Energy Evolution

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 Bl...

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 geopolitic...

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 Ho...

Join S&P Global experts from our Commodity Insights and Mobility divisions as they delve into the potential roadblocks facing the electric vehicle market in 2023. From fluctuating lithium prices to the phasing out of government subsidies, learn how these factors may impact EV sales and the battery metals market. Stay ahead of the curve as we navigate the challenges and opportunities of the ever-ev...

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 t...

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 Ene...

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...

Green ammonia is a leading contender as a hydrogen carrier for the energy transition, providing a ready end market and a means of transporting the product over long distances. S&P Global Commodity Insights energy transition reporter James Burgess talks to hydrogen analyst Matthew Hodgkinson and pricing managing editor Mario Perez to explore ammonia's energy transition potential and the latest gree...

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 cov...

Despite serving multiple purposes in the energy transition , batteries have their own footprint, and downstream players want to have that addressed. With automakers on the driving seat, ESG requirements over the battery supply chains have been spreading out, despite the lack of standardized guidelines. In this episode of the Platts Future Energy podcast, metals editors Henrique Ribeiro and Leah Ch...

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 par...

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...

Gulf countries attending the ADIPEC conference in October made it clear that oil and gas will be needed for decades to come, and the region has the least carbon-intensive barrels to fuel a global economy seeking to lower its emissions. How does this play against the United Nations' assertion that new hydrocarbon investments are incompatible with credible net-zero targets? S&P Global Commodity Insi...

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...

Plug Power, one of the leading green hydrogen companies in the US, has put a lot of investment and attention in the European green hydrogen market over the years. But its attention is now expected to shift back to the US side of its business following the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and its generous hydrogen tax credits. There's broad consensus that the IRA makes US green hydrogen far m...

With geopolitical and economic pressures altering the context dramatically since the last meeting in Glasgow, S&P Global Commodity Insights tackles the most pressing questions ahead of this global climate gathering. Vandana Sebastian speaks to Roman Kramarchuk and Dan Klein on what to expect at COP27, whether countries can reach a consensus on climate goals, the significance of decarbonization in...

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, CE...

Australia has accelerated its climate ambitions with a new commitment to cut emissions by 43% by 2030, which translates into having about 82% renewable power in its energy mix. Alongside that, the 2019 National Hydrogen Strategy aims to position the country as a top global exporter of the energy carrier. Demonstrations, pilot projects and hubs are being developed around the country, such as the fi...

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...

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...

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 Goo...

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 K...

Nickel and cobalt chemical prices have traditionally been determined by their respective finished metal prices, but lately they have shifted towards each being priced independently. Both nickel and cobalt metal are not driven by battery demand, so participants in the chemical products markets are seeking alternatives. In this episode of the Platts Future Energy podcast Scott Yarham, Jesline Tang a...

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...

In this episode of the Platts Future Energy podcast, Varaleka Pant and Arsalan Syed discuss with Deb Ryan the importance of evaluating the carbon intensity for crude and some of the major global crude grades, and explain the need for standards in this space to ensure consistency in low carbon crude trading. Tell us more about your podcast preferences so we can keep improving our shows. Take our tw...