Energy Fellows Institute
Energy Fellows Institute is an annual executive immersion program providing a platform for the exchange of ideas, opportunities, skills and community in order to develop leaders ready to succeed in the world-changing advanced energy business. The year-long immersive program dives into the Colorado and global clean energy and clean technology ecosystems.
Through a competitive process, 10-12 Fellows will be chosen to join a growing list of exceptional cleantech executive alumni.
The 12th annual Energy Fellows Institute program is a year-long executive immersion program that will begin in January and end in November 2023.
The application for the 2023 Energy Fellows Institute program is now closed.
Contact Mary Austin for more information.
Student Fellows
Student Fellow Opportunities
CCIA is currently accepting applications from current or recently graduated students to gain access to the full program via work exchange.
Through a competitive application process, Student Fellows will be chosen to act as programming associates in exchange for involvement in the program. Student Fellows gain full and exclusive access to 50+ executives and researchers in the Colorado clean energy ecosystem, in addition to participation in tours and social events.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the program is full. Eligible candidates will be selected for 30-minute interviews and acceptances are on a rolling basis. No more than two Student Fellows will be accepted into the program.
Student Fellows can expect 8-16 hours of monthly in-person program time between January and November, and are expected to commit full time to the program dates. Some preparation work will be required before each session.
Energy Fellows Institute Alumni
Since 2012, 94 esteemed Alumni have completed the Energy Fellows Institute program. Their professional experience is comprised of a unique range of fields, in business, technology, policy, investing and more, providing a comprehensive array of perspectives on the clean energy industry.
About the Program
In addition to taking experienced entrepreneurs and executives on a deep dive into industry sectors of the advanced energy and cleantech ecosystems, the Energy Fellows Institute provides interactions with local and national advanced energy networks, exposure to investors active in the sector, and a chance to learn about the latest energy innovations gaining market adoption. Fellows selected for the program are educated in clean energy technologies, markets, business models, funding opportunities and policy matters. They are introduced to the network of experts and resources required to be successful in the advanced energy industry, and connected to early-stage ventures and laboratories where new energy approaches are being developed.
The Curriculum
This is not standard executive education and the curriculum is not a traditional lecture series. Instead, our curriculum creates the opportunity for a discussion dialogue with executives from industry, leading technology experts, and key ecosystem players. The program is extremely interactive, collaborative, and combines 50+ industry expert speakers, case studies, and optional lab and site visits.
During our 2023 intensive six-day program, we will focus on the following concentrations: Energy Efficiency and Building Technologies, Energy Generation and Delivery, Energy Storage, Transportation, Air and Water technologies, and AI/Data.
In addition, we will weave foundational industry elements throughout the technology sectors. Foundational elements to be examined include: energy policy, finance and investment, commercialization, international opportunities and challenges.
Energy Generation & Delivery
Supported by private innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as critical public sector support in the form of tax credits, grants, and loan guarantees, many advanced energy technologies have grown robustly over this period while making significant progress in terms of price and performance.
- Advanced energy technology 101
- Creating a path to subsidy independence
- Integrating renewables onto the grid
- Advanced materials for clean energy generation
- The financial bottom line
- The future of funding
Advanced Transportation
Increases in all modes of travel globally are inevitable. Larger numbers of people will be driving passenger vehicles. On road delivery of goods and services will continue into the foreseeable future. Light commercial, helicopter and commercial airlines are projected to see continued growth over the next 20 years. Transit and mobility demands of all types are growing by necessity in densely populated areas across the globe. We will examine advanced transportation technologies that may provide solutions to our transit, emissions and infrastructure challenges. The Advanced Transportation track will discuss the following:
- Alternative fuels
- Advanced vehicle propulsion
- Electrification
- Energy efficient freight solutions
- Transit
- Personal mobility
New Tech - New Horizons
The world of cleantech is rapidly expanding to include new technologies and disruptive innovations. From smart cities to blockchain to the circular economy, the world of the future is a world of cleantech. Get up to date on the latest trends in clean energy and technology with a variety of sessions on topics that we may not even know about yet. Sessions may include:
- Ag-tech: New ways of delivering food to the masses
- Blockchain for disrupting energy distribution systems
- Colorado’s goal of 100% renewable energy by 2040
- Smart cities and incorporating the Internet of Things into energy generation and distribution
- Circular economy supply chains
- AI
Energy Storage
Scientific advances are driving down the cost and increasing energy density of energy storage solutions with the promise of accelerating adoption of electric vehicles and renewable energy generation in the electric grid. The Energy Storage program provides an in-depth review of the current electrical storage landscape and the performance and cost targets for adoption.
- Storage state of the art
- Grid storage technologies/markets
- Battery management
- Opportunities and limitations of existing technologies and potential advances
- Market opportunities
- Applications for the automotive industry
- Applications for bulk energy storage
Energy & Building Efficiency
Buildings consume 40% of total U.S. energy and 70% of electricity generation at an annual expense of $400 billion. Approximately 30% of this energy is wasted. We will survey sustainable and energy efficient technologies, processes, and trends for lighting, heating, and cooling residential, commercial and institutional buildings – in existing and new built environments. We also explore business models enabling building owners and power utilities to cooperatively curtail electric loads.
- Energy efficiency value chain and ecosystem
- Buildings as systems
- Energy efficiency drivers and opportunities for commercial building markets
- The residential market for energy efficiency
- Home energy management
- Next generation lighting and HVAC solutions
- Green buildings and integrated design
Waste & Waste Water Cleanup
If you live in the west, you know the saying – “he who controls the water controls the world.” The Energy Fellows Institute will be examining the critically important issues of water and waste water. We will touch on the global outlook for water availability but focus our attention on the technologies and innovative solutions being introduced to manage, monitor and clean the world’s water. Topics may include:
- Sustainable industrial water practices
- Water and energy generation
- Technologies to clean the world’s water
- Water management
- Irrigation, agriculture and technology
Speakers
Fellows can expect to engage with thought leaders, game changers and industry experts from a wide variety of advanced energy technology sectors. Speakers are drawn from the nation’s advanced energy ecosystem and represent the many facets of energy, finance, technology, policy, and research and development.
Interaction with research laboratories, advanced energy installations, private industry, cleantech startups and federal R&D facilities are structural components of the Energy Fellows Institute.
Testimonials
“It was a privilege to meet with leaders all around the Denver area and discuss some of the most important issues facing climate tech today. I couldn’t have asked for a better intro to the Colorado climate tech ecosystem.”
“Being an EFI fellow gave me a great opportunity to expand my knowledge on cleantech and see the companies from the inside. I’ve learned a lot from both the fellows and the speakers. This is a great opportunity to build your network in CO cleantech industry.”
“EFI is how I ramped up my CO network in the midst of a global pandemic and allowed me to begin meeting like-minded professionals at a time when people still weren’t leaving their homes. As the world began to re-open(ish), I’ve been able to go out and meet my fellow EFI graduates as well as the speakers and alums, allowing me to create an amazing network in the cleantech industry. I can’t wait to keep growing and growing the cleantech movement here in Colorado.”