Air conditioning already accounts for 9% of electricity consumed globally, and that demand is set to grow substantially in the coming decades. While many living in hot climates need it just for comfort, others see it as a status symbol – their ticket to the middle class. For businesses, it may underpin worker productivity. BNEF's Seb Henbest and Matthias Kimmel join the show today to discuss the effect of the ever-louder hum of aircon units on global electricity demand.  Switched On is hosted this week by Head of Business Development Dana Perkins.

Air conditioning already accounts for 9% of electricity consumed globally, and that demand is set to grow substantially in the coming decades. While many living in hot climates need it just for comfort, others see it as a status symbol – their ticket to the middle class. For businesses, it may underpin worker productivity. BNEF's Seb Henbest and Matthias Kimmel join the show today to discuss the effect of the ever-louder hum of aircon units on global electricity demand.  Switched On is hosted this week by Head of Business Development Dana Perkins.

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

The loud hum of air conditioning in global electricity demand

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/27ea9656-5733-4fea-925c-ae3c001538bf/transcript

The Iran war is redrawing the global energy landscape. Six months of high oil prices and disrupted trade have strengthened the case for technologies that reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels. Chinese exports of solar, batteries and electric vehicles have risen, while markets across Africa, Asia and Latin America are seeing growing demand for clean technologies. But the response varies widely. Some governments are shielding consumers from higher fuel costs, while others are leaning more heavily on domestic fossil fuels as a source of energy security. So has the Iran war changed the direction of the energy transition, or simply its pace? On today’s show, Kamala Schelling is joined by, Ethan Zindler who leads BNEF's countries and policy research. Together they discuss the note “Six Months In: The Iran War’s Global Impact.”

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:

Six Months In: The Iran War’s Global Impact - https://www.bnef.com/insights/40249

The Iran war is redrawing the global energy landscape. Six months of high oil prices and disrupted trade have strengthened the case for technologies that reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels. Chinese exports of solar, batteries and electric vehicles have risen, while markets across Africa, Asia and Latin America are seeing growing demand for clean technologies. But the response varies widely. Some governments are shielding consumers from higher fuel costs, while others are leaning more heavily on domestic fossil fuels as a source of energy security. So has the Iran war changed the direction of the energy transition, or simply its pace? On today&rsquo;s show, Kamala Schelling is joined by, Ethan Zindler who leads BNEF's countries and policy research. Together they discuss the note &ldquo;Six Months In: The Iran War&rsquo;s Global Impact.&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:
Six Months In: The Iran War&rsquo;s Global Impact - <a href="https://www.bnef.com/insights/40249">https://www.bnef.com/insights/40249</a>

Six Months In, the Iran War Redraws the Energy Map

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/27e2de27-07ab-4c55-90a8-b4b8015a5d5b/transcript

Turkey is quietly becoming a renewables heavyweight. Rapid wind and solar deployment is helping the country meet rising electricity demand while reducing exposure to imported fossil fuels. Turkey ranked among the world’s top 10 markets for new wind and solar capacity in 2025, and it is targeting 120 gigawatts of combined capacity by 2035. But sustaining that growth will require much greater investment in the grid, and meeting government transmission targets would require annual investment to rise roughly fivefold from 2025 levels. So can Turkey turn its renewable energy boom into a broader transformation of its power system and strengthen its energy security along the way? On today’s show, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by Abdullah Alkattan, BNEF’s Middle East energy transition analyst, to discuss findings from the “Turkey Transition Factbook 2026.”

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:

Turkey Transition Factbook 2026 - https://www.bnef.com/insights/39689

Turkey is quietly becoming a renewables heavyweight. Rapid wind and solar deployment is helping the country meet rising electricity demand while reducing exposure to imported fossil fuels. Turkey ranked among the world&rsquo;s top 10 markets for new wind and solar capacity in 2025, and it is targeting 120 gigawatts of combined capacity by 2035. But sustaining that growth will require much greater investment in the grid, and meeting government transmission targets would require annual investment to rise roughly fivefold from 2025 levels. So can Turkey turn its renewable energy boom into a broader transformation of its power system and strengthen its energy security along the way? On today&rsquo;s show, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by Abdullah Alkattan, BNEF&rsquo;s Middle East energy transition analyst, to discuss findings from the &ldquo;Turkey Transition Factbook 2026.&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:
Turkey Transition Factbook 2026 - <a href="https://www.bnef.com/insights/39689">https://www.bnef.com/insights/39689</a>

Turkey's Renewables Boom Has More Than Climate in Mind

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/555b53c4-222b-4604-9bb9-b4b300718ac1/transcript

America’s data center boom is running into political resistance. Texas, New York and Pennsylvania are moving to slow or pause new projects amid concerns over electricity costs, infrastructure and local impacts. Texas alone accounts for around 20% of the US pipeline, meaning even short delays could cost developers billions. The pushback is increasingly bipartisan, as politicians respond to growing opposition from local communities and overloaded power grids. The result is new uncertainty for developers racing to secure electricity and bring projects online. So has America’s data center boom finally hit the brakes? And what happens next? On today’s show, Kamala Schelling is joined by BloombergNEF’s senior associate for North American policy, Derrick Flakoll, to discuss his recent notes “Texas’ Data Center Pause Could Cost Projects Billions” and “Pennsylvania’s Data Center Pushback Raises Pipeline Risk.”

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:

Pennsylvania’s Data Center Pushback Raises Pipeline Risk - https://www.bnef.com/analyst-reactions/tk0z0wt96osi00

Texas’ Data Center Pause Could Cost Projects Billions - https://www.bnef.com/insights/40105

America&rsquo;s data center boom is running into political resistance. Texas, New York and Pennsylvania are moving to slow or pause new projects amid concerns over electricity costs, infrastructure and local impacts. Texas alone accounts for around 20% of the US pipeline, meaning even short delays could cost developers billions. The pushback is increasingly bipartisan, as politicians respond to growing opposition from local communities and overloaded power grids. The result is new uncertainty for developers racing to secure electricity and bring projects online. So has America&rsquo;s data center boom finally hit the brakes? And what happens next? On today&rsquo;s show, Kamala Schelling is joined by BloombergNEF&rsquo;s senior associate for North American policy, Derrick Flakoll, to discuss his recent notes &ldquo;Texas&rsquo; Data Center Pause Could Cost Projects Billions&rdquo; and &ldquo;Pennsylvania&rsquo;s Data Center Pushback Raises Pipeline Risk.&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:
Pennsylvania&rsquo;s Data Center Pushback Raises Pipeline Risk -<a href="https://www.bnef.com/analyst-reactions/tk0z0wt96osi00"> https://www.bnef.com/analyst-reactions/tk0z0wt96osi00</a>
Texas&rsquo; Data Center Pause Could Cost Projects Billions -<a href="https://www.bnef.com/insights/40105"> https://www.bnef.com/insights/40105</a>

States Put Data Centers on Pause: Analyst Reaction

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/fa6ff578-d11e-4f21-aa0c-b4b000b42ba7/transcript

The loud hum of air conditioning in global electricity demand

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