A wide range of technologies are being researched by academia or implemented in industry that, if delivered at scale, could significantly impact the economics and sustainability of energy use over the next 10 to 20 years. What pathways are there for innovations in low-carbon fuels, materials, AI, etc., to change current assertions about the roadmap to net zero? To what extent is there potential for “disruption” in low-carbon solutions? Is the impact of these innovations a function the uniqueness of a new technology, or its scalability, based on markets or human capabilities?
The DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) invests in innovative, early-stage ideas from academia, private industry, national labs, start-up companies and small businesses. How are some of the agency’s brightest, emerging energy startups with innovations around emissions monitoring, energy storage and zero-carbon cement being set up for success? How do some of their challenges compare? To help them scale, what financial and non-financial help do these companies need next?
Corporate venture capital (CVC) groups provide support to startups in several ways―expert input, pilot projects, finance, access to certain markets, etc. But startups typically need access to many sources of funds and market access to grow. What are the strengths and weaknesses of corporate VC programs for supporting startups? What role can corporate VC’s play in later-stage commercial growth or exits?