We Are the Opportunity
“Everybody's got to be telling their part of the story. Everyone's got to see themselves in this crisis and also see themselves in the opportunity.”
- Ali Zaidi, White House National Climate Advisor, National Climate Task Force
The 2024 Yale Clean Energy Conference, held from October 10 to 11, was a vibrant gathering of top minds from academia, government, and industry, all coming together to tackle pressing clean energy challenges. The largest conference to date, over 500 individuals converged at the Yale School of Management for two days of learning with panels, keynotes, and workshops.
The event kicked off Thursday with opening remarks by Amber Garrard, Director of Yale’s Office of Sustainability. She highlighted how Yale’s commitment to enhancing green spaces, promoting active transportation, and fostering community aligns with both climate goals and improving local biodiversity: “As a legacy institution, over 300 years old, we make really important decisions that have huge impacts on a daily basis. The impacts will last generations.”
The opening keynote featured an exciting live recording of the Shift Key Podcast with Ali Zaidi, the White House National Climate Advisor, alongside Robinson Meyer from Heatmap News. Their dynamic conversation delved into the nation’s climate strategies: “If we're building a clean energy economy around the world, it has to abide by human rights standards, it has to be built in a way that is clean and sustainable,” Zaidi shared.
After the thought-provoking discussion, attendees gathered for a lively networking reception. With its stunning views, the reception terrace offered the perfect backdrop to witness the northern lights, creating a magical moment that blended science, nature, and camaraderie. Thank you to Kuziva Huni for capturing the spectacular moment!
Friday launched with a networking breakfast, setting the stage for a jam-packed day of tech talks, workshops, exhibits, and panels.
In the morning, Dr. Laurent Pilon and Mary Schilling dove into the future of battery material recycling within a circular economy, while Chris Cotulio, Becky Gallagher, Melissa Kops, and TJ Oneglia explored how low-carbon materials are revolutionizing construction. Meanwhile, Charlotte Parker’s workshop on community engagement in energy projects brought a fresh, people-focused perspective to clean energy development.
Next, attendees explored exhibitor showcases, which highlighted companies doing the work as well as innovative solutions emerging from Yale and beyond, giving climate tech startups an opportunity to connect with investors and strategic partners who can help take their work to the next level. This was followed by concurrent sessions, including one on the often-overlooked human aspects of energy management, focusing on the role of behavioral insights in driving energy efficiency. Meanwhile, Experts Pitch the Problem brought in industry heavyweights like RWE and Avangrid, who provided insider perspectives on the most pressing challenges facing the clean energy sector today.
The afternoon keynote featured John Chang, alongside Dr. Elizabeth Cook and Jeffrey Schub, who delivered inspiring insights on clean energy development, part of the Yale School of Management Dean’s Speaker Series. Attendees then split off for tech talks covering a range of breakthrough topics: from Brian Gaulzetti, Dr. Narasimha Rao, Matt Mailloux, and Jenna Hill’s deep dive into geothermal energy to Dr. Conor Rooney and Dr. Puneet Chhabra’s exploration of cutting-edge molecular bonds in clean energy. Liz Martin Perera wrapped up the workshops with a strategic session on how DOE LPO funding can advance equitable clean energy deployment.
As the day wound down, the spotlight turned to the closing keynote on implementing the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, featuring Vero Bourg-Meyer, Rishika Ghosh, Nenha Young and Dr. Rob Klee, who sparked a lively discussion on strategies for large-scale climate action.
“We are moving quickly, we are building the jet plane as it is flying, we are laying the railroad tracks as the train has already left the station… it's an exciting time. I’m hopeful that in 5 years from now, we can do another one of these panels and see what progress we have made,” Young shared.
The 2024 Yale Clean Energy Conference concluded with a sense of purpose and momentum, as participants left not only with new knowledge but also with renewed motivation to tackle the urgent challenges of the clean energy transition. The dynamic exchange of ideas—from innovative technologies to policy insights—underscored the need for bold action, collaboration, and inclusivity in shaping a sustainable future.
This year’s conference wasn’t just a platform for discussion; it was a catalyst for the transformative energy solutions that will define tomorrow. We cannot wait to continue the conversation at the 2025 event…date to be announced soon!