The Rethink Energy Podcast complements the Rethink Energy weekly strategy bulletin, as we dive deeper into the dynamic factors of the energy market. We discuss the week’s key issues, while providing insight into our own research and forecasts to give clearer direction of where momentum is building through the energy transition.
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In this week’s episode the team talk about the future of maritime shipping and its viable decarbonization pathways, the state of the solar supply chain and our recent interview with long duration energy storage company Energy Vault.
In the week’s episode the team discusses our latest global EV forecast to 2050, the new Chinese energy reforms which made storage profitable overnight and who is the mysterious company that claims it can achieve an LCOE of $20/MWh from novel SMR technology.
In this week’s episode, the team discusses our latest report covering a forecast of the hydrogen industry to 2050, the state of the polysilicon market and how this will affect solar installs and First Solar spending $80 million to join the perovskite game.
Lithium producers Allkem and Livent announce their intended merger, potentially forming the 3rd largest lithium product company by intended output by the end of the year. China’s Shandong province sees offshore fixed base solar investment. Nikola sells its joint venture with Iveco in full European exit as it focuses on commercializing within the remit of US incentives.
The global platinum industry is going to see demand shift away from automotive use in catalytic converters towards usage in the PEM electrolyzer market, creating shortages arising from supply issues in South Africa. Q1 solar manufacturing has increased between 50-100% year-on-year depending on how you look at it. Meanwhile the US’ Republican party continues its attempt to sabotage its own domestic solar industry and water down the Inflation Reduction Act’s incentives.
Hydrogen’s use in road transportation is explained as the ramp up of global hydrogen trucking fleet set to begin in 2030s, with battery trucks taking early adoption lead through saturating short-haul routes. Major quartz sand suppliers pledge production increases as crucibles used in solar production continue to increase in price. Germany bans the installation of gas boilers from 2024, giving major boost to heat pump industry.
Rethink Energy explains Q4 2022 solar deployment and manufacturing figures and gives some insights to future expectations. Policymakers in the US look to prematurely end the country’s moratorium on the banning of Chinese-origin solar products, potentially crippling US solar deployments for the next 14 months. China looks to expand its ownership of African hydrogen projects that aim to export hydrogen Northwards to European industrial giants.
Macron’s third state visit to China since 2018 was this time accompanied by between 50-60 company executives and the EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen aiming to increase cooperation with the country in a broad spectrum of energy technologies. 7 north-eastern US states have filed for $1.25 billion of the US’ $8 billion hydrogen hub fund established by the Department of Energy. Toyota’s new CEO has officially outlined the company’s increased commitment to electric vehicles including new vehicles to be produced in the US.
Japan’s revamped hydrogen strategy is expected to need $113 billion invested to reach 2040 goals of 12 million metric tons produced per year. OPEC+ has cut production in order to maintain $80 per barrel price floor while the US isn’t in a place to intervene. The Australian government has committed $10 billion to support Australian industry as it looks to remain internationally competitive.
The European Union has finalized its negotiations with Germany’s to accommodate its last-minute demands allowing an exception for the use of e-fuels within combustion engines past the 2035 deadline. EnerVenue has announced its plans to build a gigafactory in Kentucky as it aims to ramp up production of its nickel hydride batteries. Vietnam’s renewables market awaits a new mechanism to support industry expansion after its short-lived solar subsidies.