Students, Don’t Fret: Clean Energy Transition Will Continue
November 20, 2024
Post-election, I had the privilege of discussing the future of clean energy with Ahmad Chatila, a seasoned expert in the field and one of our keynote speakers at UNC’s 2025 Cleantech Summit. Mr. Chatila’s career began in semiconductor manufacturing, research, and engineering. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Arizona State University, a Master’s of Science in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University, and a certification from Stanford University’s Executive Program. Driven by a deep ambition and passion for the clean energy sector, Mr. Chatila currently serves as the Managing Partner of Fenice Investment Group. He is also an investor and Chairman of Ohmium, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ennoventure Inc., Co-founder and Director of FTC Solar, and an investor and Chairman of Arka Energy, in addition to numerous other prominent roles he has held within the industry. Those familiar with Mr. Chatila’s background may know him for his impactful yet controversial tenure as CEO of SunEdison. In the mid-2010s, after an acquisition by MEMC Electronic Materials of SunEdison, it became one of the most successful and prominent solar energy companies, earning the #6 spot on MIT Technology Review’s list of top energy companies in 2015. However, the company later faced financial challenges and filed for bankruptcy in 2016.
Innovative Leadership
Before exploring his insights on SunEdison’s bankruptcy, I wanted to learn more about Mr. Chatila as a person and leader. He first built a career at MEMC, gaining experience across various sectors, including research and development, sales and marketing, and general management. In March 2009, he ascended to the position of CEO at MEMC, where he spearheaded the acquisition of SunEdison to drive the company’s expansion into the solar industry. This strategic move culminated in the rebranding of MEMC as SunEdison in 2013. He knew he could meet the high demands and expectations of the position of CEO, yet he also understood the importance of being fully prepared and ready to grow in this role. Drawing insights from Erich Fromm’s Escape from Freedom, Andrew Grove’s High Output Management, and James March’s lessons on a “balanced” management approach, he began to piece together what was necessary for the success of his company and employees. When I asked him what he believes makes an effective leader, he noted that leadership is “very contextual”—a leader in the medical field might look very different from a construction manager. Yet, one quality all successful leaders share is “empathy toward the people who work for you,” Mr. Chatila notes. With experience in nearly all areas of the business, he could not only leverage his industry knowledge to ensure smooth operations but also empathize with his employees, having once been in their position himself. Furthermore, he recognized when it was essential to take the lead and when to follow the guidance and perspectives of others, fostering mutual respect and open communication within the team.
It is evident that Mr. Chatila is a strong and innovative leader, which is why I struggled to understand how a company could fail under his guidance. When I asked him about the experience and what he might do differently if given the chance to start over, he responded earnestly. Although he expressed sadness and humility over the firm’s failure, he emphasized that he has no regrets, stating, “Every decision I made, I believed in.” However, he acknowledged that a key factor in SunEdison’s bankruptcy was his failure to adhere to his guiding principle of never putting all his “eggs in one basket,” a mistake exemplified by the company’s overreliance on the successes of one of its yieldcos, TerraForm Global.
After formally resigning in 2016, Mr. Chatila took time to reflect, process the loss of a company to which he had dedicated immense effort and passion, and contemplate the next steps in his career. Despite the challenges of this moment, he was certain it would not mark the end of his journey. Mr. Chatila recalls that the support of those around him, including family and friends, was instrumental in helping him navigate this difficult period. Over time, new opportunities emerged, enabling him to rebuild his career and confidence. He went on to invest in and advise several pioneering clean energy firms, including Enphase Energy, where he played a pivotal role in orchestrating a critical mergers and acquisitions deal. His efforts transformed the company’s liquidity, cost structure, pricing strategy, and investor relations, significantly bolstering its success.
Energy Diversity
What many students, including myself, can and should learn from Mr. Chatila’s story is that our careers, the fields we aspire to pursue, and our personal lives will inevitably experience ups and downs. While the new presidential administration may be less receptive to clean energy policies compared to the Biden administration, we must not—and cannot—dampen our passion for this field. Policy is just one piece of the broader clean energy landscape. It is the economics, technological advancements, and unwavering dedication of students, citizens, and industry professionals like Mr. Chatila that will continue to propel this transition forward. Mr. Chatila emphasizes that even in the unlikely scenario where, for instance, solar energy remains underutilized for several years, the clean energy transition will endure. He highlights that the transition requires a diversified approach by investing in a variety of energy resources, storage technologies, grid structures, innovative ideas, and diverse talent to successfully build a sustainable clean energy economy.
To keep moving forward, we must rethink our strategies for conveying the tremendous opportunities and benefits of a clean energy economy. Mr. Chatila emphasizes that our efforts should focus on reshoring elements of the clean energy transition where the U.S. excels, such as manufacturing advanced clean energy equipment and technologies, while continuing to strengthen international partnerships with countries that specialize in areas where we lack expertise. Additionally, we must push for the continued expansion of the semiconductor industry, a critical component not only for solar cells and photovoltaics but also for communication devices, satellites, and other essential products. Although the Inflation Reduction Act will likely face federal rollbacks, significant investments have already been made, amounting to 334 clean energy projects financed within just two years, according to E2, a national, nonpartisan advocacy and research entity. Many renewable energy resources, such as wind and solar, can now compete with fossil fuels on a market basis, even without substantial subsidies.
Mr. Chatila’s perspective reaffirms an abundance of hope and tangible progress within the clean energy industry—advancements that will persist and thrive despite any policy changes, now or in the future.
This article was written by Victoria Farella, a UNC Cleantech Corner intern.