• CERAWEEK
  • March 10 - 14, 2025

Carolyn Seto

S&P Global Commodity Insights

Executive Director, Upstream Technology & Innovation

Dr. Carolyn Seto, Executive Director, Energy Technology and Innovation, S&P Global, investigates the roles of technology and innovation in driving strategic choices companies make in the energy sector—from how a company sources new technology to how a technology development strategy impacts a company’s resource portfolio. At CERAWeek, she chairs the Energy Innovaiton Pioneers program,which showcases a select cohort of promising startups working on gamechanging innovations that have the potential to disrupt the global energy system at scale.  Prior to joining S&P Global, Dr. Seto managed the Quantitative Fuel Analytics Group at Edison Mission Marketing and Trading, where she provided short- and long-term insights on coal, natural gas, and environmental markets and advised senior management on the implications of proposed environmental policies and the emerging North American shale gas supply. She has also worked as a Reservoir Engineer for BP, Shell, and Chevron, in development and operational roles, domestic and international. Dr. Seto was the Clare Boothe Luce Postdoctoral Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she was a co-author on the MIT Future of Natural Gas Study, investigating the impact of unconventional supply on North American, global energy markets, and carbon policy. Dr. Seto holds a BSc from Queen’s University and MSc and PhD degrees from Stanford University.

Sessions With Carolyn Seto

Tuesday, 19 March

  • 08:30am - 09:00am (CST) / 19/mar/2024 01:30 pm - 19/mar/2024 02:00 pm

    CCUS Infrastructure: The key to commercializing decarbonization

    Energy Infrastructure/Supply Chains

    As CCUS projects become more developed globally, there will be more frequent requirements for long-distance and cross-border business dealings to connect players across the chain from carbon capture, transportation and storage. The success of these ventures depends on meticulous attention to local regulatory frameworks, adherence to international laws and innovation in business models, highlighting the imperative for collaborative efforts among stakeholders and governments to adeptly navigate the associated challenges. What sort of policies, financing, stakeholder engagement and economic solutions are required to realize the potential of CCUS in these situations?  

  • 09:30am - 10:10am (CST) / 19/mar/2024 02:30 pm - 19/mar/2024 03:10 pm

    EIP: Driving decarbonization in overlooked areas

    Innovation & Technology

    In the drive to achieve a low-carbon economy, no sector is left untouched. Fields that were once disregarded have now become promising opportunities. Startups, with their novel ideas, innovative commercial models and urgency to rise to the challenge are well positioned to take the lead. What new technologies and strategies are being pursued? How has the landscape changed to support these solutions and how are developers managing risk as it continues to evolve? This panel will feature members of the 2024 class of CERAWeek Energy Innovation Pioneers.

  • 01:30pm - 02:00pm (CST) / 19/mar/2024 06:30 pm - 19/mar/2024 07:00 pm

    What Are the Realistic Cost Trajectories for DAC & CCUS?

    Clean Tech

    The expected growth in new DAC and CCUS projects over the coming years could assist cost reduction through enabling efficient supply chains and standardizing designs and approval processes. However, challenges arising from supply bottlenecks as projects expand can also lead to inflation and delays. What are the forces driving costs for DAC and CCUS as they scale? Are there any breakthroughs in underlying technologies or manufacturing that have potential to truly reduce costs? What learning curves apply to process industries like DAC and CCUS and how might cost trajectories overall compare with renewables?  

Wednesday, 20 March

  • 09:30am - 10:10am (CST) / 20/mar/2024 02:30 pm - 20/mar/2024 03:10 pm

    EIP: Accelerating decentralized, resilient and sustainable energy systems

    Innovation & Technology

    The multidimensional nature of the energy transition is reshaping the global energy system. The need to balance markets, climate and geopolitics is creating more complex systems—requiring greater flexibility and responsiveness in our ability to manage them. What innovations are emerging to meet these needs? What role will new entrants play in managing this complexity? How are financial and regulatory systems adapting to support this transformation? This panel will feature members of the 2024 class of CERAWeek Energy Innovation Pioneers.

Thursday, 21 March

  • 08:30am - 09:00am (CST) / 21/mar/2024 01:30 pm - 21/mar/2024 02:00 pm

    Unlocking the "U" in CCUS: Advances in CO2 use cases

    Clean Tech

    Developing a large-scale CCUS value chain requires current commercial CO2 use cases to rapidly scale.  Besides storge, companies are evaluating opportunities for putting carbon to use and creating value. What are some new innovations in use cases across chemical conversion, biological enhancement and mineralization applications.    

Friday, 22 March