Switched On

Europe’s energy supply chains are running out of water. Weeks of heat and drought have pushed Rhine water levels to exceptional lows, restricting barge traffic and sending gasoil freight rates to record levels. That is adding pressure to an already tight market for gasoil, diesel, jet fuel and other middle distillates, while exposing refineries, chemical plants and industries that depend on the river for critical supplies. Companies are responding with smaller cargoes, trucks, rail and shallow-draft vessels, but those alternatives come at a cost. And with warmer, drier conditions expected to persist in the near term, the disruption highlights a broader challenge for Europe: adapting critical energy infrastructure to increasingly severe weather. So how are low water levels on the Rhine disrupting Europe’s energy markets, and how long could the pressure last? On today’s show, Kamala Schelling is joined by BloombergNEF weather associate Jess Hicks and oil associate Claudio Lubis to review findings from their analyst reaction “Freight Rates Skyrocket in EU as Rhine River Runs Low.”
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:
Freight Rates Skyrocket in EU as Rhine River Runs Low - https://www.bnef.com/analyst-reactions/tj8l8skk3ny900
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US solar developers are building projects around batteries, not panels. Federal tax credits for energy storage are reshaping the economics of new solar projects, encouraging developers to install larger batteries and allocate more capex to the storage component. The batteries can then shift low-cost solar power into higher-value hours. As energy storage reduces curtailment and generates revenue from services provided to the grid, batteries are becoming a defining feature of the next generation of US solar projects. On today’s show, Dana Perkins is joined by Cosmo van Steenis, an analyst from BloombergNEF’s solar and storage team, to discuss his recent notes “Solar and Storage Couple Up After US Tax Credit Cuts” and “US Tax Credit Maxxing Via Solar-Plus-Storage Projects.”
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:
Solar and Storage Couple Up After US Tax Credit Cuts - https://www.bnef.com/insights/39961
US Tax Credit Maxxing Via Solar-Plus-Storage Projects - https://www.bnef.com/insights/39943
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nuclear power is gaining momentum around the globe, but the industry’s path has diverged. China and India are rapidly expanding conventional reactor fleets, while the US and Europe are betting on smaller and more advanced designs to overcome decades of cost overruns and delays. Rising AI electricity demand, energy security concerns and decarbonization goals have all renewed interest in nuclear energy. But turning that momentum into new projects will depend on whether the industry can build reactors faster, more cheaply and with greater confidence than it has in recent decades. On today’s show, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by joined by Stephanie Diaz, a senior associate from BloombergNEF’s technology and innovation team, and Chris Gadomski, BNEF’s head of nuclear research, to discuss their note “Nuclear Power Market Outlook 1H 2026: Approaches Diverge.”
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:
Nuclear Power Market Outlook 1H 2026: Approaches Diverge - https://www.bnef.com/insights/39881
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Artificial intelligence is heating up the race to build data centers, and with BloombergNEF projecting 194 gigawatts of demand by 2035, the biggest challenge isn't computing power…. It's electricity. Faced with years-long grid connection delays, developers are turning to on-site gas generation to bring projects online faster, creating a rapidly expanding market for turbines, engines, fuel cells and battery storage. Choosing the right technology is a trade-off between speed, cost, efficiency and emissions. And while on-site generation is often seen as a temporary bridge, developers are also weighing what role those assets could play once permanent grid connections become available. So is on-site gas generation a lasting part of the AI data center boom, or simply the fastest route through today’s power constraints? On this episode, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by Musfika Mishi, an analyst from BNEF’s technology and innovations team, to discuss her note “Data Center On-Site Gas Power Costs: Engines Beat Turbines.”
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:
Data Center On-Site Gas Power Costs: Engines Beat Turbines - https://www.bnef.com/insights/39767
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Artificial intelligence is beginning to transform weather forecasting. New AI models are proving remarkably accurate at predicting hurricane tracks, in some cases matching or outperforming traditional forecasting models while delivering faster results. For energy markets, those gains could be significant. Earlier and more accurate forecasts give utilities, LNG exporters and offshore operators more time to prepare for approaching storms, improving resilience and reducing disruption. Yet AI is unlikely to replace traditional forecasting anytime soon, with meteorologists increasingly using it alongside conventional models to improve confidence in critical decisions. So how is AI changing the way we predict hurricanes, and what could that mean for energy markets as extreme weather becomes more common? On today’s show, Kamala Schelling is joined by Ryan Ward, an associate from BNEF’s weather team, to discuss his note “AI Models Show Edge in Tropical Cyclone Prediction.”
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:
AI Models Show Edge in Tropical Cyclone Prediction - https://www.bnef.com/insights/39679
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.