EnergyCents

Europe moved its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) into its definitive phase in January 2026 after two years of emissions-data collection. The definitive phase now requires importers to begin paying for the carbon embedded into a select basket of goods – Iron and Steel, Aluminum, Cement, Fertilizers, Electricity, Hydrogen – when they are produced outside the reach of the EU's Emissions Trading System.

S&P Global Energy Expert Max Mucenic joins hosts Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss the financial liabilities accruing under this new phase of CBAM and consider potential impacts to the EU economy and its trade partners as payments come due.

Learn more about S&P Global Energy coverage at: https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en

Diversified Energy is a multi-basin US natural gas producer focused on growing itself through acquisitions of proved developed producing reserves.  In 2025, the company announced more than $2 billion in acquisitions, entered into a $2 billion capital partnership with Carlyle, and moved its primary listing to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) from the London Stock Exchange (LSE).
Diversified Energy SVP of Investor Relations Doug Kris joins hosts Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss Diversified's landmark year in 2025 and how the company has helped pioneer the use of hedged production and asset-backed securities (ABS) to finance its acquisitive growth strategy.
Learn more about Diversified Energy at: https://www.div.energy/
Learn more about S&P Global Energy coverage at: https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en

Top Trends for 2026: Energy capital bets on AI-led power demand and positions for a cyclical oil surplus.
AI will continue to be a dominant driver of energy capital flows in 2026 as growth investment pauses in amply supplied global oil and natural gas markets. These expectations and five more will direct the attention of energy investors over the coming year, according to S&P Global Energy's recently released report, "Top 2026 themes: AI's power crunch, LNG price pressure and the scramble for critical minerals." S&P Global Energy Expert Justin Jacobs joins hosts Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss the top trends that will direct energy capital allocation in 2026.
Learn more about S&P Global Energy coverage at: https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en

Talking long-duration energy storage with the CEO of Inlyte Energy
Inlyte Energy is a U.S.-based manufacturer of iron-sodium battery energy storage systems. The five-year-old company completed a successful test of its first field-ready battery late in 2025 and is preparing for a pilot installation in 2026 through a partnership with Southern Co. 
Inlyte Energy CEO Antonio Baclig joins hosts Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss the company's choice to focus on iron-sodium chemistry in its bid to commercialize long-duration energy storage (LDES) and how its use of abundant raw materials could help Inlyte to rebrand LDES as 'low-dollar energy storage'. 
Learn more about Inlyte Energy at: https://inlyteenergy.com/
Learn more about S&P Global Energy coverage at: https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en

The global upstream sector will navigate increased cost pressures this year as it faces a well-supplied oil market. This expectation and four other key trends will direct the attention of E&P executives over the next 12 months, according to S&P Global Energy's recently released report, "Charting the Future: Top 5 trends shaping Upstream in 2026." S&P Global Energy Expert Nick Sharma joins hosts Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss his team's top five trends to watch in global upstream in 2026.
Access the full report here: https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en/news-research/special-reports/upstream/upstream-themes-2026#lore…
Learn more about S&P Global Energy coverage at: https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en