Archive: 2023 Conference

Energy in 3D: Digitalize, Decentralize, Decarbonize

OCTOBER 27, 2023

SCHEDULE

* All times are EST *

8:00AM-8:45AM: Lincoln Hall
Breakfast & Registration

We welcome you to the beautiful and historic Union League. During this time, please register on the second floor and receive your badge, before enjoying some breakfast and refreshments in the main conference hall.

8:45AM-9:00AM: Lincoln Hall
Opening remarks

The Wharton Energy & Climate Club would like to welcome you to our flagship event, the 15th annual Energy & Climate Conference. Please join us for a quick introduction and overview of the day, to kick off a full day of interesting panels and conversations.

9:00AM-9:30AM: Lincoln Hall
Morning Keynote: arcadia

Kate Henninsgsen, Co-Founder & COO

Arcadia unlocks access to global utility data. Their technology powers the next generation of climate solutions, giving anyone the tools to electrify and decarbonize.

9:40AM-10:40AM: Lincoln Memorial
Digital Transformation

How are digital innovations, such as Virtual Power Plants, redefining the energy system?

Panelist Speakers:

  • Jeff Weiss, Founder & Executive Chairman at Distributed Sun
  • Kate Henningsen, Founder & COO at Arcadia
  • Sarah Millar , Director of Virtual Power Plant Operations at OhmConnect
  • Matt Stern, Senior Director of Commercial Programs at the Philadelphia Energy Authority
  • Moderated by: Angela Pachon, Research Director at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy, UPenn
9:40AM-10:40AM: Library Lounge
Catalytic Capital For Climatetech

What are the unique financial structures, arrangements, and solutions being developed to finance climatetech companies from inception to liftoff?

Panelist Speakers:

  • William Dean, Portfolio & Risk Manager at the Department of Energy Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations
  • Parker Malone, Investment Manager at Equinor Ventures 
  • Jason Prince, Momentum X Ventures
  • Dan Button , Venture Partner at Breakthrough Energy Ventures
  • Moderated by: Rishika Ghosh, Senior Associate at the Philadelphia Green Capital Corp. 
10:50AM-11:50AM: Lincoln Memorial
The IRA: From Passage to Practice

The IRA just celebrated its first anniversary. How is industry navigating the incentives and opportunities the IRA has presented? How should government at different levels continue to support implementation?

Panelist Speakers:

  • Violeta Rabanal, Head of Corporate Development,  Mitsubishi Power
  • Enrique Glotzer,  Managing Director – Power, Renewables, & Energy Transition at FTI Consulting
  • Karl Hausker, Senior Fellow, Climate Program at the World Resource Institute
  • Tom Mourmouras, Business Development Manager, New Energy at Woodside Energy
  • Moderated by: Arthur van Benthem, Associate Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy at the Wharton School
10:50AM-11:50AM: Library Lounge
Capturing Value through Carbon Management

Direct management of carbon dioxide poses commercial challenges– but what are the ways it creates value alongside climate impact?

Panelist Speakers:

12:00PM-12:30PM: Lincoln Hall
lunch Keynote: Bezos Earth Fund

Paul Bodnar, Director

Prior to his work at the Bezos Earth Fund, Paul served as Global Head of Sustainable Investing at Blackrock, building the firm's $500Bn sustainable funds business; as the Chief Strategy Officer at RMI; and as a Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Energy & Climate Change during the Obama administration, among many other roles. Informed by his extensive experience in both the public and private sectors, Paul will reflect on where we are in the journey around climate and the energy transition.

12:30PM-1:30PM: Lincoln Hall
Lunch

Lunch will be provided in the Union League's main conference hall.

1:30PM-2:30PM: Lincoln Hall
Afternoon Fireside chat: Apollo

Olivia Wassenaar, Partner, Head of Sustainability and Infrastructure, in conversation with Andrew Gillick, Managing Director - Energy Sector Strategist at Enverus

Apollo's Sustainable Investing platform leverages its expertise to deploy capital in sectors driving energy transition and decarbonization, most recently launching a $4 billion fund to invest in the clean energy transition. Enverus is a single source platform for the management, development, and acquisition of the entire energy value chain.

2:40PM-3:40PM: Lincoln Memorial
Urban Decarbonization

Governments, industries, and communities are mobilizing to evolve our cities to be more sustainable. What steps are the public and private stakeholders taking to decarbonize the built environment?

Panelist Speakers:

  • Jennifer Morrissey, Energy Counsel at Dentons and Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Dentons Smart Cities & Connected Communities Think Tank 
  • Shailesh Lekhwani,  Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company
  • Corey Barnes-Covenant, Head of Strategic Sustainability Consulting, Americas  at Ramboll
  • Kritika Kharbanda,  Lead Sustainability Strategist at Henning Larsen
  • Moderated by: William W. Braham, Professor of Architecture and Director MSD-EBD Program / CEBD at Weitzman School of Design 
2:40PM-3:40PM: Library Lounge
The Energy Frontier

Which emerging technologies stand to revolutionize the energy sector in the near future and how will these technologies make a true impact on the energy transition?

Panelist Speakers:

  • Robert Catell, Chairman of the Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center (AERTC) at New York State University at Stony Brook
  • Steve Capanna, Director of Tech Policy at the Department of Energy
  • Trent Bauserman, Head of Federal Affairs at Commonwealth Fusion Systems
  • Danielle Blumberg Ullner, Managing Director &  Partner at BCG X
  • Moderated by: Nicolaj Siggelkow, David M. Knott Professor at the Wharton School
3:50PM-4:50PM: Lincoln Hall
funding the transition

The energy transition will require additions and upgrades to our energy infrastructure estimated to cost trillions of dollars annually. What entities are funding these investments, and what criteria distinguish the bankable ones?

Panelist Speakers:

  • Jonah Wagner, Chief Strategist, Department of Energy, Loan Programs Office
  • Jon Coatoam, Director of Finance & Renewable Development at NextEra Energy 
  • Prescott Johnson, Managing Director of Natural Resources and Energy Transition at Bank of America
  • Jim Alderson-Smith,  Principal at Crux Climate
  • Al Harper, Upstream Treasurer at ExxonMobil
  • Moderated by: Daniel G. Garrett, Assistant Professor of Finance, the Wharton School 
4:50PM-5:00PM: Lincoln Hall
Thank you/ Closing

The Co-chairs of the Wharton Energy & Climate Conference will say a few closing words and thank our sponsors.

Keynote Speakers

Kate Henningsen

COO & Co-founder, Arcadia

Paul Bodnar

Director, Bezos Earth Fund

Fireside Chat

A conversation with

Olivia Wassenaar

Partner, Head of Sustainability and Infrastructure, Apollo

Moderated by

Andrew Gillick

Managing Director - Energy Sector Strategist, Enverus

Dress code

The Union League of Philadelphia encourages business formal attire.

Additional information can be found on the Union League of Philadelphia’s website

Location

The Union League of Philadelphia

140 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102