December 1, 2021 - 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM Eastern Time (ET)

Industrial Decarbonization: The Energy Challenge

Event Description:

As a sector, industry contributes approximately one third of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, with the majority of these emissions stemming from heat and electricity required for industrial processes. Whether generated on-site or purchased from external suppliers, energy thus lies at the heart of industrial decarbonization. Unlike other sectors, however, industry cannot rely on electrification to substitute energy needs across all processes. Calcination or smelting activities that require very-high-temperature heat, for instance, may necessitate alternative solutions, such as hydrogen. To address the energy dimension of industrial decarbonization, two recognized experts, Emre Gençer of the MIT Energy Initiative and Dan Seligman of Ceres, will draw on recent academic research and practical experience to offer insights on potential challenges and solutions.

 

Participants

Speaker:
Emre Gençer
MIT

Dr. Emre Gençer is a research scientist at the MIT Energy Initiative. The central theme of his research is to identify optimal utilization of resources for the evolving energy system. His research focuses on integration of emerging and conventional energy technologies, their policy implications, multi-scale modeling, and optimization. Dr. Gençer received his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University and his B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering and B.Sc. in Mathematics from Bogazici University in Istanbul, Turkey.
Speaker:
Dan Seligman
Ceres

Dan leads Ceres’ engagements with commercial and industrial companies on improving energy efficiency to save money and curb greenhouse gas emissions. Before joining Ceres in 2016, Dan led energy conservation and environmental protection initiatives for the Maryland Energy Administration, the United Nations Foundation/Energy Future Coalition, and the Sierra Club. Among other accomplishments, Dan wrote the landmark Green Jobs Act of 2007 which funded training for thousands of workers in skills required for the clean economy, and championed global trade rules aligned with climate protection.
Moderator:
Jacquelyn Pless
MIT

Jacquelyn Pless is the Fred Kayne (1960) Career Development Professor of Entrepreneurship and an Assistant Professor at the MIT Sloan School of Management. Her research interests are in the economics of innovation, energy and environmental economics, and public economics. Her research focuses on understanding how policy affects firm behavior and innovation outcomes, with a particular interest in clean energy innovation. She holds an MS and PhD in mineral and energy economics from the Colorado School of Mines, and a BA in economics and political science from the University of Vermont.