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Energy Evolution

Energy Evolution

S&P Global Commodity Insights 354 Episodes Jul 1, 2026

Energy Evolution is a podcast by S&P Global Commodity Insights that features interviews, analysis, and reporting on the transition of energy and commodities to a cleaner future. Host Eklavya Gupte speaks with policymakers, industry professionals, and in-house experts on topics like decarbonization, climate, emerging fuels, and commodity markets. The podcast merged with the Platts Future Energy podcast in January 2025.

Episodes

What California's launch of an extended day-ahead market means for the western US Jul 1, 2026 39:27 Every day, power market participants in the Western US must determine how much electricity they need for the following day and where it's going to come from. In response, California's grid operator on May 1 launched its Extended Day-Ahead Market, or EDAM, giving power providers a better way to coordinate to find the cheapest electricity.  So how is it going so far? And what does it mean for grid r
Cameco makes the case for large nuclear reactors Jun 23, 2026 23:42 Much of the current discussion about nuclear power focuses on advanced technologies, from the potential for nuclear fusion to the development of various designs for small, modular reactors. But if we ask what new nuclear reactors have been built recently in North America and are up and running? The answer is the two reactors at the Vogtle plant in Georgia, which use Westinghouse Electric's AP1000
How the Iran war is challenging and changing Europe's gas market Jun 16, 2026 37:04 After nearly four months, global commodity markets have shown both vulnerability and resilience amid the unprecedented disruptions caused by the Iran war. The European gas market is no exception. In this episode of Energy Evolution, host Eklavya Gupte examines the paradoxes shaping Europe's gas outlook. Gas prices in Europe have surged since the conflict erupted, yet remain far below the panic-dri
How battery storage is transforming the power grid Jun 9, 2026 28:57 It's hard to overstate how fast the battery energy storage industry is growing, and the impact that's having on the power sector. In 2025, US utilities and independent developers added 17.75 gigawatts of large-scale battery storage capacity, up 52% from 2024. Multiple forecasts suggest another 100 GW or more of large-scale battery capacity will come online in the US through 2030.   To the extent u
Discussing data centers' grid impacts with Amazon Web Services Jun 2, 2026 21:59 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 e
Beyond molecules: The rise of environmental commodities May 27, 2026 21:45 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
How the war in Iran is accelerating Asia's energy transformation May 19, 2026 23:00 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 Interna
From crisis to resilience: How renewables are strengthening Europe's energy security May 12, 2026 20:47 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 rep
How EU's methane rules could upend global gas trade May 5, 2026 35:11 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 impa
Southern Company CEO Chris Womack on AI, power demand and affordability Apr 28, 2026 22:37 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
Exploring AI applications for energy and the grid Apr 21, 2026 36:30 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,
War, sanctions and climate: The forces redefining Russian energy Apr 14, 2026 25:52 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 wi

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