Renewable Energy

Spain’s utility goof is thin end of net-zero wedge

17 September 2021

Madrid’s $3 bln raid on the coffers of its power sector is a clear climate-change own-goal. The political sensitivity of energy prices means it won’t be Europe’s last. The bigger risk is Brussels watering down the carbon-trading scheme partly responsible for gas prices soaring.

Norway readies fresh round of green air guitar

14 September 2021

The Scandinavian state is on track for a left-wing coalition pledging to do more on climate change after eight years of conservative rule. But rapid cuts to national hydrocarbons output aren’t likely. Given Norway has a $1.4 trln wealth fund, it can afford to go beyond gesturing.

Road to COP: Hydrogen comes faster than you think

14 September 2021

At this fall’s United Nations climate summit, world leaders will seek to take concrete steps to fight global warming. Green hydrogen could help, but it’s still too expensive. Snam CEO Marco Alvera tells Lisa Jucca why the hydrogen energy revolution is likely to surprise us all.

Capital Calls: U.S. jobs, $7 bln tax settlement

3 September 2021

Concise views on global finance: Slow U.S. job growth signals caution for the Fed; meanwhile, a giant deal between hedge fund executives and the IRS gives legs to President Biden's tax plans.

Viewsroom: Battling the climate emergency

12 August 2021

A new U.N. report on global warming gives financiers fresh reasons to take bigger steps to help avert or mitigate the consequences, Breakingviews editors argue. A plan by the UK’s Prudential and the Asian Development Bank to close coal-fired power stations offers a model.

Capital Calls: UK engineer bidding war, Inflation

11 August 2021

Concise views on global finance: U.S. aerospace group TransDigm tries to elbow out rival Parker-Hannifin with a $9.7 bln bid for Meggitt; predicting U.S. consumer prices is proving tricky.

Cox: Saudi may have a super-green future after all

5 August 2021

At a recent G20 summit, the kingdom didn’t just align with U.S. and European climate crusaders. Its delegates even tried to break an impasse with India on coal. It’s a sign of how confident Saudi has become in its ability to manage, and profit from, the energy transition.

BP’s oil price boon is a mixed blessing

3 August 2021

Rising crude values allowed the $84 bln UK group to raise its payout and give CEO Bernard Looney more funds to pivot away from fossil fuels. But the bonanza could focus investor minds on less speedy rivals with scope to pay higher dividends, like Shell. That may hurt BP’s appeal.

Big Oil’s generosity has limited shelf life

29 July 2021

Royal Dutch Shell and Total will return billions of dollars to investors. High crude prices mean they can cut debt, invest in green energy and crank up payouts. Such largesse may get harder given growing pressure to cut emissions. Prudent payouts will limit future disappointment.

BHP’s oil exit would be better sooner than later

21 July 2021

The mega-miner is reported to be mulling a $15 bln sale of its petroleum arm. The subsidiary’s status as a profit engine amid rising energy prices makes it a tough decision. But even if done at a knock-down rate, CEO Mike Henry can burnish BHP’s allure with oil-hating investors.

Tony Hayward’s SPAC suits green fans and amnesiacs

15 July 2021

Ten years after floating his last shell company, the ex-BP boss has launched a new $175 mln vehicle. A solid plan to invest in the energy transition is promising. Investors who lost 90% of their capital after Hayward bought Genel Energy will hope he has learned from his mistakes.

Capital Calls: Online fashion retail

15 July 2021

Concise views on global finance: The return of old customer habits and muted demand as the pandemic lingers could reverse the recent stellar run of the likes of ASOS.

EU carbon border levy limbers up for a soft launch

13 July 2021

The European Commission will this week set out plans for making companies that export goods to the bloc incorporate the rising cost of carbon. It’s likely to pull its punches. That’s not ideal, but even a watered-down levy would still set an important precedent.

Mukesh Ambani the chameleon will easily go green

24 June 2021

After building the world’s second biggest mobile-data carrier and India’s top retailer, Asia’s richest man is ready to turn his $200 bln Reliance into a renewable energy major. A track record of impressive pivots gives it a decent chance of success, and merits a higher valuation.

Capital Calls: HSBC, MRNA scramble, Cable project

18 June 2021

Concise views on global finance: The UK bank’s France sale disappoints; Danaher snaps up Moderna supplier for $9.6 bln; geopolitics sinks internet cable.

Capital Calls: JPMorgan, French SPAC, Jessica Alba

17 June 2021

Concise views on global finance: Jamie Dimon bulks up his nascent UK digital banking offer by buying Nutmeg; France boosts its lowly SPAC league-table position with two blank-cheque vehicles; the Hollywood star’s consumer packaged goods company Honest encounters growing pains.

Greener Acciona comes with stiff family discount

11 June 2021

The $9 bln Spanish group’s valuation is yet to reflect the potential uplift from spinning off its renewables unit. That may be because the clan that owns Acciona will also control the new entity. Even so, investors may warm to the fact it could be worth more than its parent.

Danish hydrogen adds hygge to market green malaise

7 June 2021

Green Hydrogen Systems is planning a Copenhagen float that will value the electrolyser maker at $500 mln. Of late, pulled IPOs reflect investor scepticism about so-so renewable energy listings. The green gas’s key role in cutting EU carbon emissions may make this a comfier fit.

Capital Calls: AMC craziness, Pro lacrosse

2 June 2021

Concise views on global finance: The movie-theater chain raised $230 million from a hedge fund, which promptly sold the shares at a profit; New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Alibaba's Joe Tsai are betting on the latest U.S. effort to professionalize the preppy sport.

The Exchange: Steering Europe’s green transition

1 June 2021

Frans Timmermans has a key leadership role in the European Union’s quest to reduce its 2030 emissions by 55% compared to 1990 levels. Ahead of a major set of green policy updates next month, he talks to George Hay about both these and November’s COP26 conference.