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, BNEF Sustainable Finance analyst Ryan Loughead hosts a conversation on oil and gas investment with pa...
Nov 02, 2023•31 min
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 into the methodology behind these, Tifenn and Mike explain how they analyze revenues generated by le...
Oct 25, 2023•31 min
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 stability of utilities companies themselves. So just how damaging have the last few years been, and are ...
Oct 18, 2023•47 min
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 and Brenna Casey from BNEF’s Sustainable Materials team. Together they take a look at the companies...
Oct 11, 2023•43 min
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 how can Japan achieve its climate goals? On today’s show, Dana sits down with Isshu Kikuma, an associ...
Oct 04, 2023•31 min
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 the spot demand recovery in Asia. But now, as cold weather returns, European and North Asian demand...
Sep 27, 2023•34 min
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-Callus from BNEF’s metals and mining team, and Dr. Andy Leach from the energy storage team. Together, th...
Sep 20, 2023•35 min
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 competition is hotter than ever. On today’s show, Dana speaks to Ryan Fisher, BNEF’s head of EV Charging...
Sep 13, 2023•39 min
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. To find out more, Dana speaks with Adithya Bhashyam, an Associate from BNEF’s Hydrogen team. Togeth...
Sep 06, 2023•34 min
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 of Industrial Policy and Promotion, the Chairman and CEO of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corporation...
Aug 30, 2023•18 min
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 comparison to dairy? On today’s show, Dana speaks with Sarrah Raza, a Technology and Innovations Analyst f...
Aug 23, 2023•37 min
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 Sanghera, Head of Grids and Utilities at BNEF. Together they discuss the transmission grid and why i...
Aug 16, 2023•38 min
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 structure unlike any other in the US, but equally unique are some of its solutions for handling grid flex...
Aug 09, 2023•29 min
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 office. Together they discuss the tech that’s helping steel manufacturers reduce their emissions, how ...
Aug 02, 2023•29 min
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 only the metal’s applications across a range of sectors, but also the sky-high energy needs of primary ...
Jul 26, 2023•30 min
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 Uncertain Times. Together they discuss real-life applications for Conn’s six different mindsets, how AI ill...
Jul 19, 2023•34 min
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 evolve in the coming decades – and what these changes could mean for the automotive, energy, infrastr...
Jul 12, 2023•34 min
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. Together they discuss the key findings from BNEF’s most recent Latin America Market Outlook, which ...
Jun 28, 2023•31 min
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 Infrastructure and Investment, Helaina has also served as Director of Energy Transformation at the Bureau o...
Jun 21, 2023•22 min
Agriculture, forestry and land use are among the most climate-sensitive areas of our economy. They also account for almost a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions, which begs the question: Can anything be done to reduce farming’s sizable carbon footprint? On today’s show, Dana talks to Caroline Lewis, an analyst from BNEF’s Sustainable Agriculture team, about perennial crops, one possible solution. Together they discuss the benefits of multiyear lifecycles, the evolution from annual to pere...
Jun 16, 2023•25 min
The last year has been a tough one for the G-20 member nations, with soaring energy prices and a global inflationary crisis. Against such a backdrop, what is happening to climate policies and net-zero targets? Victoria Cuming, Head of Global Policy at BloombergNEF, returns to the pod to talk with Dana about the 2023 edition of the G-20 Zero-Carbon Policy Scoreboard. Together they discuss a range of topics, including this year’s ‘winners and losers,’ the US Inflation Reduction Act’s global impact...
Jun 09, 2023•32 min
Have you ever wondered what it would take to get a clean energy transition loan from the US government? Jigar Shah knows all about it. An entrepreneur, podcaster, and director of the US Energy Department’s Loan Programs Office, Jigar helps businesses fund their clean energy transition while offering thought leadership in the field. He recently sat down with BNEF Senior Editor Vandana Gombar to discuss his current role, available DOE loans and how companies can apply for them, and who should pick...
Jun 06, 2023•27 min
From investing in startups and appearing on TV shows to writing books and teaching the next generation of entrepreneurs, Michael Webber, the CTO of Energy Impact Partners and the Josey Centennial Professor in Energy Resources at the University of Texas at Austin, brings an array of experiences and insights to the energy transition. On today’s episode, he joins BNEF Chief Editor Ben Vickers to discuss the art of entrepreneurship, what Energy Impact Partners look for when investing in startups, an...
May 31, 2023•29 min
The passing of the Inflation Reduction Act by the Biden administration was partly designed to stimulate US clean-tech energy projects and equipment production. In the nine months since its introduction, has the IRA succeeded in increasing domestic renewables production, and what has been the reaction to it outside the US? On today’s show Antoine Vagneur-Jones, BNEF’s head of trade and supply chains, returns to talk to Dana. Together, they discuss a variety of topics, including the potential frac...
May 26, 2023•38 min
For more than a century, the ESG label has been used to describe investments that take environmental, social and governance concerns into account. Recently, the label has become a political flashpoint, buffeted between lawsuits from the right and accusations of greenwashing from the left. So where does ESG investing go from here? On today’s show, Dana talks with Maia Godemer, a Senior Associate from BNEF’s Sustainable Finance team. Together they discuss a variety of topics, including how ESG fit...
May 19, 2023•45 min
Having overtaken China as the world’s most populous nation, and with a developing economy that’s rapidly industrializing, India’s energy demand is growing. But as other countries move toward green energy sources and net-zero targets, can India, this year’s G-20 host, find a way to successfully transition away from its coal-dominated energy market? On today’s show, Dana talks with Rohit Gadre, a Senior Associate from BNEF’s New Delhi office. Together they discuss a variety of topics, including th...
May 12, 2023•34 min
CEPSA, the Spanish multinational traditionally known for its oil and gas expertise, is looking toward a greener future with its new Positive Motion strategy. On today's show, Albert Cheung, Deputy CEO at BNEF, speaks with CEPSA CEO Maarten Wetselaar about what it means to rethink the future of a business that has traditionally focused on hydrocarbons. Together they discuss a variety of subjects, including how the implementation of the Positive Motion strategy is successfully transitioning the co...
May 05, 2023•42 min
Presidential candidate Anies Baswedan spoke to BloombergNEF about his vision for a cleaner future for Indonesia. He shared his views on the country’s 2060 net-zero target, potential funding models for the transition of its domestic energy market, the challenges and opportunities presented by the rapid urbanization of Indonesia’s population, and how a targeted buildup of domestic industry could reduce its overall carbon footprint. Baswedan was interviewed by Ben Vickers, chief editor at BNEF. Com...
Apr 25, 2023•24 min
Carbon credit schemes in Europe and North America are making the roll-out of electric vehicle charging infrastructure increasingly profitable. In this episode of Switched On, we hear from BloombergNEF’s Ryan Fisher, electric vehicle charging specialist and Jade Patterson, renewable fuels specialist. They discuss what the proliferation of carbon credit schemes means for the future of biofuels and electric vehicles. Will the impacts differ in the near and longer term? What should we keep in mind w...
Mar 27, 2023•35 min
Renewable energy power purchase agreements have been integral to many companies’ sustainability strategies. Google was early to enter this space and is now thinking about how to take its targets a step further with around-the-clock carbon-free energy. But what differentiates Google's new strategy from others that are predominantly based on power purchase agreements, and how does this impact the broader decarbonization of electricity grids? In today’s show, Caroline Golin, global head of energy m...
Mar 10, 2023•49 min
