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 market development and policy at Google, shares her views. She is interviewed by Kyle Harrison, head of sustainability research at BloombergNEF. Complementary research from BNEF on corporate sustainability strategies and power purchase agreements can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, on bnef.com or on the BNEF mobile app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Although the end of winter is approaching, the energy crisis will not end when flowers bloom in the spring. Policymakers around the world are hard at work and considering the actions that will ensure energy security at an affordable price for their country. In this episode of Switched On, Germany’s Dr. Patrick Graichen, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, sits down in conversation with Emma Champion, Head of Regional Energy Transitions at BloombergNEF. They discuss Germany’s approach to the energy crisis and the things we need to watch in the months, seasons and years ahead. Subscribers can read related research on the energy transition at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, at bnef.com, or on our mobile app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hydrogen's role in the energy transition is hotly debated. Technology costs, the practicalities of distribution and storage, and potential applications in hard-to-abate industries are just a few of the discussion topics surrounding this little molecule. In today’s show, we consider the future of hydrogen by zooming in on the electrolyzer market. Cumulative electrolyzer installations are expected to grow from 2 gigawatts in 2022 to roughly 240 gigawatts by 2030. Europe and China are already major electrolyzer markets, and with the advent of the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the hydrogen market in the United States is likely to grow. Today’s show features BNEF hydrogen analysts Adithya Bashyam and Matthew Bravante, who draw upon insights found in BNEF's Global Electrolyzer Outlook 2030 as they lead us through this fascinating field. Subscribers can read this BNEF research note at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, at bnef.com, or on our mobile app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining market share and reducing transportation-related emissions around the world. Facilitating this roll-out are the critical charging networks. When supplied with clean energy, these networks can further decarbonize vehicles, and their expansion can combat range anxiety and facilitate user adoption. On today’s episode of Switched On, Colin McKerracher, Head of Advanced Transport at BloombergNEF, speaks with Melanie Lane, CEO of Shell Recharge Solutions Europe, about the role of charging networks in the broader EV landscape, challenges the industry is currently facing and how EV networks may shape our future. Related research on Advanced Transportation can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, at bnef.com or on our mobile app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Covid-19 disrupted global supply chains, many people realized for the first time how vulnerable these complex systems really are. Some Western governments have responded by looking to expand manufacturing on their own soil. In today’s episode, we are joined by Antoine Vagneur-Jones, BNEF’s Head of Trade and Supply Chains, to discuss what a turn toward domestic clean-energy manufacturing may mean for battery and solar value chains. As Antoine explains, any such shift would bring benefits – but also come at a cost. This podcast is based on the BNEF Research Note titled Localizing Clean Energy Supply Chains Comes at a Cost. This can be read at BNEF < GO> on the Bloomberg Terminal, at bnef.com or via our mobile app. This episode was produced by Mariko O'Neil. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 27th Conference of the Parties has concluded in Egypt, with the annual UN climate summit finally reaching a deal after two days of overtime. In today’s show, we take a closer look at the Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan. Headed into COP27, many referred to the event as the “implementation COP,” given the need to deliver on previous commitments. To tell us how this year’s COP performed against stated objectives, we speak with Victoria Cuming, global head of policy at BNEF. From loss and damage, to carbon trading, to funding the $100 billion of climate finance promised to developing nations, Vicky shares her scorecard on how this COP measured up against expectations. This podcast is based off the BNEF research note “Implementation COP Fails to Implement Much Climate Action.” It can be read at BNEF< GO> on the Bloomberg Terminal, at bnef.com or via our mobile app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Europe is constructing a more flexible electricity grid to prepare for what is shaping up to be a volatile transition to net zero. There is a range of projects ranging from the mega, such as the proposal to build artificial islands in the North Sea, to the micro, for example, deploying distributed resources to make residential and industrial customers more flexible. In this episode, Sanjeet Sanghera speaks with Chris Peeters, CEO of Elia Group. They explore what Elia is doing in both of these domains of grid flexibility and how Europe is preparing for this winter. Research on electricity grids by BloombergNEF can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, at bnef.com, or on BNEF's mobile app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Natural gas prices remain elevated and security of supply is uncertain. In Europe, the reduced flows of natural gas coming from Russia have impacted everything from home heating to manufacturing. As we head into winter in the Northern Hemisphere, what is likely to happen in natural gas markets and what factors are important to consider when we think about implications beyond this year? In today’s episode, we hear from Stefan Ulrich and Arun Toora, who are both European gas specialists at BNEF. They address outstanding questions like whether Europe has enough gas in storage to make it through this winter and how big of a role demand destruction could play. Complimentary research from BNEF includes the ‘European Gas Winter Outlook 2022: Demand Swings Too Far?’ and ‘Global LNG Winter Outlook 2022-2023.’ These can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, at bnef.com and on our mobile app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The voluntary carbon offsets market is growing as companies and countries look to meet their climate goals. Offsets from agriculture have been getting attention recently. While they comprise only 1% of total offsets today, their potential to spur innovation and change in agricultural practices means there is scope for a much bigger impact. From soil management to livestock-related activities, farmers are at the heart of the agriculture offsets market. Today, we speak about what agriculture carbon offsets are, what one needs to think about when considering whether the emissions reductions are additional, and who is keeping an eye on them. To provide us with those details, Kyle Harrison, Head of Sustainability Research at BNEF, joins us on the show. For further reading on this topic, BNEF subscribers can read, Agriculture Carbon Offsets Outlook: Barren to Bountiful, at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, and bnef.com or via our mobile app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Several countries in Africa are looking to expand their energy systems to meet rising electricity demand. The question remains whether they will industrialize in the same way developed nations have done in the past, or whether they will install a greater proportion of low-carbon technologies. The region is at an inflection point and just like in Robert Frost’s poem The Road Not Taken, choosing the road less traveled may have benefits. As we look ahead to the COP27 summit, which will be held in Egypt in November 2022, climate finance for the developing world will be in the spotlight. Today, we speak with Chasity McFadden, an energy transition analyst at BloombergNEF focused on Africa, about what she is seeing in the region. Through case studies in Namibia and South Africa, we think about what the future energy system could look like in Sub-Saharan Africa. For additional information, BNEF subscribers can read the research notes titled Namibia Spearheads Energy Storage in Sub-Saharan Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa’s Power Technology Debate, and South Africa Tackles Power Outages Through Private Sector. These can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, at bnef.com, or on BNEF's mobile app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Solar has a critical role to play in decarbonizing the global energy system. It also has the potential to reduce power price volatility by increasing domestically produced energy supply in some parts of the world. In 2022, BloombergNEF expects to see yet another record year of solar build. This is all the while the cost of components, materials and projects remains elevated. In today’s episode of Switched On, Dana Perkins speaks with Jenny Chase, head of solar at BNEF, about what is happening in the solar industry today and what she expects to see going forward. This podcast draws upon research found in the BNEF 3Q 2022 Global PV Market Outlook, which can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, at bnef.com, or via our mobile app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Batteries for electric vehicles and stationary storage are increasingly in demand. But while ever-cheaper batteries were expected only a couple of years ago, supply turbulence for the key metals needed has increased prices in 2022 and made future costs uncertain. Depending on the chemistry selected, battery metals can make up 60-80% of a battery’s total cost. Alongside human rights concerns, metals prices have led battery manufacturers to take a closer look at their chemistries. In today’s episode of Switched On, we speak with Kwasi Ampofo, head of metals and mining at BNEF, about the outlook for battery metals – specifically, lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, and graphite. This episode draws upon the research found in BNEF’s 1H 2022 Battery Metals Outlook: Supply Turbulence Ahead, which can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, at bnef.com, or via our mobile app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not long ago, floating offshore wind turbines were treated as conceptual cleantech. More recently, they have become reality with gigawatts of capacity slated for installation within this decade. In this episode, we discuss the potential for floating wind, its growth drivers and cost trends with Oliver Metcalfe, head of wind research at BloombergNEF, and Luisa Amorim, the offshore wind specialist at BNEF. This episode draws upon research found in the BNEF 1H 2022 Offshore Wind Market Outlook and was produced by Sanjeet Sanghera. To access this research, subscribers can find it at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, at bnef.com or via our mobile app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the years following the Fukushima nuclear disaster of 2011, the conversation around decarbonizing the energy sector moved away from nuclear. However, current commodity price volatility has brought nuclear back to the fore and countries that were previously focused on decommissioning nuclear power stations are now, once again, discussing its virtues. Will this spur a nuclear renaissance and how might this time be different from the 1960s and 1970s? What technology breakthroughs could make the future of nuclear different, and will they happen quickly enough to respond to current market signals? To address these questions and more, Dana Perkins speaks with Chris Gadomski, lead nuclear analyst at BloombergNEF. This episode of Switched On draws upon a BNEF research note titled, Nuclear 1H 2022 Market Outlook: Unprecedented Opportunity. To access this research, BNEF subscribers can find it at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, at bnef.com or via our mobile app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fit for 55 is designed to support the European Union’s pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 when compared with 1990 levels. To aid in achieving this goal, there are several changes proposed to the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). In today’s episode of Switched On, we speak with Bo Qin and Emma Coker, who focus on carbon markets for BNEF. They outline these changes and their impact on the EU ETS. This episode was based on two BloombergNEF research notes: How ‘Fit for 55’ Would Reform the European Carbon Market, as well as Reforms and Offsets Front and Center for EU Carbon Players. These can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, at bnef.com, or on BNEF's mobile app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The roll out of charging infrastructure is combatting range anxiety and enabling the adoption of Electric Vehicles. Ryan Fisher, whose research focuses on Electric Vehicles and Charging Infrastructure for BNEF, discusses how quickly this is happening, what is facilitating charger installations around the world, and how charging might impact the electricity grid in the future. Today's podcast pulls from research found in BNEF's Electric Vehicle Outlook (EVO) 2022. For more information, go tohttps://about.bnef.com/electric-vehicle-outlook/. Today's episode was hosted by Dana Perkins. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s episode features an interview from BNEF’s Summit in Munich that took place on May 24, 2022. Colin McKerracher, Head of Advanced Transport at BNEF, spoke with Irene Feige, Head of Climate Strategy and Circular Economy at BMW Group. They discuss how to take emissions and the circular economy into account when designing a vehicle. Irene shares her views on the automotive supply chain, spanning from materials to manufacturing. To find out about BNEF’s Summits and to listen to more interviews, go to about.bnef.com/summit/. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To understand how the energy transition could play out around the world, one might turn to Europe to see how progressive policies and favorable economics for renewables are having an impact. For the second year in a row, BloombergNEF has taken a closer look at Europe’s place in the energy transition through a series of forward-looking scenarios found in the European Energy Transition Outlook 2022. In today’s episode, we speak with Andreas Gandolfo, Head of European Power Analysis, and Emma Champion, Head of Regional Energy Transitions at BNEF. They tell us what aspects of the report stood out, discuss the repercussions of the current energy crunch, and identify which technologies are likely to have the most impact on a net-zero future for the European energy system. To learn more, BNEF subscribers can read the European Energy Transition Outlook 2022 at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, at bnef.com, or on BNEF mobile. Today’s episode is hosted by Dana Perkins. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s episode features an interview from BNEF’s recent Summit in New York City, where Ethan Zindler, Head of Americas for BNEF, spoke with Mark Carney, UN Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance and Chair of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ). As emphasis on sustainable finance grows and reporting frameworks refine, he highlights the importance of corporate disclosure. Mark also shares his perspective on the role of renewable energy in the energy transition, and how it presents an opportunity for greater energy security.  To find out about BNEF’s Summits and to listen to more interviews, go to about.bnef.com/summit/.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Looking to better understand the newly proposed rules on climate-related disclosures from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), or where nuclear and gas belong on the EU Taxonomy for Sustainable Activities, or perhaps what the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) is doing? You’ve come to the right place and today’s episode goes through all of this and more with Maia Godemer and Mallory Rutigliano, who write about sustainable finance for BloombergNEF (BNEF). Complimentary BNEF research includes the 1H 2022 Sustainable Finance Market Outlook, Including Gas and Nuclear Will Burn Holes in EU Taxonomy, and U.S. Finally Moves on Climate Reporting With SEC Proposal. BNEF clients can access this analysis on BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, on bnef.com or BNEF Mobile. This episode of Switched On is hosted by Dana Perkins.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.