• CERAWEEK 2025 | March 10-14, 2025
  • CERAWEEK
  • March 10 - 14, 2025

Larry Coben

NRG Energy

Chairman, Interim President & Chief Executive Officer

Larry Coben serves as NRG Energy’s Chairman and Interim President and Chief Executive Officer.  Coben has started and run numerous energy companies.He headed  Tremisis Energy LLC, and was CEO of its two public vehicles. Coben is a former CEO of the NYSE-traded Bolivian Power Company and a co-founder of Catalyst Energy Corporation. He sits  on the board of Freshpet, Inc., and was an Advisory Partner for the Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Fund.  He is a former member of the Board of the Chilean electric company SAESA.

Coben also founded and is Chair of the ESCALA Initiative, ESCALA empowesr disadvantaged entrepreneurs and artisans - the majority of whom are women - living in poverty around the world. It provides basic business education and give people the tools to build the future they want for themselves, their families, and their communities.Through ESCALA’s renowned Business School and Capacity Building Program, women and others from low-resource communities are learning how to become profitable and self-sufficient entrepreneurs, helping them earn a dignified living income and better serve their communities.

Coben is also an archaeologist affiliated with the UPENN museum.  He has directed excavations around the world and has published numerous books and articles on subjects pertaining to the Inca empire, ancient performance and cultural heritage preservation among others.

Coben holds a BA in Economics from Yale University, a JD from Harvard Law School, and an MA and Ph.D in Anthropology (Archaeology) from the University of Pennsylvania..

Sessions With Larry Coben

Thursday, 21 March

  • 08:30am - 09:05am (CST) / 21/mar/2024 01:30 pm - 21/mar/2024 02:05 pm

    Catching Up: Meeting the challenge of power demand growth
    Power/Clean Power

    The move to electrify all that can be electrified is underway. Electricity is the way forward: it is expected that it will take a larger share of the energy mix, be used to create low-carbon fuels, heat our homes and power our cars. Power demand growth will impact consumers and utilities alike and shape tomorrow’s power markets. What sectors will drive demand growth and what is the timeframe? How will the industry manage this challenge along with the requirements to cut emissions and guarantee reliable supply?