Conversations about global commodity markets and the disruptive technologies driving the transition to a low-carbon economy. Each week, Dana Perkins sits down w...
Splitting Atoms, Scaling AI: Big Tech’s Nuclear Gambit
The boom in energy-hungry data centers in the US has led to a revival of interest in nuclear power. Small modular reactors, or SMRs, are often held up as the way forward, but the technology remains in development, which has led some big tech firms – or ‘hyperscalers’ – to explore other pathways for using nuclear power. One alternative is restarting some of the 11 nuclear facilities that have been shut in the US in the last 15 years, an option made all the more attractive given the regulatory hurdles, cost concerns and schedule overruns that tend to plague new nuclear projects. On today’s show, Tom is joined by Chris Gadomski, BloombergNEF’s lead nuclear analyst, to discuss key findings from his report “Hyperscalers’ Energy Appetite Boosts Nuclear Prospects”. Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF<GO> on the Bloomberg Terminal or on bnef.com Links to research notes from this episode: Hyperscalers' Energy Appetite Boosts Nuclear Prospects - https://www.bnef.com/insights/35223See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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28:42
Getting Real: Net Zero Isn’t Enough for Fortescue
The world is focused on net zero. Yet some companies, like Australian mining giant Fortescue, have set their sights higher, and are now aiming for ‘real zero’. On today’s show, we bring you an interview from the recent BNEF Summit Shanghai, where Fortescue Founder and Executive Chairman Andrew Forrest sat down with Leonard Quong, BNEF’s Head of Australia Research, to talk about green hydrogen, green iron ore, and why real zero is good for people, the planet and the bottom line. Today’s episode was recorded live at BNEF Summit Shanghai. To learn more about our Summits and to listen to more interviews, please visit https://about.bnef.com/summit/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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22:05
Under the Hood of Emerging Markets’ Energy Transition
Emerging markets have big plans when it comes to the energy transition. Today, 95% of developing economies have a renewable energy target in place, and many of them are seeing massive growth in solar and other renewable power technologies. Yet this clean power revolution won’t come cheap. While EMDEs attracted more than $100 billion for clean energy development last year, that’s a drop in the bucket of what it’ll take to reach net zero, and many markets are racing to implement the policy and infrastructure needed to attract many billions more. On today’s show, BloombergNEF researchers Sofia Maia and Ana Paula Fonseca Teixeira present the newest edition of Climatescope, a public BNEF resource that evaluates and ranks emerging markets’ readiness to utilize energy transition investment. Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF<GO> on the Bloomberg Terminal or on bnef.com Links to research notes from this episode: Climatescope 2024 - www.global-climatescope.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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20:45
Climate-Tech Finance: India Surges, China Slumps
Climate-tech funding is falling precipitously. During the third quarter of 2024, worldwide investment in the sector reached just $10.3 billion, a far cry from the $22.6 billion raised in the third quarter of 2023 and the $40.9 billion seen in 3Q 2022. These dramatic declines have been led in part by manufacturing overcapacity in China, where a collapse in market funding has allowed India to supersede China for the first time in BloombergNEF’s climate-tech rankings. With protectionism on the rise, questions have also arisen about how tariffs will impact equity funding moving forward, but where some see barriers, others see opportunities. On today’s show, Dana is joined by Mark Daly, BloombergNEF’s Head of Technology and Innovation, to discuss key findings from the recent report “Investment Radar 3Q 2024: Funding Drop Again”. Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF<GO> on the Bloomberg Terminal or on bnef.com Links to research notes from this episode: Investment Radar 3Q 2024: Funding Drop Again - https://www.bnef.com/insights/35203/viewSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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28:01
Burning Issue: Peak Coal Close But Demand Lingers
“It looks like coal weather today,” is an unlikely forecast, but it shouldn’t be. Coal production and consumption are linked to weather, and the return of a La Niña weather cycle has the potential to extend the lifespan of coal power assets and influence fuel switching. While peak coal demand is close, near-term drivers point to stagnation rather than a rapid decline. Developed economies are shutting thermal power assets at scale, but China is responsible for 56% of global coal consumption and continues to import and stockpile coal in vast quantities. On today’s show, Dana is joined by Fauziah Marzuki, BloombergNEF’s Global Head of Gas Markets, alongside Yumi Kim, Power Markets Associate, to discuss key findings from their recent report Coal Outlook: Hot and Cold to 2050. Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF<GO> on the Bloomberg Terminal or on bnef.com Links to research notes from this episode: Coal Outlook: Hot and Cold to 2050 - https://www.bnef.com/insights/35205See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Conversations about global commodity markets and the disruptive technologies driving the transition to a low-carbon economy. Each week, Dana Perkins sits down with different BloombergNEF (BNEF) analysts to discuss their latest research and unique perspective on the future of energy, transport, agriculture, sustainability and more.