Elon Musk put out a $100 million prize earlier this year for innovation in 'carbon negative solutions', or pulling carbon dioxide (CO2) out of the air. But BloombergNEF carbon capture analyst David Madrid says Musk is missing the point -- what is needed for direct air capture is scale, not new technologies., This week, Switched On speaks with David about direct air capture, how it works, and the pilot projects aimed at bringing the technology down the cost curve.

This episode is based on a report titled Material Tech Highlight: Direct Air Capture. BNEF clients can access this at BNEF<GO> on the Bloomberg Terminal, or on bnef.com or BNEF Mobile.

Switched On is hosted this week by Mark Taylor.

Elon Musk put out a $100 million prize earlier this year for innovation in 'carbon negative solutions', or pulling carbon dioxide (CO2) out of the air. But BloombergNEF carbon capture analyst David Madrid says Musk is missing the point -- what is needed for direct air capture is scale, not new technologies., This week, Switched On speaks with David about direct air capture, how it works, and the pilot projects aimed at bringing the technology down the cost curve.This episode is based on a report titled <a href="https://www.bnef.com/insights/26017">Material Tech Highlight: Direct Air Capture</a>. BNEF clients can access this at BNEF&lt;GO&gt; on the Bloomberg Terminal, or on bnef.com or BNEF Mobile.Switched On is hosted this week by Mark Taylor.

The future of energy, transport, sustainability and more, as told by BNEF analysts. Each week, Dana Perkins and Tom Rowlands-Rees sit down with BloombergNEF (BNEF) analysts to uncover the key findings and stories behind their latest research.

The future of energy, transport, sustainability and more, as told by BNEF analysts. Each week, Dana Perkins and Tom Rowlands-Rees sit down with BloombergNEF (BNEF) analysts to uncover the key findings and stories behind their latest research.

The future of energy, transport, sustainability and more from Bloomberg analysts

Switched On

Cutting Carbon with Giant Mechanical Trees: Direct Air Capture

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ce86bd20-af91-48ef-82da-ae3c000712a7/transcript

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<GO> 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

BloombergNEF&rsquo;s Tier 1 lists have become a defining feature of the clean energy industry. Built on real project deployment data, they track which manufacturers&rsquo; 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&rsquo;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&rsquo;s show, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by Jenny Chase, lead solar analyst at BNEF, to discuss the Tier 1 lists&rsquo; genesis, their application, and why they help us understand the &ldquo;Wild West&rdquo; of the energy transition.
Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF&lt;GO&gt; on the Bloomberg Terminal or on <a href="https://www.bnef.com/">bnef.com</a>
Links to research notes from this episode:
BNEF Energy Storage Tier 1 List 2Q 2026 - <a href="https://www.bnef.com/insights/33123">https://www.bnef.com/insights/33123</a>
Company Ranking: Tier 1 PV Module Makers -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bnef.com/insights/10610">https://www.bnef.com/insights/10610</a>
Company Ranking: Tier 1 Power Inverter Makers - <a href="https://www.bnef.com/insights/32073">https://www.bnef.com/insights/32073</a>

BNEF Tier 1 Lists: The Mark of Credibility

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/598d76c6-9f80-45a7-9593-b449008abb0d/transcript

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<GO> 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

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&rsquo;s show, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by, Caitil&iacute;n McManus, a technology and innovation associate at BloombergNEF, to discuss her recently released note &ldquo;Data Centers&rsquo; Energy Storage Ramp Up: Project List Grows.&rdquo;
Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF&lt;GO&gt; on the Bloomberg Terminal or on <a href="https://www.bnef.com/">bnef.com</a>
Links to research notes from this episode:
Data Centers&rsquo; Energy Storage Ramp Up: Project List Grows - <a href="https://www.bnef.com/insights/39221">https://www.bnef.com/insights/39221</a>
&nbsp;

Data Centers and the Future of Energy Storage

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/aa68d6d6-21a5-463f-a7d7-b443006c10a1/transcript

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

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 &ndash; 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&rsquo;s global head of strategy. Titled &ldquo;Energy Transition in a Multipolar World: The Middle Power Perspective,&rdquo; 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&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bnef.com/events">https://www.bnef.com/events</a>

Energy Strategy in an Era of Global Fragmentation

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/403fab92-63dd-4972-8f53-b43b014f5dae/transcript

Cutting Carbon with Giant Mechanical Trees: Direct Air Capture

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