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Fusion energy is entering a new phase. After decades as a scientific pursuit, the sector is attracting billions in private and public capital, with big tech, oil companies and governments all racing to bring the first commercial plants online. Advances in areas like superconductors, materials and computing are opening new pathways, while surging demand for reliable, clean power, particularly from data centers, is accelerating momentum. But the landscape remains uncertain, with multiple competing technologies, ambitious timelines and no clear winner. So how close is fusion to commercial reality, and which approaches are most likely to deliver first? On today’s show, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by BloombergNEF’s lead nuclear analyst, Chris Gadomski, to discuss his note “Fusion Investment Pursuing Commercial Viability.” Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal or on bnef.com Links to research notes from this episode: Fusion Investment Pursuing Commercial Viability - https://www.bnef.com/insights/39071 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PJM Interconnection is entering an era of explosive power demand. Home to a significant share of the world’s data centers, the largest US electricity market could soon be facing sky-high prices and scant supply. Yet stakeholders are divided on how best to respond. Should PJM focus on building new generation, or should it lean on flexible demand? And with no lever able to solve the problem single-handedly, what happens if supply simply can’t keep up? On today’s show, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by two members of BloombergNEF’s US power team, analyst Lara Kammen and senior associate David Mohammadi, to discuss their note “PJM Power Market Outlook 2026: Brace for Impact.” Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal or on bnef.com Links to research notes from this episode: PJM Power Market Outlook 2026: Brace for Impact - https://www.bnef.com/insights/38947 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been nearly a year since Spain’s catastrophic blackout and key questions remain. Post-mortem reports point to a complex chain reaction in the grid, with no single trigger and gaps in coordination between operators, regulators and generators. The findings expose deeper challenges: inconsistent voltage rules, rising operational complexity and a system evolving faster than its controls. Renewables were initially blamed for helping trigger the crisis, but they are fundamental to the Iberian grid and must be part of the solution. So what has Spain really learned, and how prepared are other power systems for the next shock? On today’s show, Kamala Schelling is joined by Eva Gonzalez Isla, a senior associate from BNEF’s grids team, to discuss her note: “Spain’s Blackout Reports Expose Voltage Safety Risks.” Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal or on bnef.com Links to research notes from this episode: Spain’s Blackout Reports Expose Voltage Safety Risks - https://www.bnef.com/analyst-reactions/tcd1wrkjh6v700 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Energy shocks don’t just move prices, they reshape trade. As oil and gas prices rise, countries reliant on energy imports are accelerating the shift toward clean technologies, from solar and batteries to electric vehicles. In many cases, that change is being driven by businesses and consumers responding directly to higher costs. Yet it also relies on trade dynamics and government priorities, at both the local and regional level. On today’s show, Tom Rowands-Rees is joined by Antoine Vagneur-Jones, BloombergNEF’s head of trade and supply chains, to discuss findings from some of his team’s notes, including “Trade Transition Scenarios: Outlook to 2050” and “Clean-Tech Tariffs Are Lower Than You Think.” Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal or on bnef.com Links to research notes from this episode: Clean-Tech Tariffs Are Lower Than You Think - https://www.bnef.com/insights/39069 Trade Transition Scenarios: Outlook to 2050 - https://www.bnef.com/insights/38709 EVs Could Dominate Global Auto Trade in Just Five Years - https://www.bnef.com/shorts/tbfrcjt96oso00 What EU Guardrails Could Mean for Chinese Battery Firms - https://www.bnef.com/analyst-reactions/tbfdc1t9njlv00 Clean Energy Trade and Emerging Markets - https://www.bnef.com/insights/37867 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nature risk is becoming a critical challenge for companies. It’s also incredibly complex. Exposure spans an array of largely local issues, from water and biodiversity to waste and pollution, making it harder to measure and compare across sectors and geographies than its better-known sibling climate risk. BloombergNEF’s new Nature Risk Management Scores aim to bring structure to that complexity, analyzing not only company exposure but also how effectively risks are managed. The results highlight a clear gap: firms with the greatest exposure are not always those taking the most action, and progress varies widely across different risk areas.So how do you measure something as diffuse as nature risk, and what do these scores reveal about which companies are best prepared? On today’s show, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by Alistair Purdie, a senior associate from BNEF’s nature and biodiversity team, to review findings from the note “Managing Nature Risk: Company League Tables.” Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal or on bnef.com Links to research notes from this episode: Managing Nature Risk: Company League Tables - https://www.bnef.com/insights/38829 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The energy transition is entering a more complex phase. Geopolitics, trade tensions and rapid technological change are reshaping markets, creating new risks as well as new opportunities. Demand is rising across clean power, electric vehicles and data centers, even as supply chains tighten and policy becomes more fragmented. At the same time, falling costs and new business models are opening fresh pathways for investment. So how can global markets navigate this complexity – and where are the opportunities emerging in the next phase of the transition? On today’s show, Kobad Bhavnagri, BloombergNEF’s head of strategy, reads a briefing note that was presented by BNEF CEO Jon Moore at this year’s Davos summit, titled “The Energy Transition: Finding Opportunity in Complexity.” Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal or on bnef.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The cost to build and run clean-power projects used to be heading in one direction: down. That story is now getting more complicated. Battery storage costs continued to fall last year, while most other technologies became more expensive. Yet comparing technologies is far from straightforward. So how should we interpret these shifts in an increasingly complex power system, and what do these changing cost dynamics mean for the next phase of the energy transition? On today’s show, Tom Rowands-Rees is joined by Amar Vasdev, a senior associate from BNEF’s energy economics team, to discuss findings from the “Levelized Cost of Electricity 2026,” an annual flagship benchmark comparing the cost of building and running different power-generation technologies. Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal or on bnef.com Links to research notes from this episode: Levelized Cost of Electricity 2026 - https://www.bnef.com/flagships/lcoe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oil and gas prices are rising again as the Iran war shakes global energy markets. But so far Europe’s power system is holding up better than in 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine. More renewables and lower demand have made Europe’s energy system more resilient, even as prices edge higher. Yet gas still matters, and as coal exits the power mix, exposure to future shocks could grow. So how vulnerable is Europe if disruption deepens? On today’s show, Kamala Schelling is joined by Kesavarthiniy Savarimuthu, BNEF’s head of European Power, to discuss her note: “Iran War Hasn’t Sparked a New European Energy Crisis - Yet.” Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal or on bnef.com Links to research notes from this episode: Iran War Hasn’t Sparked a New European Energy Crisis - Yet - https://www.bnef.com/insights/38917 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US energy transition has hit an inflection point. Electricity generation reached a 20-year high last year, as renewables and energy storage accounted for 90% of new capacity additions. Energy-transition investment reached a record $378 billion, and more electric vehicles were sold than ever before. Yet all these headline figures occurred as federal policy support for clean technologies was scaled back. So what do the numbers really reveal about the state of the US energy transition, and how resilient are clean technologies as policy winds shift? On today’s show, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by Ethan Zindler, BloombergNEF’s head of country and policy research, and Trina White, a senior associate from the North America transition team, to review findings from the 2026 edition of the “Sustainable Energy in America Factbook,” which is produced each year in collaboration with the Business Council for Sustainable Energy. Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal or on bnef.com Links to research notes from this episode: Sustainable Energy in America Factbook: 2026 Edition - https://www.bnef.com/insights/38735 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Private capital is reshaping the energy transition. Once a niche corner of finance, private markets now manage tens of trillions of dollars globally, with a growing share directed toward clean energy strategies What sets this capital apart is not just scale, but structure: real assets such as wind, solar, grids and storage dominate, reflecting a preference for infrastructure-style returns and contracted cash flows. Dedicated transition funds have surged over the past decade, yet billions still sit as “dry powder,” committed but not yet deployed. So how does private capital influence where megawatts get built, and what does its rapid growth signal about the next phase of energy transition investment? On today’s show, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by Ryan Loughead, a senior associate from BNEF’s finance and investment team, to review findings from the note “Private Markets Primer: Mega Funds to Megawatts.” Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal or on bnef.com Links to research notes from this episode: Private Markets Primer: Mega Funds to Megawatts - https://www.bnef.com/insights/38547 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New guidance on the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit has clarified the outlook for US biofuels. The Treasury Department has confirmed that manure-based fuels can earn negative emissions scores, unlocking potential credits of around $7 per gallon for some renewable natural gas projects. The decision gives manure-based RNG a clear advantage, likely displacing other sources in the already saturated road fuel market. But beyond transport, where stacked subsidies make RNG viable, new demand remains uncertain. So how far can 45Z reshape the broader US biofuels market before the credit expires in 2029?  On today’s show, Kamala Schelling is joined by Jade Patterson, a BNEF specialist in renewable fuels, to discuss his analyst reaction “Dairy and Swine Win Big in New US Biofuel Guidance.” Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal or on bnef.com Links to research notes from this episode: Dairy and Swine Win Big in New US Biofuel Guidance: React - https://www.bnef.com/analyst-reactions/t9wrgjkk3o1c00 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Investment in the energy transition reached a record $2.3 trillion last year. That’s a huge figure, but it tells only part of the story. Renewables investment dipped year-on-year as China shifted its power market policy, clean industry and carbon capture gained ground, and growth shifted toward Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Behind the total lies a careful process to define what counts, decide when capital is truly committed, and reconcile everything from electric-vehicle sales to nuclear construction and green debt issuance. So what does this year’s record really reveal about the trajectory of the energy transition? On today’s show, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by BNEF’s deputy CEO, Albert Cheung, to review findings from the “Energy Transition Investment Trends 2026.” Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal or on bnef.com Links to research notes from this episode: Energy Transition Investment Trends 2026 - https://www.bnef.com/flagships/clean-energy-investment Publicly Available Summary - https://about.bnef.com/insights/finance/energy-transition-investment-trends/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The geography of data center development is being redrawn at speed. BloombergNEF is tracking nearly 23 gigawatts of new capacity under construction worldwide, as AI and cloud workloads drive the next phase of digital infrastructure growth. But siting decisions are becoming more complex. Energy availability and land permitting now dominate, while taxes, fiber connectivity and existing ecosystems still shape competitiveness. As AI demand scales and ambitions grow, regions from the Nordics and Iberia to the Middle East and Latin America are positioning for the next wave. So which markets are best placed to win, and what really determines where the next gigawatt gets built? On today’s show, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by Lloyd Arnold, an analyst from BNEF’s technology and innovations team, to review findings from their note “Data Center Development: Regional Drivers and Hurdles.” Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal or on bnef.com Links to research notes from this episode: Data Center Development: Regional Drivers and Hurdles - https://www.bnef.com/insights/38579 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A US Supreme Court ruling is shaking up global clean-tech trade. By striking down Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, the justices have created an opening for some solar equipment and stationary storage batteries. Yet not everyone will benefit equally, and with the administration moving to put new tariffs in place, just how durable is this reprieve? On today’s show, Kamala Schelling is joined by Derrick Flakoll, a senior policy associate for North America, and Matthew Hales, an associate on BNEF’s trade and supply chains team, to discuss their analyst reaction “Trump’s Tariff Loss Opens Window for Clean Tech Imports.” Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal or on bnef.com Links to research notes from this episode: Trump’s Tariff Loss Opens Window for Clean Tech Imports: React - https://www.bnef.com/analyst-reactions/tarz9pt96osl00 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sustainable finance has entered what might be its “messy middle.” For years, governments leaned into reporting regulations and other policies in support of ESG-aligned financial activities. Then came 2025, with the European Union weakening flagship rules, the US rolling back federal guidance, and other markets pausing or delaying new standards. Yet investors still demand standardized data on how companies are spending their money. So is this retreat a sign that the era of sustainable finance is coming to an end, or simply part of the shift to its next phase? On today’s show, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by Maia Mesanger, a BNEF specialist in finance policy and transition risk, to review findings from her note “Sustainable Finance Policy Quarterly: 4Q 2025.” Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal or on bnef.com Links to research notes from this episode: Sustainable Finance Policy Quarterly: 4Q 2025 - https://www.bnef.com/insights/38471   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.