Daniel Easterbrook

Exploration has long been framed as an industry in decline. But the data tells a more nuanced story. Over the past decade, the upstream sector has fundamentally changed how it explores. Resource discovered per well has increased, discovery costs have improved and success is increasingly being driven by better prospect selection rather than greater activity. It's a reminder that looking at headline metrics alone doesn't always reveal where the biggest shifts are happening. Our latest analysis explores what's behind this quiet efficiency revolution in upstream exploration: okt.to/zfYGhL

AI data centres are reshaping US natural gas demand. @WoodMackenzie has increased its behind-the-meter generation forecast by 4x in 12 months as power constraints push more projects towards dedicated gas-fired generation. Dulles Wang explains why this emerging demand source matters for the Henry Hub outlook. Watch Horizons Live: okt.to/EtYncu

How has the AI boom rewritten the future of energy?   Data centre demand has accelerated so fast it’s reshaped energy markets. So much so, that energy infrastructure and big tech are no longer separate stories.   By 2030, we estimate that data centres will account for 68% of US load growth. The opportunity is real, but not guaranteed.   Knowing where to invest starts with understanding where demand is growing, how the grid is responding and where capacity is needed. You need intelligence that’s connected.    And as the stakes grow ever higher, you also need the highest quality data.   We build our proprietary data from our experts in the field. Real-time sensors that show what’s really going on, not synthetic predictions. A truly granular view, including over 150 million land parcel datasets across the US through our acquisition of @LandGate.   Discover how connected intelligence can help you navigate uncertainty: okt.to/pqxyUs

Europe’s gas market is facing renewed winter pressure. European storage is only just above 50% full, Asian LNG demand is recovering and supply disruption through the Strait of Hormuz is increasing competition for cargoes. Wood Mackenzie analysis finds low inventories could keep gas prices elevated through winter 2026/27. Read more in The Edge: okt.to/hqsF1B

Battery storage is changing Texas’ power market. Wood Mackenzie research shows battery capacity on the ERCOT grid has grown from 857 MW in 2021 to 21.7 GW in 2026, helping reduce extreme electricity price spikes. That benefits consumers, but creates a new challenge for investors: as storage limits price peaks, it can reduce the returns available from those same peaks. The economics of battery storage are becoming more complex as deployment accelerates. Read more in the latest Energy Pulse: okt.to/lDes9Z

We are pleased to announce Wood Mackenzie's acquisition of LandGate - a US-based provider of land intelligence, infrastructure and siting data that supports power, energy and data centre development.  The US power market is entering a new era. With electricity demand accelerating, driven largely by the rapid expansion of data centres, developers and investors are facing a fundamental challenge: making critical siting and infrastructure decisions earlier, faster, and with greater confidence.  By combining Wood Mackenzie’s industry-leading power market forecasting and supply chain analytics with LandGate’s proprietary land and grid intelligence, we're creating a connected intelligence platform designed for the next generation of power, renewables, and data centre development. The acquisition adds a unique dataset covering 150 million parcel-level land records across the US, helping customers connect power market fundamentals with on-the-ground site conditions in a single workflow.  Why does this matter?  ⚡ US power generation investment is expected to reach $1.36 trillion through 2035.  ⚡ Data centers are projected to drive approximately 68% of US load growth through 2030.  ⚡ Success increasingly depends on understanding not just where demand is growing, but where land, transmission, interconnection, and infrastructure can support development.  We are delighted to welcome the LandGate team to Wood Mackenzie.  Read the full press release and get more info about our data centre insights here: okt.to/vcYbij

Solar and battery storage accounted for 91% of all new US electricity-generating capacity in Q1 2026. Despite trade headwinds and policy uncertainty, the industry keeps building. Our Q2 US Solar Market Insight is out now: okt.to/jFDC0f

Policy frameworks, investment constraints and supply chain realities are converging to define the next phase of the hydrogen economy. As morning sessions continue at our Hydrogen Conference in London, the focus shifts to a more fundamental question: how early-stage hydrogen markets can transition from policy-supported ambition to bankable, scalable investment cases. Discussions are centred on the practical barriers shaping that transition, from project economics and offtake risk to the wider constraints emerging across global clean technology supply chains. These dynamics are increasingly interconnected. Decisions on manufacturing localisation, component availability and critical mineral exposure are now directly influencing hydrogen project timelines and cost structures, alongside broader low-carbon energy deployment. If you are not with us in London, explore our latest hydrogen insight with @National Grid: okt.to/WIsvLP

New product launch - European Biofuels Production Monitor 🚨 Europe's biofuels market is more volatile than ever. RED III policy shifts, feedstock scarcity and rising imports are reshaping supply - and a single outage in ARA can remove thousands of barrels per day from the market.   That’s why we’re excited to announce the launch of our European Biofuels Production Monitor.   Gain live, facility-level visibility across 4.1 million tonnes per year of HVO, FAME, and SAF capacity - covering ARA, Spain, and France, with new regions to be added soon across Europe.   Key capabilities include: 🔷Live plant status and rate changes as they happen 🔷Instant alerts on outages, restarts and feedstock issues 🔷API access that plugs directly into your trading systems and models Stay ahead of the market with unparalleled real-time intelligence across both US and European biodiesel and renewable diesel refinery operations.   Learn more about our Biofuels Production Monitor and speak with one of our experts today: okt.to/8zroPx #Biofuels #Europe #Production

Earlier this week, our clients were informed that satellite monitoring identified flaring activity at Sempra’s 3.25 MTPA Energía Costa Azul (ECA) LNG Phase 1 facility in Ensenada, Mexico. We have continued to monitor the situation closely. Read on: okt.to/vB97uF

Transmission build outs across major US power markets are accelerating, but many projects are still five to 10 years from completion. For data centre developers facing immediate AI driven demand growth, waiting for firm grid access may no longer be commercially viable. As a result, conditional interconnections, onsite generation and collocation strategies are moving rapidly from niche solutions to mainstream deployment models. In our upcoming Horizons Live, Wood Mackenzie experts will explore what this shift means for: - Grid reliability and system stability - Power market design and regulation - Infrastructure investment and asset valuations - The long term competitiveness of US AI development If AI is becoming a defining force in energy demand, how should markets adapt? Join us live to explore the risks and opportunities shaping the next phase of US power infrastructure development. Register now: okt.to/pciBOj

The Iran war has caused the greatest energy supply shock in living memory. Our #WMHorizons special edition lays out three distinct scenarios for the end of the war and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the implications of these for oil & gas supply, demand and prices.    The report explores:     - A new era of energy price volatility: resuming Gulf exports is unlikely to be smooth sailing.    - The push for energy independence: the prospect of a radical policy pivot for oil-importing countries.   - Molecules v electrons: aggressive electrification and the cleantech opportunity.      Uncertain times demand interconnected intelligence. Read on to understand what comes next: okt.to/tn2jab

With US grid development moving slower than AI ambitions, data centre companies face a fork in the road. Path one: wait up to a decade for the required massive generation and transmission build-out. Path two: pay a premium for microgrids of unprecedented scale and complexity, or accept conditional grid connections that risk supply interruption and service-level agreement violations.     With 90 GW+ of collocated generation in US interconnection pipelines, it’s clear the need for speed has sent many down the second path. This month’s #WMHorizons sets out the risks and implications for developers and investors. Read the report now: okt.to/JN38Xv

How exposed are global energy markets if the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted into 2026? A fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran has reduced immediate escalation risk, but uncertainty over a durable peace keeps the world’s most critical energy chokepoint at the centre of market risk. Almost 12 million b/d of crude flows and over 80 Mtpa of LNG supply remain affected, with implications that vary sharply depending on how quickly the Strait reopens. In our upcoming Horizons Live, we will explore three scenarios: Quick Peace, Summer Settlement and Extended Disruption, and what each means for oil, gas, LNG and global economic stability. We will examine: - How different reopening timelines reshape global supply and price trajectories - Where the greatest risks of demand destruction and recession emerge - Why LNG markets could face structural change depending on disruption length - What sustained volatility means for energy security and investment decisions Our experts will also take questions live from the audience, bringing real-time discussion into the analysis. Join us as we unpack the scenarios and what they signal for global energy markets. Register today. okt.to/8br7m1

Collocation is being positioned as the answer to America's grid bottleneck. The reality is more complicated. The US power sector is under pressure to keep pace with data centre development, and collocated generation could provide a solution. But as #WMHorizons shows, the costs, technical challenges and regulatory risks that must be mitigated are formidable. Read the full report here: okt.to/PbYODG

Argentina and Saudi Arabia have proved international shale can work at scale, given the right conditions. The Vaca Muerta and Jafurah projects together will absorb US$250 billion in future capex . So, where's the next big opportunity?  Our latest Horizons report ranks the top targets for global shale 2.0. Each has US shale similarities – if the commercial frameworks align: okt.to/cRz0lP

After years of declining upstream investment, Nigeria is getting serious about boosting domestic oil and gas production, with aspirations to almost double oil production to 3 million b/d by 2030.  This week’s edition of #TheEdge looks at the critical role Nigeria’s independent oil and gas producers will play, the scale of their ambition, and the obstacles. okt.to/rdjVCQ