2025 Schedule

Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation › CMU Energy Week › Schedule

We've packed the week's schedule with industry leaders who will share their insights on technologies, systems, policy, financing, and workforce and community impacts of AI and energy.

CONFERENCE LOCATION
Carnegie Mellon University, Cohon University Center (2nd Floor)
Pittsburgh, PA
Maps & Directions

TUESDAY MARCH 25	Investor Day
8:30 AM- 4:30 PM	Registration Opens
8:30 - 9:30 AM	Breakfast
9:30 - 9:35 AM	Kickoff Investor Forum with Introductions from Daniel Tkacik
9:35 - 10:15 AM	Opening Keynote - Lisa Hansmann, Director, Foundry Logic
10:15 - 11:05 AM	Investor Forum Panel Discussion - Poulomi Damany, Limited Partner, Operator Collective - John Freer, Operating Partner, Energy Innovation Capital; Technology Commercialization Advisor, Rose Rock Bridge - Josh Grehan, Partner, Helios Climate Ventures - Lisa Hansmann, Director, Foundry Logic - Jeffrey McDaniel, Portfolio Executive, Innovation Works (moderator)
11:05 - 11:15 AM	Lunch Kickoff - Sponsor address: Erienne Olesh, Resilient Energy Technology and Infrastructure Consortium
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM	Networking Lunch
12:15-2:45PM	Energy & Cleantech Startup Pitch Showcase - Arieca Inc. - Encentiv Energy Inc. - ESTAT Actuation - Farm to Flame Energy Inc. - Frontline Gig - H Quest - J.P. Robotics - Kloopify - LeanFM Technologies Inc. - Module - Optimus Technologies - Reclamation Factory - roboLoop - RoCo - Sabana - SeaLion Energy - Sensible Photonics - SPM - Super Powers Mobility - Sustainable Composites, LLC - Viaduct Innovative Technologies
2:45 - 3:00 PM	Afternoon Break
3:00 - 4:30 PM	CMU Investor Forum - One-on-One Meetings, Private Sessions
3:00 - 3:15 PM	Afternoon keynote - Chris Telmer, Professor, Tepper School of Business
3:15 - 4:30 PM	Afternoon panel: Pennsylvania Energy Horizons: Scenarios to 2050 (Rangos 1 & 2) The future of energy in Pennsylvania will be influenced by a highly diverse set of drivers, including developments in technology, markets, investments, and policy. To consider the future of energy in Pennsylvania, the nonpartisan nonprofit organization Team Pennsylvania convened a diverse group of energy stakeholders to develop three scenarios – Highways, Homesteads, and Fields – in the fall of 2024, facilitated by a world-renowned scenarios team. Scenarios are sets of hypothetical futures intended to be used as the basis for strategic discussions. This session will explore these three scenarios and see the impact on Pennsylvania’s energy investments, emissions, and the economy. - Abby Smith, President & CEO, Team Pennsylvania - Rachel Phillips, Senior Vice President of Impact & Innovation, Team Pennsylvania - Adam Walters, Senior Energy Advisor at the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development
5:00 - 7:00 PM	Energy and Cleantech Networking Reception - Sponsor Address: Douglas Bush, Director for Strategy and Corporate Development, Peoples Natural Gas

WEDNESDAY MARCH 26	AI & Energy
8:00 AM- 5:00 PM	Registration Opens
8:00 - 9:00AM	Breakfast
9:15 - 9:20 AM	Welcome & Announcements - Daniel Tkacik, Executive Director, Scott Institute
9:20 - 9:30 AM	Welcome and Keynote Intro - Theresa Mayer, Vice President for Research, CMU
9:30 - 10:00 AM	Opening Keynote - Lucia Tian - Head of Clean Energy and Decarbonization Technologies, Google
10:00 - 10:50 AM	Panel discussion: Managing AI energy demands and climate goals The biggest bottleneck in the AI supply chain may actually be the energy to power those data centers. This panel will discuss the enormous power demands of data centers now and in the future, how the grid is responding, and the implications for the climate. - Eric Masanet, Professor, UC-Santa Barbara - Brian Guzek, Vice President, Corporate Strategy, Duquesne Light Company - Mike Kramer , VP, Data Economy Strategy, Constellation - Emma Strubell, Professor, Carnegie Mellon University - Param Vir Singh, Assoc. Dean, Tepper School of Business, Carnegie Mellon University
10:50 - 11:40 AM	Panel discussion: Frontiers of AI in energy and climate solutions While AI and data centers consume substantial amounts of energy, AI can be applied to a range of applications – from energy materials discovery to energy-efficient computing to electric grid optimization – to help solve some of the biggest challenges in energy and climate. This panel will discuss some of the most exciting frontiers of AI in energy and climate solutions. - Mario Berges, Professor, Carnegie Mellon University - Bingqing Chen, Machine Learning Research Scientist, Bosch Center for Artificial Intelligence - Jennifer Padgett, Director of Field Software, Gecko Robotics - Jeff Schneider, Professor, Carnegie Mellon University - Valerie Karplus, Professor, CMU (moderator)
11:45 AM - 12:00 PM	Lunch Kickoff - Sponsor Address: Lindsay Baxter, Senior Manager, Energy Policy and Public Affairs, Duquesne Light Company
12:00 - 1:00 PM	Networking Lunch / CMU Energy Research Exhibition
1:00 - 1:20 PM	Afternoon keynote - Valerie Gaydos, State Representative, Commonwealth of PA
1:20 - 1:40 PM	Afternoon keynote - Sara Innamorato, County Executive, Allegheny County
1:40 - 2:30 PM	Panel discussion: AI and the energy workforce The intersection of AI and energy creates new job opportunities and challenges. Skilled workers are needed to design, build, and maintain electrical, mechanical, and cooling systems. Data center expansion also boosts energy production needs. This panel will discuss some of the biggest challenges and opportunities the energy workforce needs to seize in the AI boom. - Abby Smith, President & CEO, Team Pennsylvania - Christophe Combemale, Professor, Carnegie Mellon University - Holly Merriman, Program Manager for Clean Energy Workforce Development, Pittsburgh Gateways Corporation - Brian Regli, Executive Director, Critical Investments, Commonwealth of PA - Ramayya Krishnan, Dean, Heinz College, Carnegie Mellon University (moderator)
2:30 - 2:35 PM	Keynote Introduction - Jim Garret, Provost, CMU
2:35 - 3:05 PM	Afternoon keynote - Dr. Marianne Walck, Director, National Energy Technology Laboratory
3:05 - 3:20 PM	Afternoon Break
3:20 - 3:35 PM	Remarks/Keynote Introduction - Costa Samaras, Director, Scott Institute
3:35 - 4:25 PM	Fireside Chat - Vibhu Kaushik, Global Head of Energy, Amazon Web Services
4:25 - 4:45 PM	Closing Remarks
5:00 - 7:00 PM	Evening reception Sponsor Remarks from: - Erica Gallant, Technology Strategy and Partnerships Leader, Trane - Jason LeRoy, Director, Advanced Technology, Trane

THURSDAY MARCH 27	Student Day
9:30 - 11:30 AM	Tepper Energy & Clean Tech Club Case Competition The Tepper Cleantech Case Competition (TC3) offers a unique opportunity for students to develop innovative strategic recommendations for startups focused on decarbonizing the manufacturing sector and enhancing grid resilience. Participating teams will engage with portfolio companies of the Resilient Energy Technology and Infrastructure Consortium (RETI) to analyze business challenges and opportunities, culminating in a final presentation to a panel of judges from RETI, CMU faculty, and industry experts. Teams are tasked with advising these early-stage companies, conducting in-depth research, identifying key challenges and market opportunities, and proposing strategic plans that drive growth and sustainability for their assigned startup. The top teams will compete for a share of $10,000 in prizes. Portfolio companies: - Ecotone Renewables - H Quest - Skibo Energy - SAVD Solar, Inc. Finalist student teams from: - Carnegie Mellon University - Cornell University - University of Pittsburgh - Arizona State University - Rice University - University of Washington
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM	Lunch
2:45 - 3:45 PM	Student Energy Research Poster Competition
3:30 PM	Career Fair Employer Check-In
4:00 PM	Poster Competition Winners Announced
4:00 - 6:00 PM	Careers in Energy Networking Reception Employers interested in participating should register here by March 20th. Participating companies include: - Duquesne Light Company - Eos Energy Enterprises - Peoples Gas - National Renewable Energy Laboratory - Trane Technologies - Oriden - Sargent Electric - H Quest - Hut 8 - Skibo Energy

2025 Schedule

We've packed the week's schedule with industry leaders who will share their insights on technologies, systems, policy, financing, and workforce and community impacts of AI and energy.

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