Meeting AI's energy demands: challenges and opportunities

As geopolitical tensions in the Middle East raise the prospect of a more prolonged energy shock, how should investors think about the implications for inflation, consumer behavior, and markets? Global Head of Commodity Strategy Helima Croft, Chief Economist Frances Donald, and Head of U.S. Equity Strategy Lori Calvasina discuss what a disruption in oil supply could mean for the macro outlook — and why the longer‑term picture may be more resilient than headlines suggest.

As electricity demand surges, geopolitical risks increase, and the physical impacts of climate change escalate, how are investors responding? In this episode, RBC Capital Markets' Global Head of Sustainable Finance Sarah Thompson reflects on the outlook for the market in the light of new global realities, in discussion with Moses Choi, Head of U.S. Sustainable Finance, and Stefano Vitali, Head of Europe and Asia Pacific Sustainable Finance.

The industry is going all-out to put new energy on the grid. The spike in projected demand will boost every type of generation. But how will renewables fare amid connection constraints and policy changes? In this episode of Powering Sustainable Ideas, analyst Chris Dendrinos offers some insight from his new analysis of the clean energy outlook for 2026 and beyond.

IMI has notched up an enviable three-year growth record. Now the engineering group is raising the bar, setting itself higher margin targets. In this episode of Powering Sustainable Ideas, CFO Luke Grant sets out the strategy behind this run of success, in a conversation recorded at RBC Capital Market’s 2026 UK Focus Conference with Mark Fielding, Head, European Capital Goods Research.

Is now the right time to jump into carbon removals? Moderated by Brian Hong, Director of Environmental Market Solutions at RBC Capital Markets, this episode features Dr. Eddie Halfyard (CarbonRun), Charlie Renzoni (Deep Sky), Kate Rodger (Isometric), and Bill Shmygol (Evok Innovations) discussing the carbon removal market's shift from early adopters to mainstream corporate buyers.

As rocketing demand growth collides with real supply constraints, how can energy, power, and mining players fund and deliver the large-scale projects required? Joining Trevor Gardner, Head of Investment Banking Coverage, to survey the sectors’ outlook for 2026 are Chris Redgate, Head of Canadian Energy Investment Banking; Craig Edgar, Managing Director, Power Utilities and Infrastructure; and Farid Dadashev, Global Co-Head of Mining and Metals.

What does it take to turn a climate tech start-up into a fully-fledged, profitable business? For RBC Capital Markets’ Climate Week CEO summit, four leaders discussed their companies’ journeys. As they set out to transform their diverse sectors – carbon capture, waste management, geothermal energy, and electricity transmission – each grapples with the hard realities of capital-raising and commercialization.

At the RBC Energy Transition Conference 2025, Paul Betts, Co-Head of European M&A at RBC Capital Markets, moderates a panel on Europe's battery value chain, EV targets, and market repositioning.

At the RBC Energy Transition Conference 2025, Paul Betts, Co-Head of European M&A at RBC Capital Markets, moderates a panel on Europe's battery value chain, EV targets, and market repositioning.

At the RBC Energy Transition Conference 2025, Alex Thomas, Managing Director, Investment Banking at RBC, leads a panel exploring AI-driven energy demand, power delivery challenges, and the innovations shaping digital infrastructure.