On extreme energy, risk, and culture

by Dan Vermeer, Executive Director of EDGE One of the more frustrating aspects of working the sustainability field is that every problem is mind-bogglingly complex, and can be framed at multiple levels.  Take, for example, the heated debates and accusations about the causes and consequences of the Macondo well explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. […]

Market mechanisms needed to drive energy efficiency

This essay by student Kent Truckor, MEM/MBA Class of 2013, was selected to represent Fuqua School of Business in the TIME/Fortune 2011 “Energy for Tomorrow” competition. As the winner of Fuqua’s essay competition, Kent earned the opportunity to join EDGE, Pop!Tech, and Reuters for an upcoming invitation-only energy salon in NYC. Read Kent’s essay below. […]

Connecting the dots on agriculture, water, and energy

by Dan Vermeer, executive director, EDGE In Thomas Homer-Dixon’s book The Ingenuity Gap, he describes a growing chasm between the world’s knotty problems and its lagging ability to develop robust and integrated solutions.  An “ingenuity gap” emerges when a society’s ability to solve problems is outpaced by the scale, complexity, speed of change, and unpredictability […]

HyTower Energy Storage takes top prize in Duke Start-Up Challenge

Congratulations to the $50,000 grand prize winners of the 11th Annual Duke Start-Up Challenge: Will Fadrhonc (MEM/MBA), Tripp Hyde (MEM/MEMP), and Matt Kaufmann (MEM/MBA)!. Their venture, HyTower Energy Storage, would convert out-of-service water towers into energy storage systems. The team was selected from a record 110 competitors. Read more in The Chronicle: “Energy storage project wins $50K grand […]

Two Energy & Environment events at Fuqua on Feb. 24

These two events are free and open to the public. “The Future of the Energy Industry” Speaker: Ralph Eads, Chairman, Jefferies Energy Investment Banking February 24, 2011 5:15 – 6:30 pm McClendon Auditorium, Fuqua School of Business, Duke University Organized by the MMS Energy & Commodities Club Ralph Eads Chairman of Jefferies Energy Investment Banking […]

Narrowing a clean energy career path: reflections on Energy Club trip to CA

by Koji Kitazume, MEM/MBA ’12 In January, the Fuqua Energy Club organized a “Week in Cities” trip to San Francisco. Ten students networked with alumni and visited companies including Bloom Energy (Fuel Cell), SCHOTT Solar (Solar), SunRun (Solar), 3Degrees (REC & Carbon Offset Trading), Silver Spring Networks (Smart Grid), SunPower (Solar), Claremont Creek Ventures (Venture Capital). When I first came to school […]

EDGE and future energy issues on Dubai World Media

During his trip to the Middle East, EDGE executive Dan Vermeer spoke at the World Future Energy Summit and was interviewed for “Emirates 24-7” on Dubai One TV.  The entire program (46 minutes) is online at: http://www.dubaimedia.ae/Media/view/94266.  There is a long segment in the middle on the future of energy and sustainable development in the Middle […]

Cities and the global energy challenge

by Dan Vermeer, executive director, EDGE Following are Dan Vermeer’s opening remarks for the panel “Sustainable Cities:  Planning and Infrastructure for Sustainable Communities” at the World Future Energy Summit, Abu Dhabi, UAE, January 18, 2011. As millions of people pour into urban areas every day, cities increasingly demonstrate both the challenge and the promise of […]

World Energy Congress: Inertia or transformation?

by Dan Vermeer, executive director, EDGE This week, over 3,500 energy professionals from leading energy-producing and energy-consuming countries have arrived in Montreal for the World Energy Congress.  Sponsored by the World Energy Council, the Congress is held every 3 years to discuss key challenges of the global energy sector. There is no question that powerful […]