226. Energy trends and shocks: from “range anxiety” to “pump anxiety” - Apr26
About this episode
The episode discusses the latest findings from Ember's Global Electricity Review and the impact of recent energy shocks on global energy trends.
Ember released its 2026 Global Electricity Review (GER26) last week—an extraordinary report showing that 100% of new global electricity generation has been met by renewables . At the same time, the decade’s “twin energy shocks” (Russia in 2022 and Hormuz in 2026) are accelerating existing trends. What do the latest numbers tell us—and what do they mean? Laurent and Gerard are joined by a great friend of the show, Kingsmill Bond, Lead Energy Strategist at Ember, to break it all down. They begin with the GER’s key findings, looking closely at China, the United States, Europe, and India. The figures are striking: in 2025, wind and solar alone accounted for all net global power growth—roughly equivalent to Japan’s total electricity consumption. And even that may be an underestimate, given likely gaps in data from Africa and behind-the-meter generation. From there, the discussion shifts from long-term trends to sudden shocks. These shocks act as accelerators. Consumers, responding quickly, are installing rooftop solar and buying electric vehicles at record rates. Governments, by contrast, often move more slowly, seeking to protect incumbents and hoping for a return to the old status…
More episodes of Redefining Energy
- 225. US Utilities vs Hyperscalers - Apr26
- 224. From Wind farms (yield) to Datacenters (growth) - Apr26
- 223. Solar + Storage: The Economic Core of the Future Grid - Apr26
- 222. Understanding Energy and Technology in China - Mar26
- 221. LNG – Hormuz – “Apocalypse Now” - Mar26
- 220. Deal Trends for M&A and Energy Financing - Mar26
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Redefining Energy podcast page.