Switched On

As power grids evolve to accommodate new clean energy sources and smart technology, they are becoming more vulnerable to cyberattackers looking to exploit weaknesses in these increasingly connected systems. But what form do these attacks take, and what can be done to prevent them in the first place? On today’s show, Dana sits down with Amanda Ahl from BloombergNEF’s grids and utilities team. Toget...

With a quarter of offshore wind project deals having been canceled in the US this year, the Biden administration’s target of having 30 gigawatts of installed capacity by 2030 is looking even further out of reach. But why are developers coming under so much pressure and are these strains also being felt onshore? On today’s show, Dana sits down with Chelsea Jean-Michel and Atin Jain from BloombergNE...

The US has historically lagged behind mainland China and Europe for electric vehicle ownership, but is this about to change? If you believe GM and Ford, who cite falling demand for the delaying of their near-term EV sales targets, the logical answer would be no. But here at BloombergNEF, we’ve been crunching the numbers and what they show is not only are US sales of battery-electric cars rising, t...

It’s a good news, bad news situation for solar right now. On the one hand, annual installations are continuing to break records, with China set to build almost as much solar this year as the entire world rolled out in 2022. But on the other hand, the industry is suffering from a supply glut, weighing on the prices and margins of module makers. What is driving China’s boom and will the global momen...

Large power transformers, or LPTs for short, are integral for the functioning of the energy grid. But with BloombergNEF forecasting that the US will need to nearly double its units by 2030, will the country manage to meet the demand, or could it be facing further bottlenecks? On today’s show, Dana sits down with Eva Gonzalez Isla from BNEF’s modeling team. Together, they discuss what large power t...

Investment in carbon capture and storage is skyrocketing. Last year, the technology attracted some $6.4 billion globally, more than double the year before. But why are industries now looking to Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) to cut down on their carbon emissions, rather than other, better-established methods? On today’s show, Dana sits down with Allen Tom Abraham and Anastasia Tomasidou from BNE...

Oil and gas majors have long stated their intention to diversify away from fossil fuels and move toward clean energy production. However, in the last few years, many have wound back these plans, shooting for less ambitious targets or returning to their traditional business models. Against this backdrop, can climate-conscious investors hold major fossil-fuel companies to account?  On today’s show,...

Climate change and the transition to a net-zero economy presents both opportunities and risks to companies and assets. But how might an investor assess this exposure? On today’s show, Dana sits down with Tifenn Brandily and Mike Daly from BNEF’s Transition Risk team to take a look at two proprietary models, the Clean Energy Exposure Ratings and the Transition Risk Assessment Company Tool. Delving...

Energy security has come into sharp focus over the past two years, as the shifting geopolitical landscape shakes up power markets around the world. To help customers, numerous governments have introduced regulatory mechanisms to tackle inflation and strengthen domestic energy requirements. But in some instances, these policies have undermined climate goals and even had knock-on effects to the stab...

Removing carbon directly from the air might seem like a technology of the distant future, but ‘direct air capture’ is increasingly becoming a reality, especially as companies try to figure out how they’re going to meet their net-zero targets. How does DAC actually work, and how seriously should we take it compared to other means of carbon removal? On today’s show, Dana sits down with Sharon Mustri...

Japan has pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, yet the pathways to this target are complicated by the country’s recent history. In the aftermath of the 2011 Fukushima meltdown, Japan suspended all of its nuclear reactors, which at the time supplied one third of the nation’s energy. Today, the majority of these reactors still lie dormant, and fossil fuels are filling the energy void. So h...

It’s been a volatile year for natural gas. Last winter, global gas prices spiked in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and European nations rushed to replace sanctioned Russian pipeline supply. North America increased LNG exports with most of these volumes going to Europe to meet higher demand for seaborne cargoes. Prices have since normalized thanks to a relatively mild winter, helping...

Lithium is integral to the majority of electric vehicle battery chemistries, making it one of the world’s most sought-after metals. Once it’s out of ground, who controls the supply of lithium and its refining? With the majority of major diversified miners not actively taking part in lithium extraction, who are the companies involved in this space? On today’s show, Dana speaks with Ellie Gomes-Call...

When it comes to charging an electric vehicle in the US, drivers face a complex landscape. Tesla currently dominates the sector with its highly efficient stations and ultra-fast chargers, but an array of companies are vying for a share of this burgeoning market. And with $7.5 billion from the Biden administration’s NEVI program now available for building out the nation’s charging network, the comp...

Ammonia is one of the world’s most widely used chemicals, found in everything from fertilizers to explosives. But this tiny, crucial molecule has a heavy carbon footprint, with ammonia production and end use applications accounting for 2-3% of emissions worldwide. Now, green ammonia could be within reach, as hydrogen, its key component, moves toward an emissions-free production process of its own....

This month, BNEF’s New Delhi Summit took place alongside the B20 meetings, the official business community engagement forum for the G20. Among BNEF’s guests was Amitabh Kant, the G20 Sherpa for the Indian government, who sat down for a conversation with BNEF CEO Jon Moore on the Summit stage. Amitabh has had a long career in public service, including serving as the Secretary for India’s Department...

The dairy industry relies on 270 million cows to produce over 600 million tons of milk annually, and these cows are having a significant impact on the environment. Plant-based milks have been presented as an alternative, a dairy-free way for us to enjoy our milk and be more environmentally conscious, too. But how does the plant-based milk business work, and just how clean is the industry in compar...

The transmission grid is a topic that reaches across many of our episodes, but it’s never before been the center of attention. That changes today. While the installation of clean energy equipment is essential for the net-zero transition, the grid that delivers this electricity to consumers is equally critical. On today’s show, Dana speaks to Meredith Annex, BNEF’s Head of Clean Power, and Sanjeet...

The Texas power grid has had a volatile few years. As temperatures in the Lone Star State soared earlier this summer, power prices spiked to nearly $5,000 per megawatt-hour. However, that eye-watering price tag paled in comparison to what happened after Winter Storm Uri in February 2021, when per-MWh prices hit a staggering $9,000. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (Ercot) has a grid struc...

Steel is one of the world’s most widely used materials. It also accounts for 7-8% of global emissions, and ‘greening’ its production process presents an enormous challenge. So how can manufacturers decarbonize this crucial product? On today’s episode, Dana talks with Dr Julia Attwood, BNEF’s Head of Sustainable Materials, and Yuchen Tang, a sustainable materials analyst from Bloomberg’s Beijing of...

Aluminum is one of the most commonly used metals today, appearing in everything from new buildings to food packaging. But what, exactly, makes aluminum such an important metal, and why are its emissions so difficult to abate? On today’s show, Dana talks to Dr Kwasi Ampofo, BNEF’s head of metals and mining. Together they offer a deep dive into aluminum production and consumption, discussing not onl...

Imperfection is usually considered a negative, but is there something to be said for embracing ‘imperfectionism’? What can we learn from failures, and what are the mindsets and tools we need to turn imperfect outcomes into long-term gains? On today’s show Dana talks with Charles Conn, the current chair of the Patagonia board, about his new book, The Imperfectionists: Strategic Mindsets for Uncerta...

Electric vehicle sales are gaining momentum around the world, ushering in the end of the internal combustion era. On today’s episode, Dana speaks with Colin McKerracher, BNEF’s Head of Advanced Transport, about his team’s newest Electric Vehicle Outlook. Delving into electrification, shared mobility and autonomous driving (among other factors), the annual report considers how road transport will e...

Clean energy is booming in Latin America, where wind and solar are breaking records year after year. But as the world battles inflation, can the trend continue? And can the region harness its clean-energy resources to become a key green hydrogen exporter? To find out more, Dana spoke with BNEF’s Head of Latin America Research, James Ellis, and São Paulo-based BNEF Associate Natalia Castilhos Rypl....

Countries are racing to acquire the rare minerals and resources necessary for clean energy tech. So how can they secure their own positions while also building strategic partnerships? Helaina Matza, who has spent her career as a diplomat and negotiator with the US Government, is here to help explain the process. Now the Deputy Special Presidential Coordinator for the Partnership for Global Infrast...