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 Chen discuss the main ESG challenges faced by the battery industry and what steps are being taken to m...
Nov 29, 2022•16 min
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, ...
Nov 22, 2022•19 min•Ep. 52
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. ...
Nov 18, 2022•23 min•Ep. 51
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 Insights news editors Dania El Saadi and Henry Edwardes-Evans compare notes. Click here to explore P...
Nov 15, 2022•19 min
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 ...
Nov 08, 2022•26 min•Ep. 50
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 more competitive than before, but can it now outcompete EU hydrogen? Plug Power CEO Andy Marsh joins ...
Nov 08, 2022•21 min
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 a world of evolving energy priorities, and the relevance of COP27 amid the global energy crisis....
Oct 25, 2022•21 min
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-hos...
Oct 03, 2022•22 min•Ep. 49
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 first international pilot to export hydrogen. In this episode of the Platts Future Energy podcast, Ruc...
Sep 21, 2022•33 min
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 Ch...
Sep 12, 2022•16 min•Ep. 48
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 natur...
Aug 29, 2022•23 min•Ep. 47
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 a...
Aug 05, 2022•19 min•Ep. 46
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 mini...
Jul 20, 2022•23 min•Ep. 45
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 and Michael Greenfield explore what the current state of play is and the reported move by the market ...
Jul 12, 2022•17 min
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 an...
Jul 11, 2022•24 min•Ep. 44
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 two-minute survey here: https://bit.ly/plattspod22
Jun 28, 2022•24 min
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 i...
Jun 24, 2022•12 min•Ep. 43
Attempts to overhaul the EU Emissions Trading System have entered a crunch period as the European Parliament and European Council aim to finalise their negotiating positions by the end of June. The EU Parliament rejected draft legislation proposed by lawmakers in its plenary vote on June 8, but is preparing for a second vote on June 22. EU ETS revisions are being considered against a backdrop of very high energy prices, surging inflation and a military conflict on Europe’s eastern flank. S&P...
Jun 15, 2022•31 min
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 E...
Jun 13, 2022•24 min•Ep. 42
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...
Jun 03, 2022•19 min•Ep. 41
As the US ethanol industry pursues carbon capture and sequestration projects, producers are looking at the effects of lower carbon intensities in markets with low carbon fuel standards and in future industries like sustainable aviation fuel produced from ethanol. The voluntary carbon credit market for technology-based carbon capture could also attract interest given high prices but hurdles could keep ethanol producers focused on regulated markets. S&P Global Commodity Insights' Americas biof...
May 31, 2022•21 min
China's "zero-COVID" strategy saw the country entering multiple provincial lockdowns. While this has hit electric vehicle production, the impact on battery materials production has been limited. Prices of battery metals, especially lithium, have fallen for the first time in 18 months. What implications do such events have on an already stressed supply chain, EV production costs and overall EV adoption? S&P Global Commodity Insights’ Henrique Ribeiro discusses these issues with pricing specia...
May 24, 2022•17 min
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. Ene...
May 20, 2022•28 min•Ep. 40
When Putin invaded Ukraine in February, the industry wondered whether it would set back Europe’s ambition to develop a low-carbon hydrogen market. Already, we have seen quite the opposite. The EU, member states and other countries are doubling down on clean energy commitments, with hydrogen at their heart. S&P Global Commodity Insights’ James Burgess discusses recent developments with pricing specialist Jeff McDonald and analyst Matthew Hodgkinson. Learn more about our Hydrogen Markets Europ...
May 17, 2022•22 min
Methane is everywhere, but it poses a particular problem in natural gas production. Head of Low Carbon Commodities Deb Ryan is joined by Emmanuel Corral and Paula VanLaningham to discuss the unique problems posed by methane emissions in the fight against climate change, and S&P Global Commodity Insights’ new Methane Intensity assessments. Using a top-down approach to measuring methane intensity through satellite data and the pricing transparency generated by the Methane Performance Certifica...
May 03, 2022•13 min
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 ep...
Apr 25, 2022•12 min•Ep. 39
Global demand for lithium and other materials used in electric vehicle batteries, consumer electronics and myriad other applications is rapidly increasing. And as demand for those commodities grows, so do prices. An orderly energy transition from fossil fuels to cleaner energy resources will require a steadily rising supply of critical metals to keep pace with demand and keep prices at affordable levels. S&P Global Commodity Insights writers Jared Anderson and Nick Lazzaro speak with EnergyX...
Apr 12, 2022•25 min
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...
Apr 12, 2022•15 min•Ep. 38
Asia’s carbon markets are on a trajectory of rapid growth as demand for carbon offsets rises and regional governments work towards net-zero commitments. While turmoil in global energy markets has temporarily shifted attention to energy security, commodity trading hubs like Singapore are pushing ahead with plans to become a carbon trading powerhouse. Eric Yep and Roman Kramarchuk of S&P Global Commodity Insights discuss with Mikkel Larsen, CEO of Climate Impact X, a Singapore-based carbon exc...
Apr 06, 2022•27 min
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...
Mar 29, 2022•26 min•Ep. 37
