2022 Summit
About
The event convenes more than 1,000 students, business professionals, international speakers, policy members, and academics for two days of engagement to foster leadership, share new ideas, and bring growth opportunities to the Southeast’s cleantech economy and highlight the advance of clean technology across the globe.
The eighth annual UNC Clean Tech Summit took place on Tuesday, March 29, 2022 – Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at The Friday Conference Center in Chapel Hill, N.C. All programming was in-person with the exception of the virtual career fair and a free kick-off Solar Decathlon workshop for students.
The 2022 Summit, “Transitioning to a Low Carbon Economy” featured in-person keynote and panel speakers, the popular Mentor Match program, 42+ panel and breakout sessions, student workshops, and a virtual career fair (March 31). Both luncheons featured an all-vegan menu.
This event would not have been possible without our generous sponsors!
Agenda
Tracks
This two-day event included panels for the following seven (7) tracks:
Green Hydrogen for a Carbon-free Economy
Green hydrogen is a critical component of the global transition to a low-carbon future. Drawing on lessons from Europe and Asia, the 2022 Clean Tech Summit will explore green hydrogen’s potential to decarbonize fossil fuel-dependent industries, such as steel and cement, along with its applications in energy storage, transportation, and synthetic natural gas.
Ocean-centric Climate Solutions
We will explore the transformative effect of the coming offshore wind off the US East Coast. Some of the panels covered will include workforce development, offshore wind supply chains, floating wind farms and new fuels for maritime shipping that will be products of this offshore wind boom (green hydrogen or derivatives such as methanol or ammonia).
The Global Energy Transition
Advancements in the technological and political facets of clean energy are crucial for the achievement of a low-carbon future. Some of the topics we will cover in this year’s segment include: new battery technologies, grid modernization, the role of policy, software solutions for grid optimization, how to diversify and secure supply chains for rare minerals, cobaltite, smaltite and lithium ion and other essential inputs for clean technology industries.
Green Finance: Investing in Our Future
Achieving a low-carbon economy is impossible without the integration and innovation of financial and policy instruments. This 2022 “Green Finance” track will explore how the intersection between ESG investment decisions, policy support, and clean technology will drive a low-carbon future.
Weaving a Sustainable Future through Textile Innovations
Textiles is one of the oldest industries on the planet. Lately, textiles have seen major innovations that are nudging the industry to create innovative solutions and adopt sustainability within global business models. We will showcase how textile industries in North Carolina and around the world are being challenged to transition to a more sustainable model that includes circularity as a key component of the future of textiles.
The Rise of Alternative Proteins
The alternative protein industry will play an important role in the transition to a low-carbon economy and the search for healthy alternatives. At the 2022 Clean Tech Summit, learn about funding, technology, marketing, and more behind the upcoming field of alternative proteins.
Mobility
This track will feature engaging conversations about current issues in mobility. We will explore the electrification of transportation and its ramifications for economic development in the Southeast, and for improving public health especially in minority communities that tend to have some of the worst air quality. We will also explore how better urban planning can make us less dependent on single-occupancy cars, create healthier and more livable communities, and how micromobility can contribute to the evolution in how we move.
Day 1
Free Student Webinar: U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon Workshop
When: Monday, March 28th from 4:00 – 5:00 pm
Where: Virtual
Day 2
8:15 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Registration
9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. Welcome, Honorable Phil Berger [Grumman Auditorium]
9:15 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Keynote, Glenn Wright, President, North America, Shell Energy [Grumman Auditorium]
10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Break
Methods for moving and storing hydrogen
[Redbud room]Track: Global Energy Transition
Low cost, low carbon energy as an important economic development tool for states
[Windflower room]Track: Ocean-centric Climate Solutions
State of offshore wind in the world
[Sunflower room]Track: Alternative Proteins
2030 and the future of sustainable food
[Azalea room]Track: Green Finance
Investing in low income and middle income markets to address climate change
[Dogwood room]Track: Sustainable Textiles
From Farm to Threads: Carolina grown
[Mountain Laurel room]Track: Mobility
Transit-oriented development
[Bellflower room]*All programs are open to registrants. Buffet lunch tickets will be provided based on the type of Summit ticket purchased.
(A) Power of Entrepreneurs, Potential of Bluetech: Mark Huang, co-founder of SeaAhead [Trillium room]
(B) Wageningen University (Topic: Alternative Proteins): Stacy Pyett [Magnolia Lounge]
(C) Nikola Motor Company: Jason Roycht, Global Head Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles, “Replacing Diesel in Heavy-Duty Trucking” [Sunflower room]
12:35 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. Break
Mark Mitchell, Senior Vice President–Project Construction, Dominion Energy
[Grumman Auditorium]1:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Break
Track: Hydrogen Economy
Green hydrogen and industrialization
[Redbud room]Track: Global Energy Transition
Supply chain strategies in times of regulatory and geopolitical uncertainty
[Windflower room]Track: Ocean-centric Climate Solutions
Offshore wind and economic development
[Sunflower room]Track: Alternative Proteins
Developing a plant-based ecosystem in the region
[Azalea room]Track: Green Finance
Impact investing: From climate tech to deployment
[Dogwood room]Track: Sustainable Textiles
Transparency in textiles
[Mountain Laurel room]Track: Mobility
Federal and State policies driving transportation electrification
[Bellflower room]2:35 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Break
Corey Hessen, Executive Vice-President and President, Power, Storage and Origination, TC Energy
Mike Ableson, CEO, Arrival Automotive
[Grumman Auditorium]4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. Break
Track: Hydrogen Economy
Hydrogen Hubs: An international perspective
[Redbud room]Track: Global Energy Transition
Critical Minerals: What, where, and why do we care?
[Windflower room]Track: Ocean-centric Climate Solutions
Offshore wind and the mid-Atlantic: the policy backdrop
[Sunflower room]Track: Alternative Proteins
Funding alternative protein
[Azalea room]Track: Green Finance
Financing the energy transition
[Dogwood room]Track: Sustainable Textiles
Circular Textiles
[Mountain Laurel]Track: Mobility
Electric transportation and economic development in the Southeast
[Bellflower room]5:30 p.m – 6:30 p.m. Student Workshop
Student Engagement: A Driving Force
This workshop will explore factors that have contributed to the recent decline in student engagement, including the rise of social media and the COVID-19 pandemic, and strategies to revive student-lead movements focused on global issues like climate change. Join us to hear from four professionals with current and prior experiences as student leaders who are involved in various companies, non-profits, and government organizations working with youth-led activism movements around social issues.
[Wintergreen room]
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Women in Clean Energy Reception: Women in Clean Energy in partnership with the UNC Cleantech Summit presents a networking reception to come together, talk clean energy, and make new friends! We’ll celebrate the accomplishments of the many talented women in the clean energy ecosystem, while opening our doors for all men and women to join in the networking. Admission to the event includes two complimentary beverages and hors d’oeuvres. Guests must be 21 or older and show ID to consume alcoholic beverages.
[Atrium hall]Day 3
8:15 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Registration
9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Keynote, Dagmara Koska, Deputy Head of Global Issues & Innovation, EU Delegation to the U.S.A., “The EU Green Deal,” [Grumman Auditorium]
9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Keynote, Frank Mischler, Director, PtX Hub Brussels, GIZ- German Governmental Agency, “Building a hydrogen economy in Germany, Europe and worldwide.” [Grumman Auditorium]
10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Break
Track: Hydrogen Economy
Decarbonizing the aviation sector
[Redbud room]Track: Global Energy Transition
Interregional Transmission: A key to unleashing more renewable energy
[Windflower room]Track: Ocean-centric Climate Solutions
Decarbonizing ports and shipping alternative fuels
[Sunflower room]Track: Alternative Proteins
Scaling cellular agriculture
[Azalea room]Track: Green Finance
Data-driven and purpose-driven ESG integration
[Dogwood room]Track: Sustainable Textiles
Supply Chains: Building in resilience and scalability
[Mountain Laurel room]Track: Mobility
Transportation equity
[Bellflower room]11:20 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Break
Hardy Boeckle, Minister, Head of Economic, Trade and Finance Department, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, “Industrial transformation towards climate-neutrality: the German way.”
[Grumman Auditorium]*All programs are open to registrants. Buffet lunch tickets will be provided based on the type of Summit ticket purchased.
(A) Omer Farooq, Managing Director, Global Sustainable Finance Group (GSFG), Bank of America [Trillium room]
(B) Jeroen Willemsen, Innovation Lead Protein Shift, Foodvalley Netherlands [Magnolia Lounge]
(C) Panel Discussion, “Domestic advancements in Green Hydrogen” [Sunflower]
1:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Break
Paul Rennie, Head of the Global Economy Group, British Embassy, Washington DC, “The way forward from COP26.”
[Grumman Auditorium]Track: Hydrogen Economy
Powering freight-based transportation
[Redbud room]Track: Global Energy Transition
Green-enabled grid
[Windflower room]Track: Ocean-centric Climate Solutions
How Great Britain, Germany, and Denmark are using offshore wind to decarbonize their economies
[Sunflower room]Track: Alternative Proteins
Plant breeding innovations for better alternative protein products
[Azalea room]Track: Green Finance
Use of bonds to fund public/private infrastructure
[Dogwood room]Track: Sustainable Textiles
Rooting wealth and business resiliency through employee ownership
[Mountain Laurel room]Track: Mobility
Micromobility
[Bellflower room]3:05 p.m. – 3:20 p.m. Break
Chris Fox, Chief Sustainability Officer, HanesBrands, “Hanesbrands: Its Path to a More Sustainable 2030” – (3:20 – 4:05)
Emilio Nieto, General Manager, Spanish National Hydrogen Centre (CNH2), “Green Hydrogen” – (4:05 – 4:50)
[Grumman Auditorium]4:50 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Break
Track: Hydrogen Economy
Green hydrogen and the electric grid AND Where is green hydrogen ready for prime time?
[Redbud room]Track: Global Energy Transition
Building the offshore grid
[Windflower room]Track: Alternative Proteins
Policy in the alt protein space
[Azalea room]Track: Green Finance
Blended finance
[Dogwood room]Track: Sustainable Textiles
Industrial Commons: weaving financing and partnerships for rural economic development
[Mountain Laurel room]Track: Mobility
Greenway-oriented development
[Bellflower room]Speakers
Keynotes and Featured
Glenn Wright
President, North America and Vice President, Renewables & Energy Solutions, AmericasShell Energy
Jeroen Willemsen
Innovation Lead Protein ShiftFoodvalley Netherlands
Jason Roycht
Global Head - FCEV Business UnitNikola Corporation
Joshua Rogol
PresidentStrata Clean Energy
Stacy Pyett
Program Manager, Proteins for LifeWageningen University & Research
Emilio Nieto
General ManagerSpanish National Hydrogen Centre (CNH2)
Mark Mitchell
Senior Vice President–Project ConstructionDominion Energy
Frank Mischler
Director, PtX Hub BrusselsGIZ- German Governmental Agency
Dagmara Koska
Deputy Head of Global Issues & InnovationEU Delegation to the U.S.A.
Chris Fox
Chief Sustainability OfficerHanesBrands
Omer Farooq
Managing Director, Global Sustainable Finance Group (GSFG)Bank of America
Phil Berger
President Pro TemporeNorth Carolina Senate
Mike Ableson
CEOArrival Automotive
Panelists
Nakisa Glover
Co-Executive DirectorSol Nation
Sarah Gaskill
Head of Sustainability and ESGFUJIFILM
Shelley Francis
Co-Founder & DirectorEVHybridNoire
Hayes Framme
Government Relations and CommunicationsØrsted Offshore
Fabio Fracaroli
Senior Director Renewable Segment North AmericaHitachi Energy
Sidney Fowler
Senior AssociatePillsbury
Mike Fortier
Sustainability ManagerSpin
Frank Fisher
General Manager, Director of EnergyNucor
Chris Fishel
Director, Power & Project FinanceZions Bank
Robert Fares
Energy Industry AnalystFederal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
Peter J. H. Esmann
Senior Commercial Advisor, Offshore Wind, Wind Energy AdvisoryThe Embassy of Denmark
Michelle Egger
CEO and Co-FounderBiomilq
Sean Egan
Director of TransportationCity of Durham
Robert Do
CEOSGH2 Energy
Matt DiLeo
Director, Scientific OperationsElo Life Systems
Austin Devaney
Chief Commercial OfficerPiedmont Lithium
Will Dempsey
Vice President, CommercialMidrex
Jamie DeMent Holcomb
Co-founderNorth Carolina Venture Capital Fund
Chantarella De Blois
Vice PresidentTotal Impact Capital
Jesse Daystar
Chief Sustainability Officer and Vice President of SustainabilityCotton Incorporated
Ted Damutz
Issuer Development SpecialistBondLink
Tom Cyrs
Research AssociateWRI United States Program
Tony Curnes
Co-founder and PartnerPurpose Venture Group (PVG)
Thad Culley
Senior Manager of Public PolicySunrun
Stan Cross
Electric Transportation Policy DirectorSouthern Alliance for Clean Energy
Amy Cooke
Teaching Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate StudiesUNC Environment, Ecology and Energy Program
Edward Conner
PresidentSpanSet
Lori Collins
Owner and PrincipalCollins Climate Consulting
Drew Coleman
Professor, Department of Earth, Marine and Environmental SciencesUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Nigel Cockroft
General ManagerJinkoSolar
Ali Clary
Marketing Coordinator, ResearchConsultant
Jimmy Chuang
CFOStrata Clean Energy
Iker Chocarro
Director, TransmissionRWE Renewables Americas
Hui-Wen Chan
Director of SustainabilitySpin, a Ford Motor Unit
Bob Carswell
Research and Development DirectorMaterial Return
Matt Campbell
Co-founderNatrx
Roberto Campana
Lead, Research UnitSpanish National Center for Hydrogen (CNH2)
Tessa Callaghan
Co-founder and CEOAlgiKnit
Augusto Bulte
Director, Energy Transition and ProcessWood
Lukas Brun
Managing Director of Research and Economic DevelopmentE4 Carolinas
Anne-Claire Broughton
Founder and Board Vice ChairNorth Carolina Employee Ownership Center
Mark Brooks
Investment ManagerSyngenta Group Ventures
Matthew Bravante
Heating and Hydrogen AnalystBloombergNEF
Meredith Boyd
Senior Vice President, Innovation and TechnologyUnifi
Robin Boren
Senior Vice President of Finance, TreasurerSouthern Company
Carson Bone
CEOBlue Ridge Bantam
Stuart Bolland
Chief Operating OfficerPowin Energy
Greg Bohlen
Co-founder and Managing General PartnerUnion Grove Venture Partners
Anne Blair
Policy DirectorElectrification Coalition
David Billstrom
Executive LeaderKitsbow Cycling Apparel
Derek Bentley
Managing Director, Co-Head of Global Low Carbon InfrastructureNomura Greentech
William Beloe
Principal Industry Specialist, Climate FinanceIFC
Victoria Beasley
PartnerPrelude Ventures
Nigel Barrella
LawyerBarella Law
Jochen Bard
Division Director Energy Process TechnologyFraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology (IEE)
William J. Barber III
Director of Environmental and Climate JusticeThe Climate Reality Project
Mette Asmussen
Maritime AdvisorThe Embassy of Denmark
Bill Aimutis
Executive DirectorNorth Carolina Food Innovation Lab, NCSU
Dhruv Agarwal
Senior Director of Global Innovations, Sustainability, and Product DevelopmentKontoor Brands
France-Emmanuelle Adil
Founder & CEOTiamat Sciences
Jay Oliver
Managing Director, Grid Systems IntegrationDuke Energy
Megan O’Connor
Co-founder and CEONth Cycle
Frank Nelms
Director, Energy PracticeScottMadden
Sean Lawrie
PartnerScottMadden
Tony Lathrop
Board Member, Chair of the Finance CommitteeNC Board of Transportation
Pete Krull
Partner, Director of Sustainable InvestingEarth Equity Advisors
Susanne Kjemtrup
Independent ConsultantPhyta Biotech Consulting, LLC
Mark Huang
Co-Founder and Managing DirectorSeaAhead
Mariliis Holm
Co-founder and PartnerSustainable Food Ventures (SVF)
Corey Hessen
Executive Vice-President and President, Power, Storage and OriginationTC Energy
RD Gauss
PrincipalGlobal Infrastructure Partners
Christopher Chung
CEOEDPNC
Bryan Cheong
Director of Programs and StrategyThe Global America Business Institute (GABI)
Ryan Bethencourt
CEOWild Earth
Doug Beebe
Vice President, Clean EnergyKey Equipment Finance
Brian Bednar
President and FounderBirdseye Renewable Energy
Meredith Bandy
Vice President, Investor Relations & SustainabilityAlbemarle Corporation
Sponsors
Individual contributions also make it possible for us to bring together attendees and speakers to explore key issues in the Southeast’s cleantech industry.
All Sponsors
Virtual Career Fair
This year’s UNC Cleantech Summit career fair was virtual on Thursday, March 31 from 1 pm to 4 pm.
The event ass co-hosted by the Center for Sustainable Enterprise at the Kenan-Flagler Business School.
Participating companies
- Accenture
- Arrival Automotive USA
- BIOMILQ
- CIT
- Clean Energy Associates, LLC
- CNH2
- Dominion Energy
- Energix Renewables
- EVHybridNoire / EVNoire
- Heelstone Energy
- NCDOT
- Red Hat
- Renewable Energy Services
- ScottMadden
- TC Energy
- Tiamat Sciences Corp
- Zions Capital Bank
Video
See how this annual event connects the next generation of cleantech innovators with global, national, and regional industry leaders.
Co-hosts
This event was co-hosted by: