A Message From Our CEO
Dear Readers,
We are introducing “The Energist,” our inaugural newsletter designed to keep you in the loop with all things Energy Dialogues. As pioneers in hosting meaningful dialogues and fostering connections within the industry, we’re excited to share insights, member highlights, and upcoming plans.
The year kicked off with a flurry of activity as I attended Baker Hughes’ Annual Meeting in beautiful Florence, Italy. An impressive group of 2,000 leaders met in the city to tackle the energy transition challenge. Here are a few of my takeaways:
1. The need to scale technology available today and develop more to meet netzero targets
2 . There is no world without hydrocarbons; it’s about emissions and efficiency and not fuel source
3. There is no path to net zero without collaboration
From Italy, I continued to Goa – during India Energy Week. I was reminded how important it is to look at all aspects of the energy transition, including air pollution. India’s population, 1.4 billion people, is exposed to unhealthy levels of ambient PM 2.5 – fine particulate matter emitted by factories, two-stroke engines, and the burning of wood, among other sources. India also has an ambitious energy transition plan. Will it be a clear trajectory? Unlikely. But the more we embrace that energy transition will not be one, but many TRANSITIONS globally, with different resources and a different energy mix required depending on location, and above all likely messy and an exercise of compromise, the more things can get done, without letting perfection be the enemy of good.
Shortly after returning to San Diego, we hosted our inaugural Carbon Solutions Forum in our hometown – sunny La Jolla, to be specific. Thank you to all our sponsors, speakers and participants for making this launch a resounding success for the Energy Dialogues community. We look forward to continuing meaningful dialogue and actions at the 2025 Carbon Solutions Forum.
I hope you enjoy the read and updates from The Energist.
Monika Simoes
Founder & CEO, Energy Dialogues
Inside the Inaugural Carbon Solutions Forum
Three weeks ago, we hosted the inaugural Carbon Solutions Forum, the first Energy Dialogues forum focused exclusively on decarbonization. The forum brought together key energy leaders at the forefront of emissions reduction and offered very insightful conversations around carbon markets, CCS, energy transition investments, as well as hydrogen, methane emissions, nature-based solutions and low carbon fuels.
The two-day program was packed with panel discussions, interactive roundtables and enlightening presentations, including a dinner hosted by Foundational Partner Baker Botts, which allowed attendees to network in a relaxed and fun atmosphere.
UCSD’s David Victor and DOE’s Division Director for Carbon Dioxide Removal, Rory Jacobson, set the stage with thought-provoking keynotes. Then, panels featuring energy pioneers and top carbon experts like Chevron New Energies, EQT, Constellation, Calpine, ExxonMobil, DT Midstream, Morgan Stanley, Anew, IETA and many others provided invaluable insights into decarbonization strategies. Our team has compiled a short list of key takeaways:
- The forum confirmed that energy leaders are committed to reducing carbon emissions. It featured a diverse range of decarbonization strategies from key industry players, including CCS case studies, operational efficiency improvements, a growing interest in carbon offsets, and an appetite for emerging technologies.
- The US Department of Energy is making a fundamental impact by shifting its historical focus on R&D to a more proactive approach, now investing in commercial-scale project development.
- Despite public scrutiny and price volatility, more energy leaders are exploring different opportunities in compliance and voluntary carbon markets. The increasingly proactive role of regulators, registries and third-party verification will be critical to achieve the necessary transparency and standardization.
- CCS is one of the most impactful and cost-effective alternatives for energy companies to reduce their carbon footprint, and participants Calpine, Blue Sky Infrastructure, Marquis, Tellurian and Carbon Engineering presented their current and future carbon management initiatives.
- While the upcoming US Presidential election might slow down investments over the next few months, national and global investors’ appetite towards decarbonization technologies and infrastructure is growing massively, which will continue driving energy leaders towards net zero in the next decade.
Stay tuned for more information on next year’s forum and be on the lookout for our Post Forum Report for an in-depth look at what you missed this year.
Industry Insights
Energy Dialogues News
We recently relaunched the Energy Perspectives podcast.
The monthly podcast series will delve into the evolving global energy landscape, bringing exclusive insights and expert opinions on the latest developments and issues affecting the energy industry.
In this first episode, Mara Abbott sits down with UCSD’s David G. Victor and Martha J. Crawford with the Macquarie Group to dissect the pivotal role of policy and private capital in accelerating the decarbonization of the energy industry. Click to watch now.
On this episode of EDU Connect, our Energy Dialogues University podcast hosts, Hope Pratt and Chloe Young, sit down with EQT CEO Toby Rice. The conversation provides a look into EQT, how Toby’s career in the energy industry began and dives into the importance of natural gas in the energy transition. Click to watch now.
– The Future of Energy: Hydrogen, Natural Gas & Enhanced CCS Efforts
April 18, 2024 | Rice University’s Baker Institute | Houston, TX
– Advancing Lower Carbon Solutions Through Geothermal & Hydrogen
May 21, 2024 | Colorado School of Mines | Denver, CO
– The Real Emissions Profiles of Different Energy Sources
June 20, 2024 | Stanford Natural Gas Initiative | Stanford, CA
September 4-5, 2024 | Santa Fe, NM
Register to attend the Permian Energy Dialogues.
December 2-4, 2024 | Washington, D.C.
Register to attend the North American Gas Forum.