Cleantech: The business of more energy & lower emissions
CERAWeek Podcast with Atul Arya
Release Date: 01/24/2024
José Fonrouge, Ternium, on Decarbonizing Steel in a Two-billion-ton Industry
CERAWeek Podcast with Atul Arya
Steel accounts for 9% of global greenhouse gas emissions—making it one of the most challenging sectors to decarbonize. José Fonrouge, Global Environmental Director at Ternium, joins Atul to discuss the realities of reducing emissions in a two-billion-ton industry. The conversation examines structural constraints—from coal dependence and infrastructure gaps to global market dynamics—while outlining pragmatic pathways grounded in recycling, energy efficiency and hydrogen innovation. Key topics: The global scale of steel production and its emissions footprint The current state and...
info_outline
Kim Hedegaard, Topsoe, on Moving Beyond the Hydrogen Hype
CERAWeek Podcast with Atul Arya
Green hydrogen is entering a more disciplined phase—where project viability and secured offtake matter more than headline announcements. In this episode, , joins Atul to discuss what it will take to scale clean fuels on commercially sound foundations. The conversation examines how the sector is shifting toward industrial maturity—where access to competitive power, risk mitigation and capital discipline determine which projects move forward. High-temperature electrolysis, offering between 20-30% greater efficiency, compared to other electrolyzer technologies illustrates how...
info_outline
Hanna Grene, Microsoft, on Matching 100% of Global Electricity Demand with Renewables
CERAWeek Podcast with Atul Arya
Microsoft has matched 100% of its annual global electricity consumption with renewable energy—contracting 40 gigawatts across 26 countries. , joins Atul to discuss what this milestone signals for the energy sector as AI demand accelerates. The conversation explores how AI is driving performance in the power sector, reshaping grid operations, infrastructure development and business processes—highlighting why energy systems are becoming foundational to digital growth and competitiveness. Key topics: Microsoft’s 40-gigawatt renewable procurement milestone AI as a...
info_outline
Bill Newsom, Mitsubishi Power Americas, on the Race to Deliver Power at Scale
CERAWeek Podcast with Atul Arya
Heavy-duty gas turbine demand in the Americas has grown more than six-fold in five years, a clear signal that the power sector is racing to deliver new generation capacity. , joins Atul Arya to discuss what it takes to build power at speed as electricity demand accelerates. The conversation focuses on execution – how manufacturers, utilities and technology partners are scaling equipment supply, project delivery and infrastructure to meet rising demand while advancing decarbonization. Key topics: Surging turbine demand and its signal for power markets Competition for...
info_outline
Ashraf Al Ghazzawi, Saudi Aramco, on Energy Security and Why Supply Still Drives the Energy Transition
CERAWeek Podcast with Atul Arya
Rising global energy demand, security of supply and long-term investment decisions are shaping the future of the energy system. In this episode, , joins Atul Arya to discuss these dynamics and their impact on energy markets. Key topics include: Global demand growth and regional energy disparities Investments in supply needed to keep pace with resource depletion rates Energy security through diversity of suppliers AI’s impact on operational efficiencies Disciplined approaches to lower-carbon investments This episode builds up to CERAWeek 2026, where leaders will examine the...
info_outline
Lawrence Coben, NRG Energy, on Collaboration and the Electricity Demand “Supercycle”
CERAWeek Podcast with Atul Arya
Rising electricity demand from AI, data centers, and electrification is reversing decades of flat load growth and reshaping power markets. In this episode, , joins Atul to discuss how energy providers are responding to a new era of accelerating demand, tightening capacity and growing infrastructure needs. The conversation examines how utilities, technology companies and large energy users are adapting—highlighting the growing importance of investment, partnerships and policy frameworks to ensure reliable and affordable power. Key topics include: The return of large-scale electricity...
info_outline
Uwem Ukpong (AWS) on the Power Convergence: AI Demand and Grid Capacity
CERAWeek Podcast with Atul Arya
Cloud and AI providers are no longer passive consumers of energy—they are shaping how and where new capacity gets built. In this episode, Atul Arya speaks with , on how this shift is changing the energy landscape. The conversation explores how Amazon is scaling its global data center footprint while driving efficiency, investing in carbon-free energy, and working directly with utilities to support grid reliability. A recurring theme in the discussion is that decisions around compute and power are becoming increasingly interconnected, raising the importance of collaboration between data...
info_outline
Prof. Jun Arima (JOGMEC) on Energy Security, Nuclear and Japan’s Path to Decarbonization
CERAWeek Podcast with Atul Arya
In this episode, Atul speaks with , on how Japan is recalibrating its energy strategy—placing energy security alongside decarbonization—and what this shift means for Asia and the global energy transition. The conversation explores Japan’s evolving approach to nuclear power, renewables and system reliability amid rising power demand driven by AI, digitalization and industrial growth. It also examines JOGMEC’s role in enabling technology deployment and investment across Asia, where emissions growth and energy security challenges will shape global climate targets. Key themes...
info_outline
Generative AI for Energy Executives: A Conversation with MIT Faculty John R. Williams and Abel Sanchez
CERAWeek Podcast with Atul Arya
In this episode of the CERAWeek Podcast with Atul Arya, Atul is joined by MIT faculty leaders Professor John R. Williams and Dr. Abel Sanchez to examine the impact of generative AI for senior leaders across the energy value chain. As AI transforms electricity demand while reshaping operations, risk management and competitiveness, the conversation previews a new two-day executive education program launching at CERAWeek 2026: Key topics include: AI’s dual role as a major new source of power demand and catalyst for efficiency and resilience How AI is reshaping operating models,...
info_outline
Can AI Solve Its Own Energy Challenge? A Conversation with Varun Sivaram, Emerald AI
CERAWeek Podcast with Atul Arya
In this episode of the CERAWeek Podcast with Atul Arya, Atul sits down with Varun Sivaram, Founder and CEO of Emerald AI, to examine how the rapid expansion of AI data centers is transforming electricity demand, infrastructure planning and global competition. AI’s future hinges on chips innovation, but also on the availability and supply of power. Flexibility, not just efficiency, will determine whether AI can scale without straining power grids or driving up energy costs. The discussion explores: Surging electricity demand from AI data centers and what it means for the U.S. power system...
info_outlineIn this episode, Atul Arya, Chief Energy Strategist, S&P Global, and host of the CERAWeek Podcast is joined by Edurne Zoco, Executive Director for Clean Technology & Renewables, and Carolyn Seto, Executive Director for Upstream Technology, both from S&P Global.
This timely conversation reviews the commitments made at COP28 for renewables and energy efficiency, and outlines the perspectives for cleantech – including solar, CCUS, DAC and batteries – and how AI and machine learning will continue to help meet energy efficiency targets. Our guests also discuss the structures of the innovation ecosystem, and the role policy, financing and supply chains will play in achieving these targets.
Go to ceraweek.com/Agora to learn more about Innovation Agora @CERAWeek 2024, where a community of technologists, startup entrepreneurs, VCs and investors, thought leaders, policy makers and corporate innovators will gather March 18-22, 2024, in Houston, Texas, to advance solutions to the greatest challenges facing our energy and environmental future.
To learn about CERAWeek and its speakers and agenda and to register, please visit ceraweek.com.