EnergyCents – Ep 153: Mingling molecules: RNG wins market share in heavy-duty trucking

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) pioneered much of North America’s emissions-reduction policies and is now in the process of updating its regulations as net-zero deadlines near. S&P Global experts Erin Tully and Matt Williams join EnergyCents hosts Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) and Cap-and-Trade Program and how these initiatives may evolve as the state makes progress toward its goal of net-zero emissions by 2045. Learn more about S&P Global Commodity Insights energy coverage at: https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en

New Zealand announced on August 26, 2024, that it will reverse its 2018 ban on offshore oil and gas exploration before the start of 2025. S&P Global Expert Joe Keith joins EnergyCents with hosts Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss background behind New Zealand’s exploration ban and how domestic demand for natural gas influenced a campaign for its reversal.   Note: this podcast was recorded on August 7, 2024.   Learn more about S&P Global Commodity Insights energy coverage at: https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en  

Metals are increasingly a part of the global energy story as low-carbon technologies compete with fossil fuels for market share. Energy planners are therefore paying renewed attention to, and often investing in, the metals and mining sector. S&P Global Expert Nick Trickett joins EnergyCents with hosts Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss how clean-electron ambition is stimulating interest in global metals and how China has become a major player in the sector.   Learn more about S&P Global Commodity Insights energy coverage at: https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en

Production from shale has always been driven by those wells drilled in core acreage. While core inventory depletes each year, each well’s recovery rate is low enough that production growth remains possible with improvements in technology. S&P Global Expert Prescott Roach joins EnergyCents with hosts Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss the potential for refracs in North America’s mature shale plays and why industry is optimistic about incremental oil and gas volumes from already-drilled wells.   Learn more about S&P Global Commodity Insights energy coverage at: https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en

Low-cost manufacturing of solar technologies has enabled one of the fastest growth trajectories of global low-carbon energy supply. The pace of growth, led by China, has led to both a glut in supply and protectionist measures from other countries looking to develop solar capabilities of their own. S&P Global expert Cormac Gilligan joins EnergyCents hosts Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss the success of solar in decarbonizing electricity markets and share perspective on what the future may hold for the fast-growing sector. Learn more about S&P Global Commodity Insights energy coverage at: https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en

Diversified Energy owns and operates onshore natural gas wells in the United States and has built itself by acquiring the long-lived, non-core assets of other operators. The company prides itself on ensuring consistent free cash flows from operations; reducing its portfolio’s scope 1 methane emissions; and retiring end-of-life wells through its Next LVL Energy affiliate.   Diversified Energy Senior Vice President of Investor Relations & Corporate Communications Doug Kris joins EnergyCents with hosts Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss how Diversified’s core competencies acquiring, managing, and retiring mature upstream assets enable the company to deliver shareholder value and meet, or exceed, sustainability goals.   Learn more about Diversified Energy at: https://www.div.energy/about-us/   Learn more about S&P Global Commodity Insights energy coverage at: https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en

The Atlantic Margin, the play between the west coast of Africa and the east coast of South America, is increasingly under the upstream spotlight. With high E&P potential in countries like Guyana, Suriname and Namibia, many major oil and gas players are keen to explore and invest.  S&P Global experts Ford Tanner and Ida Hockerfelt join EnergyCents hosts Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss the potential in the Atlantic Margin, as well as the responses from governments in the region towards foreign investment.  Learn more about S&P Global Commodity Insights energy coverage at: https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en

Inspiration Mobility is the world’s first electric vehicle Fleet Management Company, or eFMC.  The self-described “electrification accelerator” is backed by investment from Macquarie, Arclight Capital, and Ferrovial and offers solutions that include fleet management, charging-as-a-service (CaaS), and electrification finance. Inspiration Mobility CEO Josh Green joins EnergyCents hosts Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss Inspiration Mobility’s business model and describe how the company is navigating opportunity within the transforming energy and transportation sectors. Learn more about Inspiration Mobility at: https://inspirationmobility.com/ Learn more about S&P Global Commodity Insights energy coverage at: https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en

Renewable natural gas (RNG) has been one of the fastest low-carbon fuels to reach commerciality in the United States because of its ability to leverage traditional gas infrastructure. RNG has also benefited from recent innovation in compressed natural gas (CNG) engines used in heavy duty trucking. S&P Global experts Tom DiChristopher and Greg Genette joins EnergyCents with hosts Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss RNG’s success as a drop-in fuel and how technological innovation and supportive policy are helping to decarbonize commercial transportation. Learn more about S&P Global Commodity Insights energy coverage at: https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en

The future of global oil and gas exploration has been widely discussed recently, with the number of discoveries year on year for the past decade gradually declining. But with growing energy demands in emerging markets, a call to end 'energy poverty' and efforts to ensure energy security, exploration to boost companies' portfolios remains ever important. On this week's episode, Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys talk to S&P Global International Upstream VP Michael Wynn about the current upstream climate, and the driving factors behind continued exploration and why operators are reaching out to deep water 'frontier' regions. Learn more about S&P Global Commodity Insights energy coverage at: https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en