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December 8, 2016

First-ever Energy Week at Duke engages dozens of energy companies & agencies

Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions

UPDATE: REGISTRATION IS OPEN for Energy Week at Duke 2017: November 5 - 9 (with the Conference on Nov. 8). 

Here's a recap of the first-ever Energy Week in 2016, which built on the previous success of the annual Duke University Energy Conference and the Energy in Emerging Markets Case Competition organized by the Fuqua MBA Energy Club. This year, the Energy Initiative collaborated with the Center for Energy, Development, and Global Environment (EDGE) at the Fuqua School of Business to support 53 student planners from schools across campus in planning 12 events. 

What was it like? Glad you asked! Here are some ways to explore: 

 

Videos of the Duke University Energy Conference

Thanks to the Fuqua School of Business, you can learn what last year's Conference speakers shared with our audience. Check out the full playlist or these individual videos: 

1. Introduction by Richard Brodhead (President of Duke University)

2. Fireside Chat with Ellen Williams (Director, ARPA-E) 

3. "Evolution of Electric Utilities" panel, featuring Anne Pramaggiore (President and CEO, ComEd); Caroline Choi (Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Southern California Edison); Rebecca J. Kujawa (Vice President, Business Management, NextEra Energy Resources); and moderated by Katie Kross (Managing Director, EDGE Center, Fuqua School of Business, Duke University)

4. Michael Dworkin (Professor, Vermont Law School; Founder of Institute for Energy & Environment) on Conceptualizing Energy Justice.

5. Brian Selby (Vice President of Licensing & Technology with GE Venture) on bringing disruptive technologies to emerging markets to address the challenge of rural electrification.  

6. Ted Hesser (Director of Product Management for Off.Grid:Electric) on the challenge and opportunity of bringing reliable electric power to Africa

7. Fireside Chat: Mauricio Gutierrez (CEO, NRG)

8. Fireside Chat: David Brewster (President, EnerNOC)

Verbal snapshots

Janesha Hassaram (MEM candidate, Nicholas School of the Environment) offered these verbal "snapshots" of just a few events during Energy Week at Duke 2016: 

  • Thought leaders confronted the environmental, economic, and ethical implications of energy access in rural communities.
  • At the Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory on campus, nuclear engineers explained how inverse Compton scattering produces high intensity gamma rays for energy production. 
  • Recruiters from eight energy companies delivered lightning talks to spark students' interest in their companies—then met with them individually or in small groups. 
  • Four prominent leaders in utility companies (who happened to be all women!) deliberated how dynamics between utilities and electricity users can alter the business model to allow for a cleaner electric grid. 
  • Students from a dozen universities across the country and world forecasted Cuba's energy portfolio during the Energy in Emerging Markets case competition. 
  • Energy start-ups in the Research Triangle pitched their companies in an expo-style showcase to investors (and students, AKA potential interns and hires). 

Questions? Contact Braden Welborn at the Duke University Energy Initiative.