Switched On

After years of rapid expansion, the buildout of solar power is starting to slow. Capacity additions are set to dip slightly in 2026, the first decline since BloombergNEF began tracking the market. At the same time, the way solar is built is changing, with developers increasingly pairing projects with batteries to manage curtailment, share grid connections and boost revenues. So what does this new phase mean for solar, and how far can co-location carry the industry? On today’s show, Tom Rowands-Rees is joined by BNEF’s head of solar research, Lara Hayim, and analyst Cosmo van Steenis to discuss findings from the notes “4Q 2025 Global PV Market Outlook: First Ever Dip” and “Co-Located Storage Boosts Solar’s Business Case.”
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:
4Q 2025 Global PV Market Outlook - First ever dip - https://www.bnef.com/insights/38279
Co-Located Storage Boosts Solar’s Business Case - https://www.bnef.com/insights/38241
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Investment in power grids is rising fast. Worldwide, spending on this critical piece of infrastructure rose 17% last year. Yet higher outlays are not necessarily translating into new capacity on the ground. Aging assets, supply-chain constraints and the rollout of new technologies are slowing delivery, while connection queues for both generation and load are getting longer. With grids under pressure from all sides, what’s really holding expansion back, and what will it take to turn rising investment into real-world capacity? On today’s show, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by BloombergNEF’s head of grids research, Peter Wall, to discuss findings from his team’s note “Grid Investment Outlook 2025: Double-Digit Growth – Again.”
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:
Grid Investment Outlook 2025: Double-Digit Growth - Again - https://www.bnef.com/insights/38127
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Data centers are expanding at an unprecedented rate, and their need for fast, reliable electricity is reshaping power generation plans across the US. Grid bottlenecks and delivery timelines are tipping the balance between gas and renewables. And while clean energy remains central to long-term strategy, speed to power is becoming a decisive factor in short-term plans. As utilities race to serve AI-driven demand, how will the future mix of gas, renewables, and 24/7 clean energy evolve? On today’s show, Kamala Schelling talks with Atin Jain, a specialist from BNEF’s wind team, to discuss his Analyst Reaction “NextEra’s AI-Led Gas Pivot Leaves Space for Renewables.”
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:
NextEra’s AI-Led Gas Pivot Leaves Space for Renewables: React - https://www.bnef.com/analyst-reactions/t70aepkjh6v400
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Commodity markets are in a period of upheaval. Wars, sanctions and political shifts have already rewired global trade, and a new wave of pressures is coming into focus. A liquefied natural gas glut is looming, China is rapidly expanding its biofuel production, the global copper market is facing a supply crunch, and US military actions in Venezuela have thrown a new wild card into the mix. With so many forces pulling in different directions, which trends are set to define commodity markets in the year ahead? On today’s show, Tom Rowands-Rees is joined by David Doherty, BloombergNEF’s head of natural resources research, and Enrique Gonzalez, head of US gas, to discuss findings from the note “Commodities in 2026: 10 Numbers to Watch From Power to Oil.”
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:
Commodities in 2026: 10 Numbers to Watch From Power to Oil - https://www.bnef.com/insights/38261
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What the recent US action in Venezuela means for global oil markets is still an open question. While the prospect of additional oil is drawing interest, high production costs, infrastructure constraints and political risk complicate any near-term jump in Venezuela’s oil output. As markets weigh the scale and speed of a potential comeback, how much could Venezuela really move the needle in a global oil system already facing a glut of crude? On today’s show, Kamala Schelling talks with David Doherty, BNEF’s head of natural resources research, to discuss some of his team’s recent analyst reactions, including “Venezuela’s Oil Market Impact Hinges on Cost Per Barrel” and “Venezuela’s Oil Renaissance Faces Several High Hurdles.”
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:
Venezuela’s Oil Market Impact Hinges on Cost Per Barrel: React - https://www.bnef.com/analyst-reactions/t8giodkjh6v600
Venezuela’s Oil Renaissance Faces Several High Hurdles: React - https://www.bnef.com/analyst-reactions
Trump’s Venezuela Move Could Shift Crude Flows Back to US: React - https://www.bnef.com/analyst-reactions/t8dsuukk3ny800
US Action in Venezuela and the Commodity Markets - https://www.bnef.com/themes/t8fw2ut96osi00
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.