Cutting Carbon

Wrapping up a high-energy season of Cutting Carbon focused on GE Vernova’s Electrification segment is Heather Chalmers, President - Growth Markets, on GE Vernova’s Strategy team. Heather joins Dr. Jeff Goldmeer and Brian Gutknecht to talk through the multi-faced layers of the energy transition conversation as we enter 2024. Heather highlights the company’s role as a convener of both public and private sector leaders and subject matter experts to ensure transparency and alignment on some of the energy transition’s biggest roadblocks. Most recently, these critical themes were discussed at the New Era of Energy Events in London, UK and Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Get up to speed with the latest in the energy transition with this final episode of our ninth season.

Prakash Chandra, CEO of GE Vernova’s Solar & Storage Solutions business, talks you through the company’s latest business unit, focusing on its new technology and system solutions for global customers. Over the course of their conversation, Prakash also illuminates the growing role that solar power is set to play in the energy transition, highlighting how GE Vernova is helping to lead in the continued evolution, testing, and deployment of these critical technologies—all with the help of the next generation of engineers and industry leaders seeking out purpose-driven careers.

For the debut episode of our ninth season, hosts Dr. Jeff Goldmeer and Brian Gutknecht are joined by Scott Reese, CEO of GE Vernova’s Digital business. The energy transition cannot happen without software and in this episode, Scott unpacks how Digital is providing the pathway for power generation, distribution, and consumption. This engaging conversation offers insight into the role of software in safeguarding the transmission of energy, helping customers guard against a vast array of challenges, from bad actors to hurricane force winds and everything in between, while driving more effective decarbonization target planning. Listen as the group dives into recent acquisitions and product launches that exemplify the strength in innovation and dedication to delivering on a global mission embedded throughout GE Vernova’s portfolio of energy businesses.

Frederic Ribieras, newly appointed CEO for GE Vernova’s Hydro Power business, joins Jeff and Brian to share his excitement for the role hydroelectric power will continue to play in the global energy transition, feeding the grid with carbon-free, dispatchable and storable power. Over the course of their conversation, the trio break down the major types of hydro power generation projects and processes, and emphasizes how combatting climate change will require the support of a combination of energy technologies including hydro.

In this conversation with Jeff and Brian, Valerie Marjollet, CEO of GE Vernova’s Steam Power business, joins to talk about the current transformational journey Steam is on to become a services-focused business. Steam Power remains dedicated to delivering for its customers through safe, quality project execution. Valerie leads Jeff and Brian in discussion of this evolution, breaking down the mechanics of Steam Power today and sharing what it means to her to lead a part of such a purpose-based global company.

GE Vernova’s Power CEO Mavi Zingoni has more than twenty years of energy industry leadership under her belt. Kicking off a series of deep-dive discussions on GE Vernova’s Power businesses, Mavi joins Dr. Jeff Goldmeer and Brian Gutknecht to share her perspective on the pivotal role these businesses will play in the energy transition and why she’s passionate about leading a dynamic team with “the energy to change the world.”

Though a relatively new industry, offshore wind technology will play a pivotal role in supporting the global energy transition. Listen as Jan Kjaersgaard, CEO of GE’s Offshore Wind business, guides Jeff and Brian through the fascinating history and bright future of this technology while highlighting its evolutionary strides, unique advantages, and landmark technology: the Haliade-X platform.

The passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has spurred growth and development opportunities for decarbonization and renewable energy technologies and the communities they serve. Roger Martella, Chief Sustainability Officer and Head of Engagement and Government Affairs for GE Vernova, breaks down the profound impact of these policies, sharing five key “tailwinds” for climate action in 2023 and highlighting how the GE Vernova team is working to create a more sustainable future.

So far on this season of Cutting Carbon, we’ve focused on the physical infrastructure supporting power generation and energy transition projects. Alongside Dr. Jennifer Wilcox, Jeff and Brian examine the relationship between governmental policy and energy and discuss the ways in which the public and private sectors can work together to support the research and development of the new projects and technologies--including CCUS and hydrogen-related projects--that will be critical to supporting the United States’ goal of net zero by 2050.

Join hosts Dr. Jeff Goldmeer and Brian Gutknecht as they connect the dots of Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage with Dan Cole, Vice President of CCUS, Commercial Development and Government Relations for Denbury. Over the course of their conversation, Dan sheds light on how captured carbon makes its way to a storage location and shares details on the robust safety measures in place to monitor and maintain these pipelines, and offers insights into how recent political developments in the United States have impacted CCUS projects across the nation.

Leveraging three decade’s worth of leadership experience across the energy industry, Audrey Zibelman, now an advisor to the Biden Administration as a member of the President's National Infrastructure Advisory Council, sits down with Jeff and Brian to discuss the technological, regulatory and financial innovation necessary to ensure a successful energy transition and how the grid needs to evolve to support the next wave of electrification. They review best practices from around the world, including those gleaned from Audrey's time as CEO of the Australian grid operator AEMO and as Chair of the New York Public Service Commission. They also discuss the potential for the Inflation Reduction Act to accelerate the transition to more clean and renewable power.

Over the last five seasons of Cutting Carbon, hosts Dr. Jeffrey Goldmeer and Brian Gutknecht have helped listeners build foundational knowledge on today’s energy transition landscape, defining key terms and illuminating the myriad technologies, projects, and processes at play. This season, we dive deeper, examining the critical role infrastructure plays in supporting and sustaining these innovative technologies. Listen as Jeff and Brian set the stage for another exciting season to come. These are conversations that you don't want to miss!

High-quality, equitable science education will play a critical role in empowering the next generation of leaders poised to confront the energy trilemma and climate change. In the final episode of the season, Jeff and Brian speak with Dr. Erika Shugart, Executive Director of The National Science Teaching Association, about how the need for the skills gleaned from student’s scientific exploration manifests itself in all professional spaces, making students' development of these skills and experiences all the more imperative as we grow closer to the year 2030.