Stanford Energy

Stanford ENERGY newsletter is out! TIME100   Battery intern experience      Climate negotiations         Corporate Sustainability 1.     TIME100 Climate list honors eight Stanford alumni The magazine picks the 100 most influential people in business worldwide working on climate, including eight Stanford alumni, five for their sustainable energy startups. 2.     Internship perspective: Battery supply chains This past summer, graduate student Benedict Chen interned at Mitra Chem, a startup developing iron-based cathode active materials for lithium-ion batteries. 3.     Q&A: What can international climate negotiations still accomplish? Stanford experts discuss COP29's outcome, energy-related challenges in climate negotiations, and how President-elect Trump's potential withdrawal from global climate talks might affect the U.S. 4.     Reinventing corporate sustainability In Terrible Beauty, Auden Schendler argues that by focusing on incremental rather than systemic change, the corporate sustainability movement has played into the fossil-fuel industry’s hands. Check it out and subscribe for free: https://lnkd.in/dn77n-DP Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment Stanford Social Innovation Review

Reinventing corporate sustainability In his book "Terrible Beauty," Auden Schendler critiques corporate sustainability's approach to energy and climate change, arguing that businesses have been ineffective in challenging the fossil fuel industry's dominance. He advocates for a more aggressive political approach to energy transformation. Schendler highlights successful local energy transitions, such as Holy Cross Energy's dramatic shift from fossil fuels to renewables. In 2008, the utility generated only 6% of its power from renewable sources; by 2024, this will rise to 90%. He supports policy measures like banning natural gas in new buildings, implementing zero-emissions vehicle standards, and providing clean energy tax incentives through the Inflation Reduction Act. The author criticizes current corporate sustainability efforts as too incremental, arguing that companies should focus on systemic change rather than minor operational improvements. He believes businesses should use their political influence to drive meaningful energy policy reforms that fundamentally alter economic incentives. Read the full article Stanford Social Innovation Review: https://lnkd.in/embsSEiU #oilandgas #climate #cleanenergy

Q&A: What can international climate negotiations still accomplish? Negotiators met last week for a U.N. climate change conference marked by severe disagreement over how much wealthy nations owe developing nations to help decrease emissions and build climate resilience. Stanford experts discuss here the conference’s outcome, how a potential Trump administration withdrawal from global climate talks might affect the U.S., and more. The experts discussed critical energy-related challenges in global climate negotiations, highlighting the tension between developed and developing nations. Chris Field noted that while international climate agreements like the Paris Agreement are pressuring countries to develop decarbonization plans, progress remains frustratingly slow. On potential U.S. policy shifts, Field emphasized that even if federal support for climate action diminishes, decarbonization will continue. He pointed out that non-emitting technologies like solar panels and induction stoves are becoming increasingly cost-effective and attractive. Amanda Kennard offered an optimistic perspective, highlighting the clean energy job market. In 2022, the U.S. added 150,000 new clean energy jobs, with 36% concentrated in the South, largely driven by the Inflation Reduction Act. She suggested that these economic opportunities might motivate continued investment in green industries, regardless of potential political changes. The experts ultimately conveyed cautious hope for continued energy transition momentum. Read the full Q&A: https://lnkd.in/g8BJJWbb #cop29 #climate

California says farewell to the Winnebago and welcomes higher gasoline prices (opinion) In this Hoover Institution opinion article, Lee Ohanian argues that the California Air Resources Board policies on vehicles are costly and ineffective. He focuses on two recent decisions: increasing requirements for zero-emission vehicles in the Advanced Clean Trucks program, which includes mobile homes, and reducing the carbon content of California's gasoline blend. Specifically, the new regulations could effectively ban RV sales in California, as manufacturers may stop producing chassis due to carbon credit requirements. This would have negligible climate impact, Ohanian writes, given California's small share of global carbon emissions and the minimal number of RVs sold annually. He also raises concerns about the particulate emissions from electric vehicles, because they may pose significant health risks due to the heavy weight of their battery packs. Additionally, the proposed fuel standard could potentially raise gas prices by up to $1.50 per gallon by 2035. Read the opinion piece: https://lnkd.in/eu7_54eZ #California

TIME100 Climate list honors eight Stanford alumni Climate leaders: Time recognized Tom Steyer, MBA ’83, along with Katie Hall, his co-executive chair of Galvanize Climate Solutions, a climate-focused global investment firm. Climate innovators: Bret Kugelmass, MS ’12, founder and CEO of Last Energy, which is developing a very small modular nuclear reactor Tim Latimer, MS/MBA ’17, CEO and co-founder of the enhanced geothermal startup Fervo Energy JB Straubel, BS ’98, MS ’00, founder and CEO of Redwood Materials, the battery recycling company he started in 2017. Nedjip Tozun, BS, ’02, MBA ’07, founder and CEO of d.light, which makes inexpensive electrical appliances and solar home systems Colin Wessells, founder and co-CEO of Natron Energy, which produces sodium-ion batteries at a commercial scale Climate catalysts: Ellen Jackowski, MBA ’18, chief sustainability officer at Mastercard Michelle Tan Mei Jun, MBA ’17, the head of sustainability at the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), for cleaning up Singapore’s carbon credit market TIME100 Next list also includes a Stanford cleantech entrepreneur: Aadith Moorthy, PhD ’18, founder and CEO of Boomitra, which pays farmers and ranchers to recarbonize their soil through improved land management and then sells the carbon credits Read the news article: https://lnkd.in/gASZweiG #cleantech #climate #cleanenergy

Internship perspective: Battery supply chains Stanford graduate student Benedict Chen, MBA-MS ’25, interned this past summer at Mitra Chem, a startup developing iron-based cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries. During his internship, sponsored by the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, Chen worked with the company’s commercial team, engaging with chemical engineers and material scientists to understand technical aspects of battery production. He also collaborated with external suppliers and customers to evaluate vendor offerings and explore business development opportunities. Chen’s experience deepened his understanding of the battery supply chain, particularly the challenges and potential of scaling production to support the global energy transition. His work reinforced his passion for sustainable energy systems, Chen writes, especially in the battery sector, and highlighted the importance of innovation, business models, and policy in accelerating the transition to cleaner energy. Read his brief, first-person story: https://lnkd.in/gvJNv2gy Vivas Kumar #batteries #cleantech

Stanford ENERGY newsletter is out! Jane Woodward                  Energy after election                                    Direct air capture                                                      Hydropower 1.      Jane Woodward honored with Distinguished Alumni Award Deemed a force of nature and a force for nature, the Stanford energy champion has propelled thousands of students and expanded access to energy education globally. 2.      Climate litigation and cooperation after the 2024 election Scholars and government leaders including California Attorney General Rob Bonta discussed the future of clean energy and climate action during a conference focused on democracy and sustainability. 3.      Holocene is redefining the future of direct air capture solutions Holocene was originally incubated within the Precourt Institute's Stanford Climate Ventures entrepreneurial course when its CEO Anca Timofte and president Keeton Ross were students at Stanford's Graduate School of Business. 4.      Keeping the lights on, pantry stocked: Ensuring water for energy and food production Water scarcity threatens the viability of hydropower and agriculture. Reducing the need for irrigation through protecting ecosystems is key, a new study in the Andes shows. Check it out and subscribe for free: https://lnkd.in/gN8eAqvS Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability Breakthrough Energy Natural Capital Project

Holocene is Redefining the Future of Direct Air Capture Solutions Holocene, a direct air capture (DAC) startup, recently secured a significant agreement with Google to supply 100,000 carbon removal credits at $100 per ton by the early 2030s – a breakthrough price point in the industry. Founded by Romanian chemical engineer Anca Timofte, the company has grown from a one-person operation to a team of fifteen with facilities in Knoxville, Tennessee. Holocene was originally incubated within the Precourt Institute for Energy's Stanford Climate Ventures course when Timofte and company president Keeton Ross were students at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. The company's DAC technology uses two recyclable organic compounds: one that enhances water's CO₂ absorption capacity and another that enables CO₂ removal through precipitation. Their system operates at lower energy requirements than existing technologies and can be powered by renewable energy. As a Breakthrough Energy Fellows company, Holocene has benefited from funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities, which have helped accelerate its growth. The company deliberately chose to establish itself in Knoxville, outside traditional tech hubs, to work closely with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and contribute to local community development. Following the success of their industrial pilot facility, Holocene is now planning a demonstration plant that will be 200-500 times larger. The Google agreement has helped validate their technology and attract additional customer interest, positioning them for continued growth in the carbon removal market. Read the news at Breakthrough Energy: https://lnkd.in/gU-jF6hc #carboncapture #cleantech David T. Danielson Joel Moxley Jane Woodward David McColl

Weaving a new energy future: Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability honors Jane Woodward with Distinguished Alumni Award Jane Woodward, a Stanford University energy champion, was honored with the highest award for alumni from the Doerr School by its dean, Arun Majumdar, for her significant contributions to energy education and innovation. Born and raised in Silicon Valley, Woodward has been deeply connected to Stanford throughout her career. After studying geology and earning multiple degrees from Stanford, she began her career as a petroleum geologist and later co-founded MAP Energy, LLC, an investment firm focused on unconventional natural gas and renewable energy. She subsequently co-founded WovenEarth Ventures, a climate tech venture fund. Woodward has been teaching the transformative "Understand Energy" course since 1991, creating immersive learning experiences through field trips to energy sites like geothermal fields. She is known for identifying and addressing gaps in Stanford's energy ecosystem, launching initiatives like Explore Energy and supporting climate tech entrepreneurs. Her approach to energy education emphasizes hands-on learning, critical thinking, and a holistic understanding of energy systems. Woodward is passionate about energy literacy, focusing on efficiency and equity. She sees tremendous potential in graduate students, describing them as "Marvel superheroes" ready to make the world better. Despite personal challenges, Woodward remains optimistically committed to helping humanity evolve towards sustainable energy solutions. Read news article: https://lnkd.in/gtewWHsi #renewables #cleanenergy #climatetech

Meet Peng Zhu: Sustainability Accelerator Postdoctoral Fellow. Peng's research focuses on creating innovative nanomaterial synthesis methods and exploring new electrochemical systems to improve CO2 capture, CO2 conversion to renewable fuels, and other low-carbon green chemistry processes. His goal is to tackle environmental challenges by designing advanced reactors and catalysts for sustainable energy solutions. Learn more about the Stanford Sustainability Accelerator's postdoctoral program and how you can join a program that empowers and supports innovators to launch scalable real-world technology and policy solutions into the real world: https://lnkd.in/gQ8n3pmn Applications close December 31st! Apply here: https://lnkd.in/gsJaAS5T