EnergyCents

COVID restrictions and Russia sanctions upended seaborne trade patterns over the past several years and are now contributing to levels of consumer price inflation not seen in some 40 years. S&P Global's Vice President of Maritime and Trade Rahul Kapoor joins EnergyCents this week to discuss changes in commodity shipping patterns observed since lockdowns froze global trade in early 2020, and identifies the current trends that may be testing the world's economic resilience. Learn more about Commodities at Sea at https://ihsmarkit.com/products/commodities-at-sea.html. See more about our Energy Advisory Service at https://ihsmarkit.com/products/energy-advisory-service.html.

Many of the more than 1 billion people living in 49 sub-Saharan Africa countries are underserved by reliable electricity generation, leaving a massive opportunity for power-generation investment. However, the challenges – namely stimulating demand and designing the right business model – are equally large. S&P Global Experts on Electricity and Energy Storage Sylvia Macri and George Hilton join EnergyCents this week to discuss the state of power generation in Africa, and where to expect hurdles and enablers of wider electrification.

What a difference a year makes: energy equities are outperforming the broader stock market, and oil majors are well positioned in 2022 to return cash to shareholders via buybacks and dividends. IHS Markit Corporate Equity Analysts Lysle Brinker and Sam Hanna join EnergyCents this week to share the biggest learnings from recently completed earnings season, and how investors should consider the sector as we move deeper into 2022.

Vaca Muerta Shale play is the most important unconventional resource play outside North America. Over the last decade, it has seen significant improvements in productivity and costs, overcoming technical challenges by leveraging technologies and approaches employed in the US shale plays. The play is dominated by Argentine national oil company YPF and, although foreign IOCs are present there, aspects beyond typical ROI calculations make the full development of the play potential likely to relay on YPF and domestic and regional players to be achieved.

Western governments quickly responded to Russia's late February invasion of Ukraine with economic sanctions to discourage further escalation of conflict and lessen what is already a humanitarian tragedy. Initial sanctions excluded Russia's energy supply, though oil and gas markets still reflect scarcity amid uncertainty. S&P Global Expert on European Gas Laurent Ruseckas returns to EnergyCents this week to discuss the implications to European gas markets of Russia's Ukrainian invasion and related sanctions, and how recent events may impact the continent's longer term energy supply strategies. Hear more EnergyCents conversations with Laurent on European gas in prior episodes: • Autumn of discontent: Europe wrestles with spiking natural gas prices (November 2021)at https://soundcloud.com/ihsmarkitenergysolutions/energycents-ep-56-autumn-of-discontent-europe-wrestles-with-spiking-natural-gas-prices • The shape of gas to come: Pipes, politics, and the pursuit of European gas markets (April 2021)at https://soundcloud.com/ihsmarkitenergysolutions/energycents-ep-33-the-shape-of-gas-to-come-pipes-politics-and-the-pursuit-of-europe

IHS Markit's cleantech team released its "Top 10 clean technology trends in 2022" earlier this year, placing bets on the biggest expected movements across solar, battery, and other cleantech sectors. IHS Markit Vice President of Cleantech Eduard Sala de Vedruna joins EnergyCents this week to discuss four of the team's top 10 predictions, as well as disclose his 11th prediction – which didn't quite make it on this year's short list. Download the report: https://ihsmarkit.com/Info/0122/cleanenergytechtrends2022.html.

Structural declines in fuel demand will lead to reduction in global refining capacity over the coming years and decades. Where then might lie opportunities for growth-directed investment? IHS Markit's Head of Americas Refining Debnil Chowdhury joins EnergyCents this week to consider the changing incentives of Downstream executives, the opportunity for biofuels with aircraft, and the prospects for traditional fuel demand in emerging markets.

Global Engineering, Procurement, Construction (EPC) firms have long embraced project-management opportunities with partners in oil and gas, particularly when it comes to complex offshore projects. However, the pipeline of opportunities is changing as the energy sector prioritizes low-carbon initiatives. Offshore Supply Chain Expert Ding Li Ang join to EnergyCents this week to discuss how EPC firms are evolving as the definition of energy changes, and where lie some of the biggest challenges and opportunities for established firms.

Before the pandemic, more than 25% of vehicle miles traveled in the United States came from commuting. Professionals are now working from home some, or all, of every week. Should we expect proportionate declines in fuel demand, and extensions of automobile lifespans? Mobility Experts Fellipe Balieiro and Todd Campau join to EnergyCents this week to discuss how social-distancing protocol led to structural change in American transportation, and whether the loss of commutes and rise of EVs is actually reducing fuel use.

Battery and hydrogen technologies have emerged as two of the highest profile ideas to lower the world's carbon emissions. Battery technology is further along in many ways, though hydrogen has momentum thanks to enthusiastic support from governments, investors, and even traditional energy providers. Cleantech Experts Sam Wilkinson and Alex Klaessig return to EnergyCents this week to discuss the potential applications of each technology, and whether we should consider them rivals or collaborators in the race for cleantech capital.