Energy Evolution

Discussing data centers' grid impacts with Amazon Web Services 02.06.2026 21min

The growth of data centers, and the amount of electricity expected to be required to meet that demand, is probably the biggest issue in the US power sector. US grid power supplied to hyperscale, leased and crypto-mining data centers reached about 64.4 gigawatts in 2025, nearly tripling since 2020. And that growth is accelerating. In this episode, host Dan Testa speaks with Brandon Oyer, head of energy and water for the Americas at Amazon Web Services. Oyer breaks down what he describes as misperceptions regarding the water and power impacts of data centers, the ways in which many people rely on data centers without realizing it and how AWS works with utilities to develop new projects.

Beyond molecules: The rise of environmental commodities 27.05.2026 21min

In this episode, host Eklavya Gupte sits down with Marijn van Diessen, CEO of STX Group, one of the world's leading environmental commodity traders. The conversation explores Europe's strategic pivot toward domestic energy sources, the explosive growth potential of biomethane as a gas substitute, and the surge in demand for renewable certificates driven by AI data centers — alongside the challenge of creating liquid markets for products that exist only as digital attestations. Van Diessen explains both the parallels and distinctions between environmental and traditional energy trading. Like oil and gas, environmental commodities require logistics, storage and physical infrastructure. But unlike fossil fuels, they're far more sensitive to regulatory shifts — where a single policy change can trigger volatility as dramatic as any geopolitical shock.

How the war in Iran is accelerating Asia's energy transformation 19.05.2026 23min

In this episode, host Eklavya Gupte explores how the war in the Middle East has exposed Asia's deep reliance on fossil fuels while also accelerating the region's energy transition. Ruchira Singh, energy transition editor at Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, speaks with Nobuo Tanaka, chair of the steering committee at the Innovation for Cool Earth Forum and former executive director of the International Energy Agency, about the emerging dynamics between petrostates and electrostates, and where Asia stands on the threshold of its energy future. Echoing the 1970s oil shocks that gave rise to the LNG market, Tanaka believes this crisis will spark another tectonic shift, elevating renewables to the mainstream and fast-track Asia's electrification. From faster electric vehicle adoption to expanding low-carbon hydrogen trade and strengthened regional collaboration, Asia is poised to respond with a decisive shift toward cleaner, more resilient energy systems, he says.

From crisis to resilience: How renewables are strengthening Europe's energy security 12.05.2026 20min

The war in the Middle East has put energy security back at the top of Europe's political agenda. For many, it brings back uncomfortable memories of 2022, when Russia's invasion of Ukraine triggered an energy crisis that forced governments to scramble for solutions. But this time, something is different. In this episode of Energy Evolution, host Eklavya Gupte speaks with Alex Blackburne, senior reporter at S&P Global Energy, who recently sat down with Miguel Stilwell d'Andrade, CEO of Portugal's EDP — one of Europe's largest utilities and a major player in renewable energy. Stilwell d'Andrade explains why Europe's power system is more resilient now than it was four years ago, driven by the region's massive expansion of wind, solar and storage. But progress hasn't been uniform, and the EDP CEO argues that consistent policy execution, as opposed to new measures, is what Europe needs most to secure its energy independence.

How EU's methane rules could upend global gas trade 05.05.2026 35min

The EU's methane emissions framework has drawn pushback from major gas producers and industry groups, warning that critical implementation details remain undefined even as a key 2027 regulatory deadline looms. In this episode of Energy Evolution, host Eklavya Gupte asks whether Europe's methane regulation will set a new global standard for climate accountability or trigger an energy crisis by impacting long-term contracts and reshaping global gas trade flows. Desmond Wong, global lead for low-carbon gas pricing at Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, interviews two experts on the legislation's far-reaching implications. First, Doug Wood, gas committee chair at Energy Traders Europe, explains the commercial realities facing importers: unclear penalties, missing verification standards, and the regulatory gaps that could prevent companies from signing new supply deals. The conversation then turns to Max Mucenic, senior principal emissions analyst at S&P Global Energy Horizons, who breaks down the technical challenge of measuring methane across complex supply chains and discusses why wide variations could determine which suppliers win or lose access to European markets.

Southern Company CEO Chris Womack on AI, power demand and affordability 28.04.2026 22min

Chris Womack is chairman, president and CEO of Southern Company, one of the largest investor-owned, regulated utility holding companies in the US. Its electric and gas subsidiaries serve more than 9 million customers in Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Mississippi and Tennessee. In this episode, co-host Dan Testa sits down with Womack to discuss the many issues facing the US power industry, including how utility capital spending impacts affordability, federal loan guarantees, coal-fired power plant extensions, as well as rising power demand forecasts driven by data centers and AI.

Exploring AI applications for energy and the grid 21.04.2026 36min

The development of data centers, many of which are to enable the growth and widespread use of powerful AI applications, is one of the key drivers of steeply increasing electricity demand forecasts in the US and around the world. But while the power industry is working to supply electricity needed by large tech firms, it is also using AI technology to improve its own operations. In this episode, Dan Testa speaks with experts and executives about how utilities, large industrial facilities and energy companies are using AI, and what's ahead. Joining this episode are Morgan Scott, vice president of global partnerships and outreach at the Electric Power Research Institute; Honeywell Process Automation President and CEO Jim Masso; and Amit Narayan, co-founder and CEO of GridCARE.

War, sanctions and climate: The forces redefining Russian energy 14.04.2026 25min

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has fundamentally reshaped its energy sector, with oil and gas exports diverted from Europe to Asia while soaring military spending strains the state budget. The war has stalled Russia's decarbonization plans and reduced investment in cleaner energy projects. But with climate change impacts increasingly visible across Russia's vast territory, the question looms: How will Moscow adapt its energy infrastructure? And what potential exists if the government shifts priorities toward energy adaptation? In this episode of Energy Evolution, host Eklavya Gupte and Rosemary Griffin, managing editor at Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, examine how geopolitical conflict and climate realities are creating a crossroads moment for one of the world's largest energy producers. First, Tatiana Mitrova, fellow at Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy, explains how the war in Ukraine is affecting Russia's energy strategy and why the country's enormous renewable energy potential remains largely untapped. The conversation then turns to Eoin Quill, researcher at Climate Analytics, who puts Russia's greenhouse gas emissions in global context, examines its role as a carbon sink, and explores how the rapidly warming Arctic could alter the country's energy infrastructure and export capabilities.

Former Energy Secretary Moniz discusses the Iran war, new technology and power demand 07.04.2026 27min

Ernest Moniz was the 13th US secretary of energy, serving from 2013 to January 2017. During his tenure he was part of the team, along with then-Secretary of State John Kerry, that negotiated the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement. Moniz currently serves as founder and CEO of the EFI Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the transition to a low-carbon energy future. In this episode, Dan Testa speaks with Moniz on the sidelines of the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference in Houston, to hear the former secretary's perspectives on the current war with Iran and the impacts on oil and gas markets, as well as how the conflict could accelerate adoption of other forms of energy. Moniz also weighs in on steeply rising US power demand forecasts, which new energy technologies hold promise and possible "bumps in the road" for the energy transition. This episode also features information about the Platts Global Power Markets Conference, scheduled for April 13-15 in Las Vegas. Click here to register or learn more about the conference. Related content: (Subscriber content) QatarEnergy expects 3-5 years to repair LNG facilities after strikes (Subscriber content) Iran war disrupting supply chains more so than COVID: Saudi finance minister (Subscriber content) Crude exports from inside Strait of Hormuz plunge 70% since onset of war: CAS

Political pressure mounts on Europe's flagship carbon policy 31.03.2026 34min

The EU Emissions Trading System is facing its greatest test yet. European leaders and companies are sounding the alarm, warning that high carbon prices are undermining the bloc's industrial competitiveness and threatening to drive manufacturing offshore. In this episode of Energy Evolution, host Eklavya Gupte examines what's driving the turbulence in Europe's carbon market and what it means for the bloc's energy transition. First, Irina Breilean, carbon price reporter at S&P Global Energy Platts, explains how political pressure from member states has dragged EU Allowance prices down by almost Eur30/mtCO2e in recent months. The conversation then turns to Julia Michalak, EU policy director at the International Emissions Trading Association, who breaks down the ETS reforms now under consideration: extended free allocations, the modified Market Stability Reserve, and why industrial competitiveness concerns are dominating the climate policy debate in Brussels. Eklavya also speaks with Pedro Barata, associate vice president for carbon markets and private sector decarbonization at the Environmental Defense Fund, who offers a perspective on the political economy of carbon pricing and how the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism is evolving from a climate tool into an instrument of industrial policy -- with major implications for global trade.

The imperative for measuring methane emissions in the US gas industry 26.03.2026 26min

Measuring and reducing upstream methane emissions is critical for US gas producers, particularly as they look to export their product to markets like Europe and Asia, and as the tech industry turns to gas as a key solution to its voracious power demand. In this episode, from the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference in Houston, co-host Dan Testa talks with Courtney Loper, head of government relations and public affairs for EQT Corp., one of the largest US gas producers and pipeline operators, about the steps the company has taken to improve methane measuring. Also joining the episode is Ben Webster, director of policy at MiQ, a nonprofit providing data and certifications to understand and reduce methane emissions.

Ontario Power Generation leads the North American race to build advanced nuclear 25.03.2026 11min

When it comes to advanced nuclear generation, most North American power producers are in the study and development phases. But Ontario Power Generation is currently constructing the first of four small modular nuclear reactors at its Darlington facility, with the first 300-MW unit scheduled to complete construction and connect to the grid by 2030. The other three reactors are scheduled to be complete in the mid-2030s, totaling 1,200 MW of firm capacity from advanced nuclear reactors. In this episode, Dan Testa speaks with OPG President and CEO Nicolle Butcher, from the sidelines of the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference in Houston, about the state of the advanced nuclear project so far, how OPG selected this reactor design and why public power providers, like OPG in Canada and the Tennessee Valley Authority in the US, are taking the first steps to build advanced nuclear generation in North America.

CERAWeek: War, energy security, and the redrawing of global trade flows 20.03.2026 21min

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz was long considered one of the energy market's great hypotheticals -- until it became a reality. In this special CERAWeek series episode of Energy Evolution, host Eklavya Gupte sits down with Dave Ernsberger, president of S&P Global Energy, to examine what may be the most significant energy supply disruption ever and how it's forcing a fundamental redrawing of the global energy map. With around 20% of the world's oil and LNG usually passing through this key chokepoint, the impact has been asymmetrical and severe -- India faces LPG shortages, Asian refiners are struggling with profitability, and fuel supplies are tightening sharply. The conversation also explores how this crisis is accelerating a structural shift in energy markets, particularly East of Suez, where the energy trifecta of affordability, security and sustainability has been upended. Ernsberger also looks at how the conflict is intersecting with the AI and data center boom -- creating inflationary pressures that reach from the Middle East to different states in the US.

The math behind emissions: Why carbon accounting matters now more than ever 17.03.2026 28min

Carbon accounting — the math of how emissions are calculated, reported and compared — is poised to move to the forefront of global trade and energy markets. Three critical developments in 2026 are forcing action: the implementation of the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, revisions to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, and new industry-driven product-level carbon accounting efforts. In this episode, host Eklavya Gupte explores why harmonizing carbon accounting matters now, what's at stake, and how the commodity industry is responding to the urgent need for standardized, comparable emissions data. The discussion features S&P Global Energy Horizons analysts Kevin Birn, head of carbon research and the center of emissions excellence; Roman Kramarchuk, head of integrated narratives and policy analysis; and James Salo, head of partnerships and strategic initiatives.

PG&E's endeavor to make electrification easier 10.03.2026 32min

California utility PG&E is studying the impacts of electrification to understand and prepare for a future grid with high levels of distributed energy resources, and significantly higher power demand. But although PG&E expects to spend about $25 billion by 2040 on grid upgrades, the distribution portion of customers' electric bills could decrease up to 25% over that period as added revenue from increased power usage more than covers the investment costs. In this episode, host Dan Testa speaks with Quinn Nakayama, PG&E's senior director of grid research, innovation and development, about this process and how the utility is deploying technology to make electrification easier for customers, particularly by lowering the cost of upgrades necessary to charge electric vehicles at home.

Europe's battle against the shadow tanker fleet 03.03.2026 23min

For several years, Iran, Venezuela, and Russia have relied on a sprawling network of aging tankers—known as the shadow fleet—to keep their oil flowing despite Western sanctions. Now, the EU is proposing its most aggressive move yet: a sweeping ban on maritime services that could cut off insurance, brokerage, and port access for vessels carrying Russian crude. This comes at a time when the Venezuelan shadow fleet has largely been replaced by mainstream tanker operators, while the US continues to impose new restrictions on Iranian vessels. Both developments raise fresh questions about the future of these rogue tankers. In this episode of Energy Evolution, host Eklavya Gupte explores whether the shadow fleet can survive tighter sanctions and what the consequences might be for global energy security, trade flows, and environmental safety. Joining the conversation are Kelly Norways and Max Lin, two journalists from Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, who have been tracking the shadow fleet's evolution over the past few years. They break down the mechanics of this shipping network, explain how the EU's proposed ban differs from the price cap system, and reveal the growing risks posed by a fleet of vessels operating outside international safety standards. Related content Shadow Fleet: How illicit shipping networks broke global oil trade https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en/news-research/videos/crude-oil/230925-shadow-fleet-how-illicit-s… G7 tankers return to Russia on weak Urals despite security worries https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en/news-research/latest-news/shipping/011626-g7-tankers-return-to-r… G7 crude tankers' share in Russia falls to four-month low as EU plans full ban https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en/news-research/latest-news/crude-oil/020926-g7-crude-tankers-shar… INTERACTIVE: Seaborne trade in Russian oil under G7 price cap https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en/news-research/latest-news/crude-oil/030724-interactive-russia-cr…

What's holding back Europe's hydrogen ambitions? 24.02.2026 25min

The European Hydrogen Bank is meant to be Europe's big enabler for large-scale renewable hydrogen production, so why did the EU's second auction fail to deliver on its promise? In this episode of Energy Evolution, host Eklavya Gupte speaks with James Burgess, senior reporter at S&P Global Energy Platts, and Matthew Hodgkinson, senior principal analyst at S&P Global Energy Horizons, who explain why so many projects withdrew from the auction process and explore what's next for the EU's flagship model for kick-starting the green hydrogen sector. Our experts assess the challenges facing the nascent market and take a look at other recent developments across the region, including the latest from the H2Global import auctions and how the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism is affecting hydrogen trade. Related content: News feature: European hydrogen industry digests failure of second EU auction H2Global news (Subscriber content): H2Global European hydrogen import auction opens global lot with Eur353/MWh cap Price assessments (Subscriber content): Spain Alkaline Renewable PPA Derived Hydrogen Eur/kg SARHE00

Big Oil's offshore wind dilemma 19.02.2026 17min

Offshore wind once looked like a natural play for oil majors: big offshore projects, complex engineering, and familiar operating conditions. But as costs and interest rates have risen, the sector's economics have started to clash with the companies' return expectations. This has revealed a business model where capital is invested upfront, payback is slow, and the competitive advantage often lies in power market and contracting expertise, rather than just offshore execution. In this episode, host Eklavya Gupte is joined by Alex Blackburne, senior reporter at S&P Global Energy, to unpack the shifting strategies of European oil majors in offshore wind. We also hear from Julio Dal Poz, managing director in the energy transition practice at FTI Consulting, who explains why offshore wind has proven to be a challenging fit for companies accustomed to quicker returns and greater upside potential.

Power surge: The impact of energy addition on environmental commodity markets 10.02.2026 29min

As AI-driven electricity demand surges and companies race to decarbonize, environmental commodity markets are growing swiftly. Host Eklavya Gupte interviews John Melby, CEO of Xpansiv, who provides insight into what it takes to create the digital trading infrastructure for markets ranging from carbon credits to renewable energy certificates and power purchase agreements. We also hear from Marie-louise du Bois, director for energy transition price reporting at Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, who discusses the challenges of pricing these evolving markets — from the simultaneous fragmentation and convergence of carbon markets to the rise of biomethane and even nuclear certificates. The discussion also covers how large corporates are managing their carbon footprints as they build AI infrastructure and why carbon-differentiated commodities could reshape global trade.

Why Greenland matters: Rare earths, geography and geopolitics 03.02.2026 30min

Greenland has suddenly emerged as a focal point in the global competition for critical minerals and energy. This episode explores the Arctic island's strategic importance through conversations examining how resource competition and geopolitics are converging in one of Earth's most remote locations. Host Eklavya Gupte speaks with Kip Keen, senior reporter at S&P Global Energy, on Greenland's mineral potential and the sobering realities facing companies that have invested there. Euan Sadden, senior editor at S&P Global Energy, interviews Jørgen T. Hammeken-Holm, deputy minister at Greenland's ministry of business, mineral resources and energy, about the regulatory environment and investor response to growing interest in the island's mineral wealth. Euan also speaks with Nicolas Jouan, a defense and security analyst at RAND, who explains why Greenland has become such a strategic focal point in a new era of resource security.