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Our Top Tools for the Energy Transition – Mona Dajani

  • Clean Power

Our latest Energy Superhero, Mona Dajani, joins Energy Superheroes to discuss the technologies and policies that will shape our sustainable future. A recognized expert in energy, she is the Global Head of Renewables, Hydrogen & Ammonia and Global Co-head of Energy & Infrastructure at law firm Shearman and Sterling. She also sits on the Board of Directors for the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE). With knowledge in many energy technologies and strategic startup growth, Mona provides deep insight into the energy industry’s evolving landscape.

In this episode, Mona reflects on the critical decisions currently faced by the energy industry and their far-reaching implications for our planet:

  • Mona has experience with a wide range of emerging technologies, including wind, solar, hydrogen, digital mobility, electric vehicles, ammonia, and waste-to-energy. She emphasizes the potential of all of these options in catalyzing the energy transition and reaching net-zero emissions. In particular, she highlights the promising future of hydrogen as a zero-emissions fuel.
  • Mona shares her experiences with startups in the energy space. According to her, startups have the capability to challenge and transform established norms within the energy sector, providing much-needed innovation. She stresses the importance of fresh perspectives and novel ideas in steering the industry towards sustainability.
  • According to Mona, policy, public awareness, and investment all play a pivotal role. She emphasizes that all three are fundamental in shaping the energy landscape and in successfully fostering the adoption of new technologies and infrastructure.
Industry Hubs

Ontario Plans New Nuclear Generating Station at Bruce Power

  • Clean Power
While many regions are investing in things like wind and solar, Ontario is making a bold move. They’re considering adding a third nuclear generating station at Bruce Power. If given the go ahead, this will be Canada’s first major nuclear plant construction in 30 years. The new station could produce up to 4,800 megawatts, or enough to power 4.8 million homes. That would almost double the plant’s current output capabilities. As nations race to decarbonize, many are starting to see nuclear energy as a key player in the clean energy lineup. The technology is becoming safer and more widely accepted, and there has been increasing momentum for plants across the globe.
Industry Hubs

Cornish Lithium Raises $67 Million

  • Clean Power
Cornish Lithium has secured $67 million in investments, helping lead the UK’s green revolution. Key investors include UK Infrastructure Bank, The Energy & Minerals Group, and TechMet (the largest existing shareholder in Cornish Lithium).  This influx of capital will accelerate the creation of a domestic supply of battery-grade lithium compounds. This is essential for increasing battery production for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. Cornish Lithium is extracting lithium from hot springs beneath the Cornish granites. The result? Igniting a NEW mining wave in Cornwall, bridging the gap between Cornwall’s rich 4,000-year mining past and a sustainable future.  This is more than just an investment; it’s a statement. The UK is stepping up its game, targeting net zero, and enhancing local economies in the process. 
Industry Hubs

Solar AI Brings Rent-To-Own Solar to Singapore

  • Clean Power
While the world is turning to solar energy, many Singaporeans remain hesitant due to the steep upfront costs.  Enter Solar AI, a startup aiming to change that perception with its innovative rent-to-own model. They recently scored $1.5 million in seed funding from investors like Earth Venture Capital and climate-tech angel David Pardo.  Solar AI’s mission is to lower the barrier of trust and awareness in Southeast Asia. The truth? Solar penetration remains below 1% right now. People don’t want to pay $15,000 upfront and then finally break even years down the line. But Solar AI’s rental model aims to make solar ownership less risky for them.  Currently powering 100+ customers with over $3 million SGD in rooftop solar contracts, Solar AI’s revolutionary model seems to be working. Singapore is getting onboard with solar! 
Industry Hubs

Nuclearn.ai Raises $2.5 Million in Seed Round

  • Clean Power, Digitalization
It seems that AI is everywhere these days! Nuclearn.ai recently announced a $2.5 million seed investment to help advance their AI-driven solutions for nuclear energy. Leading the round was AZ-VC, with a strong show of support from Nucleation Capital.  It sounds like there is some exciting R&D in the pipeline. Products like AtomAssist, an advanced Nuclear Language Model, and more.  The company sees the potential of AI and machine learning to massively streamline time-consuming tasks that currently exist in nuclear facilities, as well as to provide advanced and necessary security. It looks like AI is taking center stage in reshaping the energy sector. Let’s see what other possibilities unfold as AI tech advances even further.
Industry Hubs

Texas Power Grid Gets a Boost

  • Clean Power
This summer has been a true testament to the evolving dynamics of the Texas power grid, with energy storage facilities pumping out a record amount of power when the state needed it the most.  The state has been experiencing record-breaking heat this summer, with temperatures topping 100F essentially daily for the last month in cities like Austin and Dallas.  With temperatures like that driving energy demand, Texas has become a bit of an experiment for grid reliability. With coal generation dwindling and renewables rising, this summer has been all about navigating the heat wave with things like solar energy.  Did you know Texas has added 2.5 gigawatts of battery capacity in just the past five years? That’s almost 25% of the entire U.S. battery capacity. California might be leading, but Texas isn’t far behind.  So, as the energy landscape shifts, where do you think batteries will fit in your state’s energy future?
Industry Hubs

Blue Laser Fusion Gains $25 Million in Seed Funding

  • Clean Power
Introducing Blue Laser Fusion, a Palo Alto-based startup on a mission to make laser-based fusion a reality by 2030. With a recent influx of $25 million in seed funding, they’re well on their way to providing clean, renewable energy.  So who’s behind BLF? Nobel laureate Shuji Nakamura, known for pioneering the blue LED. Collaborating with him are experts Hiroaki Ohta from Waseda University Ventures and Silicon Valley attorney, Richard Ogawa. Instead of the conventional deuterium-tritium fusion target, BLF is betting on ‘HB11’, a hydrogen-boron fuel. HB11 is non-radioactive, neutron-free, and abundant. Plus, it’s a fusion reaction that spits out harmless helium. Clean and safe – that’s the future we’re talking about! The company expects their first prototype in 2025, following by a commercial-ready fusion reactor in 2030. But why does fusion matter? Fusion represents an incredible opportunity for clean, abundant energy. Successful commercial fusion would be a game-changer for the planet, significantly reducing our carbon footprint. Plus, BLF’s focus on non-radioactive fusion means a safer, more sustainable approach to harnessing this power.
Industry Hubs

U.S. Charts New Course with Massachusetts Offshore Wind

  • Clean Power
Fifteen miles south of Martha’s Vineyard, an ambitious new energy project is taking shape. The nation’s first offshore power substation is in the works, expected to be operational as soon as October. This is the inaugural step of Vineyard Wind, projected to power 400,000 homes by 2024.  In the offshore wind world, rising inflation and financing rates have paused several projects in their tracks. The 806-megawatt Vineyard Wind was lucky to lock in supply deals before inflation hit.  With two smaller U.S. wind farms as precursors, larger projects like Vineyard Wind represent a significant shift in the nation’s energy paradigm.  By 2035, offshore wind supply is expected to increase fourfold. Consider this farm the first in many to be popping up across the seas. 
Industry Hubs

Equilibrium Energy Raises $33 Million for Clean Energy

  • Clean Power
Equilibrium Energy has just announced a massive $33 million in venture funding. Who’s involved? Industry giants include Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Global Founders Capital, NJP Ventures, and others. Founded in 2021, Equilibrium is tackling ones of today’s greatest challenges – a climate change friendly power grid. Their idea, the Climate Generation power company, seeks blend deep energy expertise, AI, and power grid fundamentals to jumpstart our transition to a green energy society.  Their latest achievement?  They’ve just secured the LARGEST battery tolling agreement in Texas, boasting a 100 MW battery, which started running last month on their power volatility-centric platform.  Equilibrium’s model is like a “PPA-for-batteries”. Using tolling agreements, they plan to revolutionize grid-scale batteries just like what PPAs did for wind and solar.  What do you think about this new energy powerhouse? Do they have what it takes to redefine the power sector?
Industry Hubs

Blue Frontier’s Cool Solution to Inefficient ACs

  • Clean Power
As the world sweats through record-breaking temperatures, we NEED efficient, green cooling solutions. Enter Blue Frontier. The Florida-based company is looking to redefine air conditioning as we know it. Their secret? A special liquid salt solution that deals with temperature and humidity separately for big energy savings. Developed alongside the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Blue Frontier’s solution breaks away from traditional AC units’ inherent inefficiencies. It also stores energy for use during peak times, helping to ease the burden on our strained power grids during hot spells. Amid the blazing heat affecting millions across the globe, the demand for AC is skyrocketing. Tech like Blue Frontier’s could be a solution that doesn’t make our energy problem worse. With a recent funding round of $20 million, Blue Frontier is all set to trial its groundbreaking ACs for businesses. If successful, this could reduce AC’s carbon footprint and make those hot summer days a bit more bearable. Blue Frontier might just have the ‘coolest’ solution to our warming world.
Podcasts

Can robots solve climate change? – Joshua Olaiya

  • Clean Power, Digital Infrastructure

Joshua Olaiya, a 20-year-old robotics prodigy from Nigeria, is hoping to spark a robotics revolution – one that could potentially be the key to fighting climate change. The young tech visionary recently went viral for his “hand gesture robot” – developed when he was only 17. His inspiring story provides hope and motivation for many aspiring STEM professionals, especially from underrepresented communities.

In this episode of Energy Superheroes, Joshua discusses how he got started with robotics and how he thinks it could reshape industries across the board:

  • As a kid, Joshua was obsessed with figuring out how things worked. He began his robotics journey by dismantling toys and examining electronics. Amazingly, his skills are self-taught, thanks to spending countless hours watching YouTube videos and reading online articles.
  • Joshua is thinking beyond typical applications for robotics. He emphasizes the potential role that robotics could play in combating climate change, underlining its importance in the energy transition by increasing efficiency and autonomy.
  • Right now, Joshua is working on a ground-breaking project: a robotic arm controlled by brain signals. His hope is to assist people with disabilities, yet another sector that can benefit from robotics today.
  • We need more diversity in STEM. Joshua urges for more initiatives that encourage young people from underrepresented groups to pursue careers in technical fields. With his work, he hopes to inspire other African youths to enter STEM disciplines. Joshua’s story highlights the simple yet powerful message that perseverance, passion, and a thirst for knowledge can overcome any obstacle, even in the face of limited resources and support.
Industry Hubs

We need more electricity, and SOON, according to climate leaders like Elon Musk and Bill Gates

  • Clean Power, Green Transport
Elon Musk recently expressed concerns at a PG&E conference about the predicted electricity shortage, which he believes could hinder the progression of AI and other energy-dependent developments. Musk anticipates that U.S. electricity consumption could triple by 2045, with a serious shortage likely as soon as 2024. His proposed solution? Speed up the time scale of energy projects. Meanwhile, the U.S. energy industry is already struggling, with threats of rolling blackouts during demand peaks due to things like heat waves. This is testing a system already in transition, as plants continue to shift from fossil fuel plants to clean energy by retooling, etc.. It’s predicted that by 2030, the largest U.S. electric companies could be investing as much as $1.8 TRILLION into greener systems.  Bill Gates, founder of Breakthrough Energy, agrees with Musk’s electricity concerns. At the recent EEI 2023 conference, Gates emphasized the critical need for innovation in transforming the U.S. grid and investing in advanced clean energy technologies.  So how should we approach zero-carbon electricity? Perhaps this three-pronged approach: nuclear power for baseload , hydrogen-fueled turbines for variable load, and advanced batteries for short-duration storage. Prominent players already in these areas include Oklo, who is developing advanced fission power plants, and Mitsubishi, who is focusing on hydrogen combustion turbines.  Increased electrification, such as the adoption of EVs, necessitates more grid-supplied zero-carbon electricity. And to properly distribute this clean energy, we need to enhance transmission systems. Lots to do in the energy transition!

Empowering Sustainable Commerce

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