Episodes

  • Wind Power Expands as Competition Heats Up
    May 28 2026

    The wind industry is entering a new phase of scale. Offshore installations are set to surge in 2026 as a new generation of massive projects comes online, while onshore markets continue expanding across the globe. But the picture beneath those headline numbers is increasingly nuanced. Offshore developers are still grappling with supply chain bottlenecks, higher financing costs and policy uncertainty, even as governments accelerate deployment in the name of energy security and rising power demand. At the same time, Chinese manufacturers are rapidly expanding internationally, intensifying competition across global turbine markets. So where does the wind industry go next, and how are developers, manufacturers and governments adapting to a more competitive and fragmented market? On today’s show, Dana Perkins is joined by BloombergNEF’s head of wind research, Oliver Metcalfe, to discuss some of his team’s recent research including “Offshore Wind Market Outlook 1H 2026: New Era of Scale” and “Wind Turbine Orders in 2025: Chinese Firms Capture 34%.”

    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:

    Offshore Wind Market Outlook 1H 2026: New Era of Scale - https://www.bnef.com/insights/39491

    Wind Turbine Orders in 2025: Chinese Firms Capture 34% - https://www.bnef.com/insights/39261

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    36 mins
  • Japan Nuclear Revival Reaches Tokyo: Analyst Reaction
    May 26 2026

    Japan’s journey back to nuclear power is entering a new phase. Fifteen years after the Fukushima disaster and the shuttering of the country’s nuclear fleet, the return of the Kashiwazaki Kariwa 6 reactor marks the first restart in the Tokyo power region and one of the most significant additions since 2011. The timing is critical. Japan remains heavily reliant on imported LNG, leaving its power prices exposed to global gas shocks and disruptions from the war in the Middle East. Nuclear restarts are increasingly being seen as a way to strengthen energy security, reduce fuel imports and ease pressure on power prices. So what role can nuclear realistically play in Japan’s power system, and how much further can the country’s restart program go? On today’s show, Kamala Schelling is joined by Mariko O’Neil, BNEF’s head of APAC power, to discuss her note “Nuclear Comeback to Ease Tokyo Power Price War Premium.”

    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:

    Nuclear Comeback to Ease Tokyo Power Price War Premium - https://www.bnef.com/analyst-reactions/tdkvktt96osk00

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    13 mins
  • Hydrogen Moves From Hype Cycle to Hard Economics
    May 20 2026

    Hydrogen’s place in the energy transition is changing. After years of hype around its role in reaching net zero, many projects have been delayed or canceled as costs remain high, policy support weakens and demand proves slow to materialize. Yet hydrogen is far from disappearing. Industries already consume vast amounts of the molecule today, and sectors such as fertilizers, refining and potentially steelmaking still have few viable alternatives for deep decarbonization. At the same time, countries like China and India continue to push ahead with deployment and industrial policy support. So after the hype cycle, where does hydrogen actually make economic sense in the energy transition? On today’s show, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by Martin Tengler, BloombergNEF’s head of hydrogen research, to discuss some of his department’s recent work, including “No, Iran War Won’t Boost Clean Hydrogen – Except in China” and “Hydrogen Supplier Market Shares 2026: US Blue in the Lead.”

    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:

    Hydrogen Lifted by AccelerateEU, But Expect No Miracles - https://www.bnef.com/analyst-reactions/tdxp93kk3ny800

    Clean Hydrogen Production Assets Update - https://www.bnef.com/insights/39161

    No, Iran War Won’t Boost Clean Hydrogen - Except in China - https://www.bnef.com/insights/39077

    Hydrogen Supplier Market Shares 2026: US Blue in the Lead - https://www.bnef.com/insights/38839

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    38 mins
  • BNEF Tier 1 Lists: The Mark of Credibility
    May 13 2026

    BloombergNEF’s Tier 1 lists have become a defining feature of the clean energy industry. Built on real project deployment data, they track which manufacturers’ products are actually being used in large, recently financed projects, offering a transparent way to navigate markets crowded with hundreds of suppliers. That simplicity has made the lists highly influential, but being on (or off) the list doesn’t tell the full story about product quality or risk. So what do these lists really reveal about the industry, and how should they be used in practice? On today’s show, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by Jenny Chase, lead solar analyst at BNEF, to discuss the Tier 1 lists’ genesis, their application, and why they help us understand the “Wild West” of the energy transition.

    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:

    BNEF Energy Storage Tier 1 List 2Q 2026 - https://www.bnef.com/insights/33123

    Company Ranking: Tier 1 PV Module Makers - https://www.bnef.com/insights/10610

    Company Ranking: Tier 1 Power Inverter Makers - https://www.bnef.com/insights/32073

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    25 mins
  • Data Centers and the Future of Energy Storage
    May 7 2026

    The AI boom is ushering in a new era for energy storage. As data center buildout accelerates, batteries are evolving from short-duration backup tools into larger, more flexible systems that can help bring facilities online faster and manage complex power needs. In the US in particular, a growing pipeline of projects is emerging, with batteries increasingly paired with on-site generation or used to smooth demand and unlock faster connections to the grid. So how are data centers changing the energy storage market, and what role could these systems play in the power grid of the future? On today’s show, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by, Caitilín McManus, a technology and innovation associate at BloombergNEF, to discuss her recently released note “Data Centers’ Energy Storage Ramp Up: Project List Grows.”

    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 Centers’ Energy Storage Ramp Up: Project List Grows - https://www.bnef.com/insights/39221

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    32 mins
  • Energy Strategy in an Era of Global Fragmentation
    Apr 30 2026

    Middle powers are navigating a more fragmented global order. As tensions rise between major economies, the countries caught in between are being forced to rethink how they manage trade, security and economic ties. Energy is at the center of that shift. Reducing reliance on imported fuels is becoming a strategic priority, with electrification and domestic clean energy seen not just as climate solutions, but as tools of resilience and sovereignty. So how are these countries adapting to a more uncertain world – and what does that mean for the future of the energy transition?

    This episode features a conversation between Malcolm Turnbull, the 29th prime minister of Australia, and Kobad Bhavnagri, BNEF’s global head of strategy. Titled “Energy Transition in a Multipolar World: The Middle Power Perspective,” this discussion was recorded live at the 2026 BNEF Summit New York.

    To learn more about our Summits and to listen to more interviews, please visit https://www.bnef.com/events

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    24 mins
  • Hormuz Delivers an Aluminum Shock: Analyst Reaction
    Apr 27 2026

    Severe disruption in the Strait of Hormuz is rippling far beyond oil markets. Around 10% of global aluminum supply is tied to the Middle East, and with exports constrained, prices are surging and supply chains are tightening. The impact will extend across the global economy as aluminum is used from cars and electronics to construction, meaning higher prices can quickly feed through to everyday goods. While the shock may not change long-term supply outlooks, it is creating near-term shortages, and exposing vulnerabilities across multiple stages of the supply chain. So how does a regional conflict translate into a global materials crunch, and what does it mean for the energy transition? On today’s show, Kamala Schelling is joined by BloombergNEF’s head of metals and mining, Kwasi Ampofo, to discuss notes including “Industrial Metals Monthly: Supply Risks Rise on Iran War.”

    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:

    Industrial Metals Monthly: Supply Risks Rise on Iran War - https://www.bnef.com/insights/39205/view

    Transition Metals Outlook 2025 - https://www.bnef.com/flagships/transition-metals-outlook

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    10 mins
  • Nuclear Fusion Powers Up for Commercial Breakthrough
    Apr 22 2026

    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.

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    32 mins