Cleaning Up with Michael Liebreich

Why Renewables Are Booming Despite the Politics | Ep245: Miguel Stilwell D'Andrade

The episode of "Cleaning Up" spotlights why renewable energy is thriving despite political headwinds, featuring Miguel Stilwell d'Andrade, CEO of EDP and its renewables arm. He frames the surge in U.S. power demand—driven by data centers and industrialization—as a catalyst that is reshaping the investment landscape, while emphasizing that the shift is evident on the ground, not just in rhetoric. Stilwell d'Andrade explains EDP’s dual‑company model, the 2008 IPO of EDP Renewables, and the €4 bn of capital raised since then, which has funded a rapid expansion across 20+ countries. Today, more than 90% of the group’s generation mix is hydro, wind or solar, a dramatic swing from its coal‑heavy past. The firm is allocating roughly 60% of its renewable capex to the United States, with that share set to climb to two‑thirds, while network investments in Portugal are slated to increase by 70% over the next five years. He recalls the Horizon Wind acquisition that gave EDP a foothold in the U.S., the fortuitous timing of the 2008 listing before the Lehman collapse, and the strategic partnership with China Three Gorges that secured a 21% stake without diluting control. These moves illustrate how EDP leveraged market cycles and sovereign‑crisis sales to build a resilient, capital‑rich platform. The discussion underscores that robust demand, favorable regulatory tailwinds, and disciplined capital markets access are aligning to accelerate the energy transition. For investors and policymakers, EDP’s trajectory signals that large‑scale renewable deployment can thrive even amid geopolitical uncertainty, offering a blueprint for other utilities seeking to decarbonize profitably.