Michael Liebreich

Head of Bloomberg New Energy Finance

Michael Liebreich is the head of Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the leading provider of information and research to senior investors, executives and policy-makers in clean energy and the carbon markets. Bloomberg New Energy Finance has over 140 staff working out of 11 offices around the world. Michael founded the company in 2004 and acted as Chairman and Chief Executive until its acquisition by Bloomberg at the end of 2009. Michael serves as a Member of the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council on Sustainable Energy and is on the Selection Committee for the Zayed Future Energy Prize. Prior to founding New Energy Finance Michael was an entrepreneur, venture capitalist (with Groupe Arnault), and executive, helping to build around 25 successful companies. In the 1990s he acted as Deputy Managing Director of Associated Press Television, Founding Director of Sports News Television and non-executive director of Interactive Investor. He also spent five years in the London office of McKinsey & Company. He is a two-time finalist in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.

Michael Liebreich News

‘Peak Fossil Fuels’ Is Closer Than You Think: BNEF

Every time an iPhone is charged or an episode of "Mad Men" plays on a television, puffs of vaporized carbon join the atmosphere, products of power-plant combustion. And every year the world demands more. That era may be nearing an end, as the world approaches “peak fossil fuels,” a phrased used by Bloomberg New Energy Finance founder Michael Liebreich at the group’s annual conference.
U.S. States Turn Against Renewable Energy as Gas Plunges

More than half the U.S. states with laws requiring utilities to buy renewable energy are considering ways to pare back those mandates after a plunge in natural gas prices brought on by technology that boosted supply.
Renewables Investment Seen Tripling Amid Supply Glut

The plunge in the cost of wind and solar power that bankrupted more than two dozen manufacturers is forecast to spur a tripling of investment in renewables by 2030 and to reduce the grip fossil fuels have on world energy supply.
Clean Energy Investment Falls 22% as Subsidy Cuts Stall Projects

Clean energy investment slid 22 percent to its lowest level in four years as nations pared subsidies for technologies from wind turbines to solar power and financing in China and Brazil stalled.
Chinese Utilities Face $20 Billion Costs Due to Water, BNEF Says

China’s five largest power utilities are heavily exposed to water supply disruptions and face costs of as much as $20 billion to curb the risk, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Liebreich: Stop the UN Climate Charade

The annual UN climate negotiations are among the most ambitious diplomatic ventures ever undertaken. The talks are geared toward getting 200 nations to agree on an equitable ways to reduce global carbon emissions and share the cost burden of climate change adaptation. Finding common ground has proven elusive in the past 16 years of talks.
U.S. Had $1.63 Billion Clean-Energy Surplus With China, Pew Says

The U.S. sold more renewable-energy and power-management products to China in 2011 than it imported, contradicting wide-held views that the Asian nation is becoming the world’s dominant supplier, according to the Pew Charitable Trusts.
Capital Market Can Overcome Cancun: Michael Liebreich

At the end of November the global climate change fraternity descends on Cancun, Mexico, for the latest attempt at replacing the Kyoto Protocol, which is set to expire in 2012. Last year’s United Nations meeting in Copenhagen ended after two weeks of protests and negotiations with a face- saving document long on promises but short on details.
Clean Energy Investment Rises to $260 Billion, Boosted by Solar

Renewable energy investment rose 5 percent to a record $260 billion last year driven by a surge in solar developments and increased spending in the U.S., Bloomberg New Energy Finance said.
Clean Energy Investment Fell 11% as Governments Cut Subsidies

Clean energy investment slid 11 percent last year after governments in industrial nations slashed subsidies for technologies ranging from wind turbines to solar power and biomass.