As AI agents advance, they're creating a fundamental shift in how systems of record function. The most successful systems won't just passively collect data—they'll actively interpret, learn from, and act upon it. #energysky open.substack.com/pub/kevindst...

Two stories caught my eye this week. Siemens Energy posted profits much higher than expected and increased guidance. Global EV sales are expected to increase 30% in 2025 after a “down” year in 2024. The momentum is real, even if the macro noise hasn’t quieted. #energysky

The demise of EVs has been extremely overstated. Tesla ≠ the market ≠ BYD.

Solar power in France is providing so much generation that its famed nuclear fleet is now forced to be more flexible. Solar and storage continue to out perform expectations.

I never believed Trump would be a boom for oil and gas in the way that worried my fellow climate investors. The industry was in an equilibrium and had no incentives to increase supply even with decreased regulation. What I didn’t expect was demand destruction from tariffs.

I spent last week in Europe and this was top of mind for investors there. Companies that have won due to regulatory tailwinds will feel a lot different over the next few years. #greensky 💡🔌 www.wsj.com/articles/eur...

This was always going to be the case.

DeepSeek cements that in an AI world software better be mission critical, have differentiated distribution, or sticky through functional expansion. If you don’t have those, someone who does will build your killer feature in weeks.

It feels like X engagement is way down and that’s probably a reflection of my followers. I’m a verified user there, post the same thing and the same time, and have 1/10 the audience here. Most thing get the same number of likes / reposts.

Want to see what data center demand has done to power demand forecasts in just 12 months? Check out PJMs forecast for summer and winter peaks in 2025 compared to 2024. The difference between the 2032 forecast this year and last year is almost 40,000 MW. 🔌💡

The insurance industry will have to evolve. The California wildfires are burning some of the most expensive real estate in the country. California isn't alone. Texas = hail Florida and the Gulf = hurricanes The West = fires And of course, the floods. Something has to give. 🔌💡

Cut away view of the Ioniq 5 from a recent auto show in China. Not sure how they executed this, but the working electronics and the wheels are seriously impressive. 🔌💡

The forecast models for January keep getting colder for longer. The most extreme runs have 6 inches of snow on the ground in the Florida panhandle for a week or so. Every generator and utility hedges for these events, but as Uri showed, there are no guarantees. Power markets in for a month. 🔌💡

The wholesale power markets will be wild. 🔌💡

By 2028, Atlanta’s data-center inventory will grow to a power load of more than 4,000 megawatts, more than 30 times the metro’s data center load in 2012. 🔌💡 And it has a new opponent…people who want more housing. DCs make up 40% of new real estate supply. That seems untenable over the long run.

Too often I’ll see a solution in climate tech that is absolutely brilliant, but the customer journey is forgotten. The more complex the industry the more customers need to feel like they are on a smooth ride that is inevitable. 🔌💡 open.substack.com/pub/kevindst...

Anyone else on #EnergySky see this and immediately ask why Regional Transmission Operators are in the news?

EV sales will surpass ICE in China next year. This is what happens when you make a superior product. The US needs to find our way of doing this. 🔌💡

I spent 5 years in consumer energy. There are two extremes here: 1. A text will do 2. Over my dead body 2 is much larger, people don’t trust their comfort to an industry with a lower NPS than airlines. 🔌💡

I have an idea for getting people excited about heat pumps… 🔌💡

This is the worst American Airlines Christmas debacle since they let Kevin board a plane to New York without a ticket in 1992.

Some good climate news from 2024 in this Bloomberg article including a record number of EV installations. 🔌💡 www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

I think it’s time for me to accept my content plays better on LinkedIn and I’m not sure what to make of that.

Problems are an asset, not something to avoid, but to run toward. Being good at solving problems means being rewarded with bigger problems to solve. The path to success is paved with problems well solved. open.substack.com/pub/kevindst...

Whoever can resist this urge over the next several decades will win. Cycles, even in private markets are so fast. The same bad 2021 habits - big founder secondaries and high valuations - resurfaced in 2024 because of AI. Excellent post by @kyla.bsky.social. substack.com/app-link/pos...

World’s highest solar and storage project now operational at 17,000 feet above sea level. Can’t wait to hear how it’s solar’s fault when Texas gets a little chilly for a few days in a row. 🔌💡 electrek.co/2024/12/20/w...

If you’re working in climate software you should be prepared to face one of these in competition: - Excel - Salesforce - Autodesk - Procore - SAP / IBM - Bentley - PTC What’s your edge against that group? They’ll get the first chance to capture most use cases.

Unilever, a leader in sustainability, will scale back its targets and merge the sustainability team with communications. on.ft.com/4gDAyva

Until these headlines move this chart OR regulators step in, big companies aren't incentivized to meet targets in a meaningful way. Public CEOs are comped on stock price and rarely incentivized to achieve any plan, climate or not, that's more than 5 years away.

Question for #EnergySky this morning… Do you prefer these types of loans from the DoE to utilities? Or to startups who need it to prove out unit economics? Obviously, both seem helpful so you can only choose one!

A great reminder that high energy costs drag economies downward. Energy is the biggest cost for automated factories, gen AI, and next-gen manufacturing. Germany is a case study. They are falling behind the rest of the world and expensive energy is partly to blame. 🔌💡

Starter Pack! Here's who I follow about home and building electrification news and discussion. Who's missing? go.bsky.app/Fuq8R5b

EV batteries last longer than everyone thinks. A recent study of 7,000 vehicles concluded… …”EV batteries have 90 percent capacity after 100,000 kilometers of driving, and at 300,000 kilometers they still have 87 percent of their original kilowatts left.” 🔌💡 www.wired.com/story/electr...

When multiple leaders use a strategy, we should listen. In his memoir, Sam Zell shares what he calls the “radius theory of business”. A concept that says the further you are from the source of information or a decision, the more exposed we are to risk. (1/n)

There’s an odd paradox of leadership that often requires leading people in the opposite way you feel. After big wins, you have to teach humility and hunger - can’t be too proud. After big losses, you have to help people remain confident in themselves - can’t yell, scream and correct in the moment.

Climate change has increased the number of severe weather events dramatically. We’ve doubled down by building more homes in places where these events are most likely to occur. Rates have increased 45% across the US in the last 6 years and policies cover less. That’s untenable over the long run.

Climate tech funding will hit a 4-year low in 2024. For perspective, $4B+ will still be one of the biggest years on record despite being way off previous years.

Global EV sales have not grown in 2024. This chart doesn't tell the whole story, global auto sales are flat to slightly (1%) up this year. EV market share has grown, but the number of units remains flat and that's why we're seeing production cuts from major OEMs. 🔌💡

Narrative violation: Hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles combined were 21.2% of new-vehicle sales in the quarter. I wonder if people are pulling forward their purchase decisions in anticipate of tax rebates expiring. 🔌💡

EVs and hybrids will cross 50% market share of new sales in China this year. Europe also continues to buy both at an increasing rate and the US lags significantly behind despite recent progress. 🔌💡 I suspect we’ll take a step back before accelerating in the US.

I’m not sure what this cost, but I’d have done it for free and in one sentence.

My son gets to play (educational) iPad games on weekends. This week, I reminded him I promised we’d play our old-school Nintendo together. He slammed the iPad shut and said “OH, YEAH”. Gave up something he looks forward to all week for time with me - have to cherish that while it’s true.

Why did BlackRock spend $12 billion to acquire a private equity firm last week? I can explain it in a single chart. If you were the CEO of a large asset management firm, you would do the same thing. via Chart Kid @mattcerminaro.bsky.social

I’m surprised at how quickly this happened, but this was always the eventual path. AI is a feature, not a platform. It’s table stakes, but if you’re a startup you better do more than just offer a chatbot or agent.

I’ve shouted this from the rooftops since Trump’s win. The only way forward for climate tech is winning on cost. O&G responds to supply and demand faster than any sector. Want to limit production? Just make cheaper alternatives, because demand isn’t going down. Great stuff @arnabdatta.bsky.social.

Moments don't make legends. Consistency does. And the hardest consistency isn't in doing brilliant things but avoiding stupid ones. Every mistake puts you in hard mode, forcing you to make up lost ground. - Shane Parish

I'm trying out my own starter pack, and naturally, it's an ode to #energytwitter expats. Bluesky limits additions to 150, so my apologies for missing like 10x of our friends. go.bsky.app/P6pgVxa

"If you do not actively choose a better way, then society, culture, and the general inertia of life will push you into a worse way. The default is distraction, not improvement." - @jamesclear.bsky.social

The amount of ghostwriting and think-fluencers pumping each other’s content on LinkedIn is insane. Between this and AI writing everything, authenticity and being genuine will make you stand out - be human, make errors.

Not meant to be an investment thesis.