Set against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions, this year will see elections taking place in markets that account for a combined 67% of global GDP. With the uncertainty that changes in leadership can bring, could these crucial votes lead to a slowing of investment in the energy transition as investors wait for the results and clear policy direction?

On today’s show, Dana is joined by BloombergNEF’s Head of Global Policy, Victoria Cuming, and US policy analyst, Derrick Flakoll. Together they discuss the implications for the Inflation Reduction Act should Donald Trump return to the White House, how useful polling data really is, and if growing right-leaning sentiment will be reflected in the upcoming European Parliament elections.

Links to research notes from this episode:

Wave of Elections Poses Risk for the Energy Transition - https://www.bnef.com/insights/33191

Set against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions, this year will see elections taking place in markets that account for a combined 67% of global GDP. With the uncertainty that changes in leadership can bring, could these crucial votes lead to a slowing of investment in the energy transition as investors wait for the results and clear policy direction?
On today’s show, Dana is joined by BloombergNEF’s Head of Global Policy, Victoria Cuming, and US policy analyst, Derrick Flakoll. Together they discuss the implications for the Inflation Reduction Act should Donald Trump return to the White House, how useful polling data really is, and if growing right-leaning sentiment will be reflected in the upcoming European Parliament elections.
Links to research notes from this episode:
Wave of Elections Poses Risk for the Energy Transition - <a href="https://www.bnef.com/insights/33191">https://www.bnef.com/insights/33191</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

Election Fever: Fate of Climate Fight Hangs in Balance

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/09eb555a-6585-4d75-9d2b-b10900555d81/transcript

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<GO> 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

Europe&rsquo;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&rsquo;s energy markets, and how long could the pressure last? On today&rsquo;s show, Kamala Schelling is joined by BloombergNEF weather associate Jess Hicks and oil associate Claudio Lubis to review findings from their analyst reaction &ldquo;Freight Rates Skyrocket in EU as Rhine River Runs Low.&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:
Freight Rates Skyrocket in EU as Rhine River Runs Low - <a href="https://www.bnef.com/analyst-reactions/tj8l8skk3ny900">https://www.bnef.com/analyst-reactions/tj8l8skk3ny900</a>

Rhine Drought Drives Fuel Costs Up: Analyst Reaction

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/01cddf9e-2dc4-4d71-b010-b4a200b1607a/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

Election Fever: Fate of Climate Fight Hangs in Balance

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