responding to this changing landscape. Joining hosts Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys this week is Dan Pratt, Global Head of Upstream Solutions at S&P Global Commodity I...

The maritime and shipping sector, which accounts for 80% of global trade and 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, is under increasing pressure to decarbonize.  Dana Rodriguez, Programme Manager at The Decarb Hub, and Aroob Sheikh, Shipping and Freight Reporter at S&P Global, join hosts Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss the steps being taken within the shipping industry to reach net zero, f...

ENGIE Impact works with corporate and industrial clients to manage their energy portfolios and make progress toward sustainability targets through the procurement of renewable energy. Rick Margolin , Director of Resource Optimization and Renewable Energy at ENGIE Impact, joins  Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss how industrial consumers can smooth volatility, reduce costs, and make progress t...

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was signed on July 4, 2025, and rewrote many of the rules associated with federal tax credits supporting low-carbon energy projects in the US. S&P Global Commodity Insights experts Anna Mosby and Conway Irwin join Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss how the OBBBA may influence the development of various energy technologies and when these new rules take ef...

Rich Africa Consultancy is a strategic advisory firm based in Namibia, specializing in natural resources law, energy policy, and sustainable investment. Since 2011, it has guided governments and businesses in unlocking value from Africa's resource wealth through expert advice, ESG alignment and thought leadership.  Ndapwilapo Selma Shimutwikeni, founder and CEO of Rich Africa Consultancy, joins Hi...

Buildings in the United States account for about 40% of domestic energy demand and about 25% of greenhouse gas emissions. Increased electrification of buildings, particularly in heating, is core to policy makers realizing decarbonization ambitions. Julia Kim , a US power markets expert at S&P Global Commodity Insights, joins Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss incentives behind US building ele...

Upstream operators in the Permian Basin have reduced emitted methane by 50%, or 29 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent, since 2022 according to overflight data.  Importantly, this reduction has occurred at the same time as oil production has grown and reflects an improvement in the methane intensity of Permian operations. Raoul LeBlanc , vice president of upstream at S&P Global Commodity Insight...

Conduit Power is a Houston-based independent power producer and services platform working behind the meter to co-locate distributed gas-generation assets alongside the projects of its commercial and industrial customers. The three-year-old company, backed by Grey Rock Investment Partners, also works in front of the meter through a model that allows upstream producers in the Permian Basin to share...

Holtec International is an established company focused on nuclear energy technology, specializing in spent fuel storage, small modular reactors (SMRs), and nuclear plant decommissioning. Its Palisades Power Plant in Michigan was shut down in 2022 and is now in the final stages of restarting after becoming in 2025 the first nuclear plant in the US to return to operations from decommissioning. Patri...

Carbon Catalyst is a UK-based carbon capture & storage project developer focused on a portfolio of carbon transport and storage projects within the North Sea.  Nick Terrell , executive director of operations at Carbon Catalyst, joins Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss how the pure-play carbon transport and storage company is working with partners to leverage depleted gas fields in North Sea i...

Houston-based VoltaGrid is a portable energy infrastructure company that has deployed more than 1,500 MW of distributed natural gas generation capacity since its founding in 2021. Nathan Ough, VoltaGrid CEO, joins Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys, to discuss how the fast-growing company has expanded beyond its initial focus on powering electric frac fleets in the oilfield to meeting the speed-to-power...

American Heat Engine invites readers to "buckle up and … take a road trip" as it embarks on a history of how hydrocarbon development and use has shaped the United States. Kent Williamson, author of American Heat Engine: Hydrocarbons and the Power of the United States, joins Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss his motivation for writing the new book and how he's organized the narrative around 1...

Ameresco designs, builds, owns, operates and maintains energy infrastructure with the stated goal of helping its customers reduce costs, enhance resilience and decarbonize operations. John Plack, Ameresco Senior Vice President of Engineering, joins Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss why the cleantech integrator is turning its attention to geothermal and how it works with universities, hospita...

Crux is a Capital Markets platform, designed to streamline and modernize commercial workflows in the energy sector. Alfred Johnson , Crux's co-founder and CEO, joins Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss the company's journey and the market intelligence offering customers can benefit from, so they not only facilitate transactions, but also offer insights into market behaviors. Learn more about C...

San Francisco-based Halcyon is developing an AI-assisted search and information platform that aggregates and summarizes regulatory information that pertains to US power and gas markets. The sector-specific software is designed to improve workflows and decision-making by energy professionals.  Alex Klaessig, Halcyon Chief Data Officer, joins Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss how his experienc...

London-based Pavegen makes triangular floor tiles that convert kinetic energy from human footsteps into electricity. The company's technology has been installed in places that include airports, schools, dance floors, and stadiums in more than 40 countries. Laurence Kemball-Cook, founder and CEO of Pavegen, joins Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss the idea behind converting footsteps into rene...