Energy-hungry data centers are on the rise. Power demand driven by artificial intelligence has been met by an increase in power purchase agreements (PPAs) for low-carbon energy. Meanwhile, DeepSeek has reduced demand through more efficient computations. So what is driving decision making at tech companies that work in the AI and data center space? At the 2025 BloombergNEF Summit San Francisco, Mark Daly, BNEF’s head of technology and innovation, moderated a panel titled “Data Center Dynamics.” This episode brings listeners that panel, which featured Steven Carlini, chief advocate of data centers and AI at Schneider Electric; Will Conkling, head of data center energy for the Americas and EMEA at Google; Kleber Costa, chief commercial officer at AES Corporation; and Darwesh Singh, founder and CEO at Bolt Graphics.

To learn more about BNEF’s Summits taking place around the world and to see recordings of BNEF Talks at previous Summits, head to https://about.bnef.com/summit/.

Energy-hungry data centers are on the rise. Power demand driven by artificial intelligence has been met by an increase in power purchase agreements (PPAs) for low-carbon energy. Meanwhile, DeepSeek has reduced demand through more efficient computations. So what is driving decision making at tech companies that work in the AI and data center space? At the 2025 BloombergNEF Summit San Francisco, Mark Daly, BNEF&rsquo;s head of technology and innovation, moderated a panel titled &ldquo;Data Center Dynamics.&rdquo; This episode brings listeners that panel, which featured Steven Carlini, chief advocate of data centers and AI at Schneider Electric; Will Conkling, head of data center energy for the Americas and EMEA at Google; Kleber Costa, chief commercial officer at AES Corporation; and Darwesh Singh, founder and CEO at Bolt Graphics.
To learn more about BNEF&rsquo;s Summits taking place around the world and to see recordings of BNEF Talks at previous Summits, head to <a href="https://about.bnef.com/summit/">https://about.bnef.com/summit/</a>.

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

Data Center Dynamics: AI and Energy Demand

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/1a6f24ae-255b-4d46-b41b-b2970069d9a7/transcript

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<GO> 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

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&rsquo;s show, Dana Perkins is joined by Cosmo van Steenis, an analyst from BloombergNEF&rsquo;s solar and storage team, to discuss his recent notes &ldquo;Solar and Storage Couple Up After US Tax Credit Cuts&rdquo; and &ldquo;US Tax Credit Maxxing Via Solar-Plus-Storage Projects.&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:
Solar and Storage Couple Up After US Tax Credit Cuts - <a href="https://www.bnef.com/insights/39961">https://www.bnef.com/insights/39961</a>
US Tax Credit Maxxing Via Solar-Plus-Storage Projects - <a href="https://www.bnef.com/insights/39943">https://www.bnef.com/insights/39943</a>

Battery Tax Credits Are Rewriting US Solar Economics

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/221c065e-9dc5-4b7f-9f15-b49d009303a0/transcript

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<GO> 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

Nuclear power is gaining momentum around the globe, but the industry&rsquo;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&rsquo;s show, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by joined by Stephanie Diaz, a senior associate from BloombergNEF&rsquo;s technology and innovation team, and Chris Gadomski, BNEF&rsquo;s head of nuclear research, to discuss their note &ldquo;Nuclear Power Market Outlook 1H 2026: Approaches Diverge.&rdquo;&nbsp;
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:
Nuclear Power Market Outlook 1H 2026: Approaches Diverge - <a href="https://www.bnef.com/insights/39881">https://www.bnef.com/insights/39881</a>

China Builds Nuclear Power While the West Reinvents It

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/22258025-d485-4db9-9187-b4960069d936/transcript

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<GO> 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

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&hellip;. 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&rsquo;s power constraints? On this episode, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by Musfika Mishi, an analyst from BNEF&rsquo;s technology and innovations team, to discuss her note &ldquo;Data Center On-Site Gas Power Costs: Engines Beat Turbines.&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&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bnef.com/">bnef.com</a>
Links to research notes from this episode:
Data Center On-Site Gas Power Costs: Engines Beat Turbines - <a href="https://www.bnef.com/insights/39767">https://www.bnef.com/insights/39767</a>

Gas Is Letting Data Centers Grow Beyond the Grid

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/4018d3ff-74c9-4f6f-b196-b490007b8965/transcript

Data Center Dynamics: AI and Energy Demand

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