The U.S. Energy Secretary and Aramco CEO slammed climate policies. SoftBank invested $130 million in solar, betting on an industry that faces serious headwinds. Avangrid and NextEra discussed separate $20 billion investments, and the largest tech companies in the world stated their support for tripling nuclear capacity by 2050.
That’s only a snapshot of the news and conversations at and around CERAWeek, which blanketed energy headlines. Here’s what you need to know from the conference.
From the ground at CERAWeek, we heard about data centers, AI and policy in every conversation. Leaders across the energy value chain – oil and gas, big tech, academia, and startups – struck a common chord: Energy demand from data centers is surging, and capacity is needed now, not five years from now.
This was also the groundswell for a common refrain at the conference: “We need an all-of-the-above approach.” We originally heard the refrain from oil and gas companies during the Biden Administration’s push for clean energy. Now the phrase is being echoed by renewable energy companies, who noted that an all-of-the-above approach must include renewable energy.
On the AI front, panelists discussed how it’s reshaping the workforce, changing how we manage power plants, transforming operations, accelerating pilot programs, reducing costs, and addressing affordability concerns for consumers, regulators, and corporate boards. Yet rather than focusing on how AI will displace workers, speakers emphasized the need for adaptation, reskilling, and creating opportunities for individuals and businesses to integrate AI effectively. Dartmouth’s Geoff Parker flagged companies need to watch where the AI line is: Who is telling AI what to do and who is taking orders from AI?
The industry also took up a chorus on policy: “Companies need certainty to make long-term investments.” More intimate conversations on policy at CERAWeek often centered around local engagement and opportunities, buoyed by the recent letter from 21 Republicans defending the Inflation Reduction Act’s clean energy tax credits.
Nuclear power made a strong showing, with big tech companies like Google and Amazon pushing for a tripling of nuclear capacity by 2050. Hydrogen also garnered significant attention, with new partnerships forming to drive down production costs and improve efficiency.
Carbon capture and direct air capture (DAC) technologies were hot topics, despite the challenges of scaling and high costs. “The early days of solar were marked by incredible innovation,” one panelist remarked. Though it took decades, “Then the cost of solar came down, and it became ubiquitous.” We’re seeing a similar cycle with DAC and other emerging technologies.
Demand response and grid-enhancing technologies also played a key role in discussions, with SoCal Edison and National Grid sharing how they’re using AI and digitalization to make the grid more flexible and resilient. The consensus was clear: the grid of the future will be highly automated, optimized, and capable of managing extreme weather events more effectively.
CERAWeek is a busy news cycle, and what we noticed was that big news didn’t always break through to top tier media. NextEra only mulled doubling its existing $20 billion investments in Texas; it secured a feature from Reuters. Meanwhile, Avangrid announced a $20 billion investment on the third day of the conference; we only saw trade media cover the news, despite the confirmation of dollars.
NextEra also won through its consistent, specific and timely messaging. The CEO made clear statements that responded to other CERAWeek news. For instance, he clearly stated he didn’t agree with the U.S. Energy Secretary’s claim that building natural gas power plans is the cheapest option. The CEO also leaned into an “all of the above” messaging approach for energy; reiterating that they will always pursue the most affordable option for a customer.
NextEra’s CEO conducted a media tour not only at CERAWeek, but at pop-up events like Semafor’s CERAWeek event, which was hosted after day 1 of the conference, only steps away from the convention center. Semafor (as expected) covered the conversation. We’re seeing more media host pop-up events at major energy and climate conferences – instead of targeting speaking on the mainstage at some of these events, it might make sense for companies to sponsor and target these side events that often result in coverage. Axios hosted its own event on Wednesday and covered the sessions.
One reporter we spoke with noted that there is innovation in the Agora and dinosaurs in the Executive Conference. However, the big names at the Executive Conference make it a consistent draw for media. We heard and saw from reporters that they’re absolutely slammed on the Monday of the conference, trying to cover the news coming out of the keynotes.
As the days went on, we saw more reporters attending Agora sessions, though many broadcast media left after Tuesday. However, we did notice Fox Business pop up in the Agora on Thursday, and more trade reporters like Oil & Gas Journal and Cipher News spent time attending Agora sessions.
Lastly, if you have a site close by to the conference, consider offering an off-site visit. Axios’ Andrew Freedman is open to taking a break from CERAWeek to visit facilities near the conference, but he hasn’t done so yet. Financial Times’ Amanda Chu left the conference early on Thursday for her own field trip, and Canary Media’s Julian Spector wrote about his CERAWeek offsite.
As we look ahead, the conversations from CERAWeek 2025 offer a roadmap for navigating the complexities of the energy transition in 2025. As the conversation evolves, let us know how you’re adjusting your strategy and reach out if we can help.
In the meantime, stay in touch. We have an exciting, upcoming fireside chat with Morning Brew’s Tricia Cummins planned for April. Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to receive the details.