Contracted offtake: US clean energy procurement set for evolution as market matures (Ep. 236)

Power Purchase Agreements, or PPAs, contractually guarantee revenues to power-generation projects for a fixed number of years and have underwriten the boom in renewable electricity development. The US tech sector dominated PPA activity in 2025 as it seeks to increase installed generation capacity in North America and maintains prior commitments to net-zero pledges. S&P Global Energy Experts Bruno Brunetti and Francis Browne join hosts Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss recent trends in clean energy procurement and why market participants should expect evolution as the initial wave of PPA contracts rolls off and corporate buyers consider future commitments. Learn more about S&P Global Energy coverage at: https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en

Unpack the next chapter of Argentina's energy story through the lens of Vaca Muerta, one of the world's most promising shale basins. In this episode, Argentina's Vice Minister of Energy and Mining Daniel Gonzalez joins hosts Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to explore recent the infrastructure build-out that is reshaping Argentina's ability to move hydrocarbons to market, the strategic openings for US shale players to bring capital, technology, and operational know-how, and the broader economic upside Vaca Muerta could unlock for Argentina's growth, exports, and fiscal stability. Learn more about S&P Global Energy coverage at: https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en

Bloom Energy manufactures solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems for on-site power generation projects and has been a major beneficiary of the US boom in data center development. Bloom's modular fuel cells produce power without combustion using pipeline-quality natural gas and offer developers the promise of being hydrogen-ready as that market develops. Bloom Energy Chief Commercial Officer Aman Joshi joins hosts Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss how Bloom is navigating the boom in behind-the-meter power projects and why natural gas fuel cells may offer data center developers a compelling alternative to traditional gas-fired generation infrastructure. Learn more about Bloom Energy at: https://www.bloomenergy.com/ Learn more about S&P Global Energy coverage at: https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en

The Canadian oil sands are making more than 3.5 million barrels per day and would be the major contributor to the Albertan government realizing its ambition of doubling provincial oil and gas production by 2035. S&P Global Energy Expert Kevin Birn joins hosts Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss the current opportunity for Canadian oil sands as global oil demand outlooks are revised upward, US shale-sector inventory declines with each new well drilled, and Western policymakers prioritize energy security. Learn more about S&P Global Energy coverage at: https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en

Europe moved its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) into its definitive phase in January 2026 after two years of emissions-data collection. The definitive phase now requires importers to begin paying for the carbon embedded into a select basket of goods – Iron and Steel, Aluminum, Cement, Fertilizers, Electricity, Hydrogen – when they are produced outside the reach of the EU's Emissions Trading System. S&P Global Energy Expert Max Mucenic joins hosts Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss the financial liabilities accruing under this new phase of CBAM and consider potential impacts to the EU economy and its trade partners as payments come due. Learn more about S&P Global Energy coverage at: https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en

Diversified Energy is a multi-basin US natural gas producer focused on growing itself through acquisitions of proved developed producing reserves.  In 2025, the company announced more than $2 billion in acquisitions, entered into a $2 billion capital partnership with Carlyle, and moved its primary listing to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) from the London Stock Exchange (LSE). Diversified Energy SVP of Investor Relations Doug Kris joins hosts Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss Diversified's landmark year in 2025 and how the company has helped pioneer the use of hedged production and asset-backed securities (ABS) to finance its acquisitive growth strategy. Learn more about Diversified Energy at: https://www.div.energy/ Learn more about S&P Global Energy coverage at: https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en

Top Trends for 2026: Energy capital bets on AI-led power demand and positions for a cyclical oil surplus. AI will continue to be a dominant driver of energy capital flows in 2026 as growth investment pauses in amply supplied global oil and natural gas markets. These expectations and five more will direct the attention of energy investors over the coming year, according to S&P Global Energy's recently released report, "Top 2026 themes: AI's power crunch, LNG price pressure and the scramble for critical minerals." S&P Global Energy Expert Justin Jacobs joins hosts Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss the top trends that will direct energy capital allocation in 2026. Learn more about S&P Global Energy coverage at: https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en

Talking long-duration energy storage with the CEO of Inlyte Energy Inlyte Energy is a U.S.-based manufacturer of iron-sodium battery energy storage systems. The five-year-old company completed a successful test of its first field-ready battery late in 2025 and is preparing for a pilot installation in 2026 through a partnership with Southern Co.  Inlyte Energy CEO Antonio Baclig joins hosts Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss the company's choice to focus on iron-sodium chemistry in its bid to commercialize long-duration energy storage (LDES) and how its use of abundant raw materials could help Inlyte to rebrand LDES as 'low-dollar energy storage'.  Learn more about Inlyte Energy at: https://inlyteenergy.com/ Learn more about S&P Global Energy coverage at: https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en  

The global upstream sector will navigate increased cost pressures this year as it faces a well-supplied oil market. This expectation and four other key trends will direct the attention of E&P executives over the next 12 months, according to S&P Global Energy's recently released report, "Charting the Future: Top 5 trends shaping Upstream in 2026." S&P Global Energy Expert Nick Sharma joins hosts Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss his team's top five trends to watch in global upstream in 2026. Access the full report here: https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en/news-research/special-reports/upstream/upstream-themes-2026#lore… Learn more about S&P Global Energy coverage at: https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en

Africa is often discussed as a single entity, but the energy profiles differ widely between North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa as well as within the 54 countries that define those regions. Much of North Africa, for example, enjoys universal access to electricity while 50% of the Sub-Saharan African population outside of South Africa does not. S&P Global Energy Experts Silvia Macri and Anastasia Pantazopoulou join hosts Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss the challenges and opportunities for a resource abundant continent to address energy poverty in many of its less developed countries. Learn more about S&P Global Energy coverage at: https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en