Advertise on podcast: Switched On

At the beginning of each year, BloombergNEF releases the Energy Transition Investment Trends report, its definitive resource on global investment in the low-carbon energy transition. Since the report’s inception a decade ago, investment levels have steadily risen, breaking the $1 trillion mark in 2021 and reaching a record $1.5 trillion in 2022. Was 2023 another record year for energy transition investment, and which sectors saw the most notable growth or decline? On today’s show, Dana is joined by BNEF’s Deputy CEO, Albert Cheung, and Head of Technology and Innovation, Mark Daly. They discuss financing global supply chains, which clean energy technologies are on track for meeting net-zero targets, and whether climate tech equity financing has rebounded from recent lows. Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, on bnef.com or on the BNEF mobile app. Links to research notes from this episode: Energy Transition Investment Trends 2024 - https://www.bnef.com/insights/33273 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

California has long been proactive when it comes to environmental policy, implementing measures ranging from a carbon market to put a price on emissions, to legislation to phase out the sale of new gasoline and diesel cars. But are current policies going far enough, and what can be done to ensure the state’s position as the climate leader in the US? On today’s show, we bring you an interview from our recent San Francisco Summit, where California State Senator Scott Wiener sat down with Corey Cantor, a Senior Associate in BloombergNEF’s Electric Vehicle team. Together they discuss California’s need for better public transportation alongside the shift to cleaner cars, the new law Wiener spearheaded on corporate emissions disclosure, and the potential impact of a Trump second term on the Golden State. Today’s episode was recorded live at BNEF's San Francisco Summit. 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.

On today’s bonus episode of the podcast, Dana is joined by Kathy Gao, a Senior Associate from BloombergNEF’s Hydrogen team, to unpack the things to watch for the sector in 2024. Together they discuss offtake agreements and the potential for shipping and aviation to step up as customers, whether nuclear could become a viable method of hydrogen production among the plethora of available options, and the policies that could drive supply and demand in the year ahead. Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, on bnef.com or on the BNEF mobile app. Links to research notes from this episode: Hydrogen: 10 Things to Watch for 2024 - https://www.bnef.com/insights/33105/view See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For every dollar supporting fossil-fuel supply, at least $4 must be put towards low-carbon energy this decade to keep the world on track to limit warming to 1.5C. But are the capital flows of corporations and financial institutions anywhere close to this balance? BloombergNEF has devised the Energy Supply Investment and Bank-Facilitated Financing Ratios to find out. On today’s show, Dana is joined by two of BNEF’s Sustainable Finance Associates, Trina White and Ryan Loughead. Together they discuss how energy financing varies by geography, how the sector has been performing against the wider market for debt and equity, and the ratios required to 2030 and in the decades ahead. Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, on bnef.com or on the BNEF mobile app. Links to research notes from this episode: Energy Supply Investment and Bank Financing Ratios 2022 - https://www.bnef.com/insights/33005 Energy Supply Banking Ratio Tool (ESBRT 2.0.1) - https://www.bnef.com/insights/30865 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s bonus episode of the podcast, Dana is joined by BloombergNEF’s Industrial Decarbonization Specialist, Julia Attwood, to discuss what to watch in this space in 2024. Together they talk about the expanding opportunities to use captured CO2 and the growth in storage capacity for this gas, the momentum in large-scale chemical recycling of plastics, and the potential decarbonization of the steel and cement sectors. Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, on bnef.com or on the BNEF mobile app. Links to research notes from this episode: Industrial Decarbonization: Things to Watch in 2024 - https://www.bnef.com/insights/33115 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s bonus episode of the podcast, Dana is joined by BloombergNEF’s Head of Wind Research, Oliver Metcalfe, to discuss the things to watch for the wind sector in 2024. Together they talk about whether this year will offer a more stable environment for offshore wind development, if auctions for such projects will see more success, and the challenges facing Chinese turbine makers. Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, on bnef.com or on the BNEF mobile app. Links to research notes from this episode: Wind: 10 Things to Watch in 2024 - https://www.bnef.com/insights/33227 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Set against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions, this year will see elections taking place in markets that account for a combined 67% of global GDP. With the uncertainty that changes in leadership can bring, could these crucial votes lead to a slowing of investment in the energy transition as investors wait for the results and clear policy direction? On today’s show, Dana is joined by BloombergNEF’s Head of Global Policy, Victoria Cuming, and US policy analyst, Derrick Flakoll. Together they discuss the implications for the Inflation Reduction Act should Donald Trump return to the White House, how useful polling data really is, and if growing right-leaning sentiment will be reflected in the upcoming European Parliament elections. Links to research notes from this episode: Wave of Elections Poses Risk for the Energy Transition - https://www.bnef.com/insights/33191 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s bonus episode of the podcast, Dana is joined by BloombergNEF metals analyst Yuchen Huo, to discuss the things to watch in industrial metals markets in 2024. Together they talk about what a continued slump in China’s property sector could mean for steel demand, how the expansion of electricity grids will drive the need for copper, and the impact of the ongoing surge in solar power capacity on aluminum. Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, on bnef.com or on the BNEF mobile app. Links to research notes from this episode: Industrial Metals Monthly: Things to Watch in 2024 - https://www.bnef.com/insights/33089/view See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With an energy mix dominated by aging and increasingly unreliable coal power plants, South Africans have been putting up with rolling blackouts all the way back to 2007. The government’s latest energy strategy lays out a path to reduce these electricity shortages by replacing coal-fired generation. But rather than renewables being the natural successor, the focus is instead on gas. On today’s show, Dana is joined by BloombergNEF’s Head of Regional Energy Transitions, Emma Champion. Together they discuss why South Africa is still looking to fossil fuels for its power supply, why the new energy blueprint has rolled back utility-scale solar targets as smaller rooftop installations boom, and the attractiveness of the country as a renewable energy investment opportunity versus other markets in the region. Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, on bnef.com or on the BNEF mobile app. Links to research notes from this episode: South Africa Favors Gas Over Solar as Successor to Coal - https://www.bnef.com/insights/33121 Climatescope 2023 - https://www.bnef.com/insights/32751 South Africa Power Transition Outlook - https://www.bnef.com/insights/32751 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The start of each year sees BloombergNEF look at what could play out across the energy transition over the next 12 months. During January, Switched On will interview the brains behind the ‘Things to Watch’ series, starting with what to expect from the electric vehicle market. On today’s episode, Dana sits down with Colin McKerracher, BNEF’s Head of Advanced Transport. Together, they discuss the race between Tesla and BYD to claim the global EV sales crown, the new opportunities presented by emerging markets, and whether 2024 could be the year that oil demand sees a real dent from the shift to electric drivetrains. Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, on bnef.com or on the BNEF mobile app. Links to research notes from this episode: EVs and Clean Transport: 10 Things to Watch in 2024 - https://www.bnef.com/insights/33099 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Extreme weather events like fires and floods are causing companies to take a closer look at the physical risks posed by climate change, and how they could impact their income and balance sheets. Despite the financial threat posed, awareness of physical risk is currently low and exposure to potential losses and damage is still underreported in financial disclosures. As demand for transparency grows among investors and policymakers, what is the actual scale of the threat from physical climate risk, and what can be done to improve reporting and data collection? On today’s show, Dana sits down with Danya Liu, an analyst from BloombergNEF’s climate risk team. Together, they discuss the different forms physical risk can take and which weather events leave the largest financial impact, why the financial services industry is especially vulnerable to climate-driven catastrophes, and how insurers could help improve awareness of physical risk and data reporting. Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, on bnef.com or on the BNEF mobile app. Links to research notes from this episode: Beyond Fire and Floods: Firms Gauge Costs of Physical Risk - https://www.bnef.com/insights/32983 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BNEF Pioneers is BloombergNEF’s annual climate-tech competition identifying game-changing innovations with the potential to accelerate global decarbonization and halt climate change. Last year, awards were given in three categories: accelerating the deployment of hydrogen, building a net-zero food production system, and sustainable metals and materials for an electrified future. On today’s show, Dana is joined by guest host Benjamin Kafri, BNEF’s Head of Client Relations and Innovation, to explore the third of these categories. Together, they interview representatives from Jetti, Nth-Cycle and Li-Cycle, the three Pioneers Award winners dedicated to cleaning up the world’s metals and materials supply chains. Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF on the Bloomberg Terminal, on bnef.com or on the BNEF mobile app. BloombergNEF's 2024 Pioneers Award page - https://about.bnef.com/bnefpioneers/ BloombergNEF's 2023 Pioneers Award winners - https://www.bnef.com/insights/31219 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.