Switched On

Offshore wind turbines are getting too big for the ships that install them. BloombergNEF estimates more than 30 gigawatts of offshore wind installations could struggle to find suitable vessels through 2035 if turbine growth continues. But building bigger ships takes years and hundreds of millions of dollars, and retrofits have their limits. That leaves the industry facing a choice between expanding its installation fleet or slowing the relentless growth in turbine size. So could a shortage of sufficiently large vessels become offshore wind’s next major bottleneck? On today’s show, Kamala Schelling is joined by BloombergNEF wind team analyst Kajsa Jernetz to discuss her note “Wind Installation Vessels: You’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat.”

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:

Wind Installation Vessels: You’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat - https://www.bnef.com/insights/40141

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Europe’s energy supply chains are running out of water. Weeks of heat and drought have pushed Rhine water levels to exceptional lows, restricting barge traffic and sending gasoil freight rates to record levels. That is adding pressure to an already tight market for gasoil, diesel, jet fuel and other middle distillates, while exposing refineries, chemical plants and industries that depend on the river for critical supplies. Companies are responding with smaller cargoes, trucks, rail and shallow-draft vessels, but those alternatives come at a cost. And with warmer, drier conditions expected to persist in the near term, the disruption highlights a broader challenge for Europe: adapting critical energy infrastructure to increasingly severe weather. So how are low water levels on the Rhine disrupting Europe’s energy markets, and how long could the pressure last? On today’s show, Kamala Schelling is joined by BloombergNEF weather associate Jess Hicks and oil associate Claudio Lubis to review findings from their analyst reaction “Freight Rates Skyrocket in EU as Rhine River Runs Low.”

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:

Freight Rates Skyrocket in EU as Rhine River Runs Low - https://www.bnef.com/analyst-reactions/tj8l8skk3ny900

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US solar developers are building projects around batteries, not panels. Federal tax credits for energy storage are reshaping the economics of new solar projects, encouraging developers to install larger batteries and allocate more capex to the storage component. The batteries can then shift low-cost solar power into higher-value hours. As energy storage reduces curtailment and generates revenue from services provided to the grid, batteries are becoming a defining feature of the next generation of US solar projects. On today’s show, Dana Perkins is joined by Cosmo van Steenis, an analyst from BloombergNEF’s solar and storage team, to discuss his recent notes “Solar and Storage Couple Up After US Tax Credit Cuts” and “US Tax Credit Maxxing Via Solar-Plus-Storage Projects.”

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:

Solar and Storage Couple Up After US Tax Credit Cuts - https://www.bnef.com/insights/39961

US Tax Credit Maxxing Via Solar-Plus-Storage Projects - https://www.bnef.com/insights/39943

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nuclear power is gaining momentum around the globe, but the industry’s path has diverged. China and India are rapidly expanding conventional reactor fleets, while the US and Europe are betting on smaller and more advanced designs to overcome decades of cost overruns and delays. Rising AI electricity demand, energy security concerns and decarbonization goals have all renewed interest in nuclear energy. But turning that momentum into new projects will depend on whether the industry can build reactors faster, more cheaply and with greater confidence than it has in recent decades. On today’s show, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by joined by Stephanie Diaz, a senior associate from BloombergNEF’s technology and innovation team, and Chris Gadomski, BNEF’s head of nuclear research, to discuss their note “Nuclear Power Market Outlook 1H 2026: Approaches Diverge.” 

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 Power Market Outlook 1H 2026: Approaches Diverge - https://www.bnef.com/insights/39881

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Artificial intelligence is heating up the race to build data centers, and with BloombergNEF projecting 194 gigawatts of demand by 2035, the biggest challenge isn't computing power…. It's electricity. Faced with years-long grid connection delays, developers are turning to on-site gas generation to bring projects online faster, creating a rapidly expanding market for turbines, engines, fuel cells and battery storage. Choosing the right technology is a trade-off between speed, cost, efficiency and emissions. And while on-site generation is often seen as a temporary bridge, developers are also weighing what role those assets could play once permanent grid connections become available. So is on-site gas generation a lasting part of the AI data center boom, or simply the fastest route through today’s power constraints? On this episode, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by Musfika Mishi, an analyst from BNEF’s technology and innovations team, to discuss her note “Data Center On-Site Gas Power Costs: Engines Beat Turbines.”

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 On-Site Gas Power Costs: Engines Beat Turbines - https://www.bnef.com/insights/39767

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Artificial intelligence is beginning to transform weather forecasting. New AI models are proving remarkably accurate at predicting hurricane tracks, in some cases matching or outperforming traditional forecasting models while delivering faster results. For energy markets, those gains could be significant. Earlier and more accurate forecasts give utilities, LNG exporters and offshore operators more time to prepare for approaching storms, improving resilience and reducing disruption. Yet AI is unlikely to replace traditional forecasting anytime soon, with meteorologists increasingly using it alongside conventional models to improve confidence in critical decisions. So how is AI changing the way we predict hurricanes, and what could that mean for energy markets as extreme weather becomes more common? On today’s show, Kamala Schelling is joined by Ryan Ward, an associate from BNEF’s weather team, to discuss his note “AI Models Show Edge in Tropical Cyclone Prediction.”

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:

AI Models Show Edge in Tropical Cyclone Prediction - https://www.bnef.com/insights/39679

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mexico is entering a pivotal period for its energy system. A new wave of reforms is opening the door to greater private investment in clean power, storage and grid infrastructure after years of subdued activity, creating one of the region's largest energy transition opportunities. The shift comes against a complex geopolitical backdrop. As negotiations over the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement continue, Mexico is balancing its deep integration with North American supply chains against a desire to diversify investment, strengthen energy security and reduce its dependence on imported US natural gas. At the same time, the country is building on its role as a manufacturing hub for technologies ranging from electric vehicles to transformers. So why does Mexico matter to the energy transition now, and what opportunities could emerge as the country reshapes its energy system? On today’s show, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by BloombergNEF Latin America associate, Stephan Mothe, to discuss his note “Mexico Transition Factbook 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:

Mexico Transition Factbook 2026 - https://www.bnef.com/insights/39557

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Texas is becoming a test case for one of the biggest questions facing electricity markets. As AI-driven power demand for data centers accelerates, grid operators are exploring whether large loads can do more than consume electricity – and instead become a source of flexibility when the power system is under stress. The answer depends on the workload. Cryptocurrency mines have already demonstrated they can respond quickly to wholesale prices, while AI and colocation data centers face much stricter reliability requirements. New policies are now pushing large data centers to demonstrate operational flexibility, even as developers weigh options such as on-site generation and demand response. So can flexible data centers help manage the next wave of electricity demand? And what can Texas teach the rest of the world about building power systems for the age of AI? On today’s show, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by BloombergNEF US power analyst Lara Kammen and senior associate Nathalie Limandibhratha, to discuss findings from the note “Data Center Flexibility to Relieve Power Prices in Ercot.”

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 Flexibility to Relieve Power Prices in Ercot - https://www.bnef.com/insights/39741

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China is emerging as the standout exception in the global hydrogen market. While many countries are scaling back ambitions, Beijing has set a new target to increase green hydrogen production eightfold by 2030, a level that could make it the world's largest producer and account for roughly half of BloombergNEF's projected global output that year. The strategy is about more than decarbonization. China sees green hydrogen as a way to strengthen energy security, reduce reliance on imported oil and gas, and build on its manufacturing leadership in technologies such as electrolyzers. Yet major technical and commercial challenges remain, with many projects still struggling to compete economically and developers treating the current wave of investment as a learning phase. So why is China doubling down on green hydrogen, and what could its strategy mean for the future of the global hydrogen industry? On today’s show, Kamala Schelling is joined by BloombergNEF hydrogen specialist Xiaoting Wang, to discuss her note “China Seeks Green Hydrogen Lead With Eightfold Growth.”

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:

China Seeks Green Hydrogen Lead With Eightfold Growth - https://www.bnef.com/analyst-reactions/th8md3kjh6v400

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it take to build an electric-vehicle charging network that really works? As EV adoption accelerates, charging operators are shifting from installing as many chargers as possible to designing networks that can reliably attract drivers, manage grid constraints and generate sustainable returns. At the same time, retail partnerships, on-site batteries, battery swapping and dedicated charging for commercial fleets are reshaping the economics of the sector. On today’s show, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by Madeleine Brolly and Ash Wang, two of BloombergNEF’s EV charging analysts, to review findings from their note “Public Charging Utilization 2026: Demand Keeps Rising” and discuss how EV charging must evolve as clean cars become an ever greater part of the global energy system.

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:

Public Charging Utilization 2026: Demand Keeps Rising - https://www.bnef.com/insights/39379

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.