Research and Relevance, Episode 7: Decarbonizing the Electric Utility Industry

Scientists assert that global warming must be kept below two degrees Celsius to avoid insurmountable global disruption. Getting there will require near total decarbonization of economic activity by 2060. Electricity generation accounts for a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. and worldwide. Electric grids around the world are being decarbonized but a complete shift to 100% clean energy will likely take longer than 40 years. What will facilitate the transition and what threatens progress? 

Let's begin by reviewing four zero-carbon emission generation sources and technologies that could lead us into the clean energy future – hydropower, nuclear energy, wind, and solar. We'll then discuss the levers and opportunities for solar and wind adoption with Devin Welch, Sun Tribe Solar, Erik Haug, Apex Clean Energy and Darden Professor Mike Lenox, who is a co-author on the forthcoming report titled Path to 2060: Decarbonizing the Electric Utility Industry.

This is the second in a series of podcasts from the Business Innovation and Climate Change Initiative at Darden’s Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation http://www.darden.virginia.edu/innovation-climate/. Episode 5 of Research and Relevance discussed the automobile industry.

Sun Tribe Solar: www.suntribesolar.com

Apex Clean Energy: www.apexcleanenergy.com

Podcast hosted by Becky Duff, Lead Researcher for the Business Innovation and Climate Change Initiative, Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.