CERAWeek Podcast with Atul Arya

Recorded live at CERAWeek 2026, this episode features David Rabley, Global Energy Strategy Lead at Accenture, in conversation with Atul on how energy companies are moving AI from experimentation to real business value. From reprocessing legacy data to optimizing operations across the energy value chain, AI is becoming embedded in core workflows. Yet only a small share of companies are seeing meaningful results—highlighting the gap between deploying tools and transforming how the business operates. Key topics: AI across the energy value chain—from legacy data to operations Why only ~10% of companies are seeing real AI performance AI as a business strategy, not an IT initiative The 70/30 shift: investing more in people and change than technology From efficiency gains to new sources of growth This episode, recorded live at CERAWeek 2026, highlights how energy companies are moving beyond AI pilots toward enterprise-wide transformation—an increasingly central theme in the convergence of energy, technology and business strategy.

The energy transition is increasingly becoming an energy expansion, as electrification, industrial growth and AI-driven demand accelerate the need for reliable electricity. In this episode, Morten Wierod, CEO and President of ABB, joins Atul to discuss how rising power demand is reshaping priorities for grids, infrastructure and industrial systems worldwide. The conversation highlights why grid resilience is emerging as a national security issue, illustrated by the 2025 blackout in Spain and Portugal that left 65 million people without power. As electricity becomes more central to economic activity, reliable grids are now critical infrastructure priorities. Key topics: The shift from energy transition to energy expansion as electricity demand accelerates Grid resilience as a national security priority in an increasingly electrified world Energy efficiency as a hidden hero, with potential savings exceeding 10% of global electricity consumption Electrification, AI-driven demand and automation reshaping industrial energy systems

Energy demand continues to grow, but the defining feature of today's energy system is volatility. In this episode, Nick Studer, Incoming Chief Executive Officer of Marsh Risk, President and Chief Executive Office of Olivier Wyman, joins Atul alongside Mark Pellerin, Global Head of Energy & Natural Resources at Oliver Wyman, to discuss how rising uncertainty is reshaping decision-making across the energy sector—and why risk management and insurability are increasingly shaping which energy projects get financed and built. Key topics: Risk management shifting from operational issue to board-level priority The surge in power demand from data centers and implications for infrastructure investment Bankability and insurability shaping the pace of new energy technologies A "commercially smart" energy transition where profitability and sustainability must coexist Climate adaptation and resilience as growing balance-sheet considerations This episode builds ahead to CERAWeek 2026, March 23–27 in Houston, where leaders will examine how risk, resilience and capital allocation are shaping the next phase of the global energy system. Learn more at ceraweek.com

Low-carbon fuels could work in today's engines, pipelines and refineries—without rebuilding the entire energy system. Meg Gentle, Executive Director of the Board at HIF Global, joins Atul Arya to discuss how e-fuels—synthetic hydrocarbons made from renewable electricity, water and recycled CO₂—could help decarbonize sectors where electrification is difficult. The conversation explores how "drop-in" fuels can leverage existing infrastructure, why aviation and shipping are key early markets, and what it will take to scale global production—from certification systems to partnerships across the fuel value chain. Key topics: Producing gasoline from renewable electricity, water and recycled CO₂ Drop-in fuels that work with today's vehicles and fuel infrastructure Scaling e-fuel production and reducing costs through larger facilities Sustainable aviation fuel as a key pathway for aviation decarbonization Direct air capture as a future CO₂ source for synthetic fuels Global carbon accounting and certification systems to enable trade This episode builds ahead to CERAWeek 2026, March 23–27 in Houston, where leaders will examine how molecules and electrons together will shape the next phase of the energy transition. Learn more at ceraweek.com

Steel accounts for 9% of global greenhouse gas emissions—making it one of the most challenging sectors to decarbonize. José Fonrouge, Global Environmental Director at Ternium, joins Atul to discuss the realities of reducing emissions in a two-billion-ton industry. The conversation examines structural constraints—from coal dependence and infrastructure gaps to global market dynamics—while outlining pragmatic pathways grounded in recycling, energy efficiency and hydrogen innovation. Key topics: The global scale of steel production and its emissions footprint The current state and growing potential of steel recycling Carbon capture and emissions reductions targets for steel "Turquoise hydrogen" as a potential low-carbon pathway Incentives, trade dynamics and global "green steel" standards This episode builds ahead to CERAWeek 2026, March 23–27 in Houston, where leaders will examine hard-to-abate sectors, industrial competitiveness and the energy transition. Learn more at ceraweek.com

Green hydrogen is entering a more disciplined phase—where project viability and secured offtake matter more than headline announcements. In this episode, Kim Hedegaard, CEO of Power-to-X at Topsoe, joins Atul to discuss what it will take to scale clean fuels on commercially sound foundations. The conversation examines how the sector is shifting toward industrial maturity—where access to competitive power, risk mitigation and capital discipline determine which projects move forward. High-temperature electrolysis, offering between 20-30% greater efficiency, compared to other electrolyzer technologies illustrates how technology can improve economics—but bankability will ultimately define the pace of deployment. Key topics: Moving from hydrogen hype to commercial discipline Offtake, risk allocation and project bankability Efficiency gains in high-temperature electrolysis Scaling manufacturing to reduce costs Policy and regulatory drivers shaping demand This episode builds ahead to CERAWeek 2026, March 23–27, where leaders will examine how technology, capital and policy must align to scale the next phase of the energy transition. Learn more at ceraweek.com

Microsoft has matched 100% of its annual global electricity consumption with renewable energy—contracting 40 gigawatts across 26 countries. Hanna Grene, Global Go-to-Market and Innovation Leader for Microsoft's Global Energy & Resources Industry, joins Atul to discuss what this milestone signals for the energy sector as AI demand accelerates. The conversation explores how AI is driving performance in the power sector, reshaping grid operations, infrastructure development and business processes—highlighting why energy systems are becoming foundational to digital growth and competitiveness. Key topics: Microsoft's 40-gigawatt renewable procurement milestone AI as a strategic input for energy systems and economic growth AI-driven grid efficiency, reliability and interconnection timelines Generative AI for permitting and project acceleration Community-first AI infrastructure and system impacts Scaling AI across operations, workforce and customer engagement This episode builds up to CERAWeek 2026, where leaders will examine how AI, electricity demand and infrastructure modernization are reshaping the energy system. Learn more at ceraweek.com

Heavy-duty gas turbine demand in the Americas has grown more than six-fold in five years, a clear signal that the power sector is racing to deliver new generation capacity. Bill Newsom, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Power Americas, joins Atul Arya to discuss what it takes to build power at speed as electricity demand accelerates. The conversation focuses on execution – how manufacturers, utilities and technology partners are scaling equipment supply, project delivery and infrastructure to meet rising demand while advancing decarbonization. Key topics: Surging turbine demand and its signal for power markets Competition for manufacturing capacity and longer equipment lead times Standardized plant designs and partnerships to accelerate delivery Faster permitting and policy shifts enabling new infrastructure Carbon capture and hydrogen pathways supporting lower-carbon power This episode builds up to CERAWeek 2026, March 23–27, Houston, where leaders will examine how the energy industry is scaling generation capacity, accelerating project delivery, and deploying infrastructure to meet rising electricity demand. Learn more at ceraweek.com

Rising global energy demand, security of supply and long-term investment decisions are shaping the future of the energy system. In this episode, Ashraf Al Ghazzawi, Executive Vice President for Strategy and Corporate Development at Saudi Aramco, joins Atul Arya to discuss these dynamics and their impact on energy markets. Key topics include: Global demand growth and regional energy disparities Investments in supply needed to keep pace with resource depletion rates Energy security through diversity of suppliers AI's impact on operational efficiencies Disciplined approaches to lower-carbon investments This episode builds up to CERAWeek 2026, where leaders will examine the intersection of energy security, technology deployment and long-term system resilience. Join the conversation March 23–27, 2026, in Houston. Learn more at ceraweek.com.

Rising electricity demand from AI, data centers, and electrification is reversing decades of flat load growth and reshaping power markets. In this episode, Lawrence Coben, Chair & CEO of NRG Energy, joins Atul to discuss how energy providers are responding to a new era of accelerating demand, tightening capacity and growing infrastructure needs. The conversation examines how utilities, technology companies and large energy users are adapting—highlighting the growing importance of investment, partnerships and policy frameworks to ensure reliable and affordable power. Key topics include: The return of large-scale electricity demand growth after decades of stagnation Implications for industry, large energy users, and residential customers Expanding generation capacity, modernizing the grid, and virtual power plant solutions Collaboration across utilities, hyperscalers, and technology partners Policy and permitting reform as critical enablers of new energy infrastructure This episode builds up to CERAWeek 2026, where leaders will examine the convergence of demand growth, infrastructure investment and system resilience. Join the conversation March 23–27, 2026, in Houston. Learn more at ceraweek.com

Cloud and AI providers are no longer passive consumers of energy—they are shaping how and where new capacity gets built. In this episode, Atul Arya speaks with Uwem Ukpong, Vice President for Industries at Amazon Web Services (AWS), on how this shift is changing the energy landscape. The conversation explores how Amazon is scaling its global data center footprint while driving efficiency, investing in carbon-free energy, and working directly with utilities to support grid reliability. A recurring theme in the discussion is that decisions around compute and power are becoming increasingly interconnected, raising the importance of collaboration between data center operators and the energy industry. The discussion covers: AI-driven demand and its implications for power planning How cloud service providers engage with utilities and grid operators How energy, technology and public policies are coordinated - and where tensions emerge Energy efficiency gains, performance per watt improvements and impacts on the grid Energy security, sovereignty and system resilience This conversation builds up to CERAWeek 2026, highlighting the convergence of energy, technology, and policy—and why cross-sector dialogue is becoming essential as digital and physical infrastructure scale together. Join us March 23-27 in Houston, Texas. Learn more at ceraweek.com.

In this episode, Atul speaks with Professor Jun Arima, Chief Sustainability Officer at the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC), on how Japan is recalibrating its energy strategy—placing energy security alongside decarbonization—and what this shift means for Asia and the global energy transition. The conversation explores Japan's evolving approach to nuclear power, renewables and system reliability amid rising power demand driven by AI, digitalization and industrial growth. It also examines JOGMEC's role in enabling technology deployment and investment across Asia, where emissions growth and energy security challenges will shape global climate targets. Key themes include: Japan's latest Strategic Energy Plan and the renewed role of nuclear power Balancing energy security, affordability, decarbonization, and public trust Mobilizing private capital through risk-sharing and bankable projects Technology pathways across hydrogen, ammonia, CCUS, and renewables Critical minerals and the geopolitical risks shaping the energy transition The episode previews the perspective JOGMEC brings to CERAWeek 2026—focused on security, partnership, and execution across a rapidly changing global energy system. Learn more at ceraweek.com

In this episode of the CERAWeek Podcast with Atul Arya, Atul is joined by MIT faculty leaders Professor John R. Williams and Dr. Abel Sanchez to examine the impact of generative AI for senior leaders across the energy value chain. As AI transforms electricity demand while reshaping operations, risk management and competitiveness, the conversation previews a new two-day executive education program launching at CERAWeek 2026: "Generative AI for Energy Executives: Intelligence per Watt." Key topics include: AI's dual role as a major new source of power demand and catalyst for efficiency and resilience How AI is reshaping operating models, infrastructure planning and competitive business advantages The management, governance and cultural challenges of deploying AI at scale Emerging risks around data, reliability and autonomous systems Why energy leaders can no longer afford a wait-and-see approach to adopting generative AI This episode frames the strategic questions energy executives must confront as AI, power systems and geopolitics increasingly converge—setting the stage for the leadership conversations at CERAWeek 2026.

In this episode of the CERAWeek Podcast with Atul Arya, Atul sits down with Varun Sivaram, Founder and CEO of Emerald AI, to examine how the rapid expansion of AI data centers is transforming electricity demand, infrastructure planning and global competition. AI's future hinges on chips innovation, but also on the availability and supply of power. Flexibility, not just efficiency, will determine whether AI can scale without straining power grids or driving up energy costs. The discussion explores: Surging electricity demand from AI data centers and what it means for the U.S. power system The growing competition between the U.S. and China, driven by access to power and technology How flexibility can ease grid constraints and accelerate data center deployment Collaborative models between utilities, hyperscalers, regulators and technology providers is becoming essential As energy, technology, and geopolitics increasingly converge, these questions will be central to the dialogue at CERAWeek 2026, where leaders will come together to address the future of AI, energy security, and infrastructure. Join us March 23-27, 2026 in Houston, TX. Learn more at ceraweek.com

In the final installment of this two-part series of the CERAWeek Podcast with Atul Arya, guest host Naki Mendoza is joined by Carlos Pascual and Roger Diwan to examine the dynamics shaping the agenda for CERAWeek 2026—and the growing convergence and competition between energy, technology and geopolitics. Key topics: A shifting geopolitical order and the impact of great-power rivalry Competition for capital, driven by AI and rising power demand The strategic role of critical minerals in energy and technology supply chains China's technological positioning and global influence Infrastructure, permitting and policy challenges shaping investment decisions These dynamics sit at the heart of CERAWeek 2026, where global leaders will come together to address energy security, technological transformation, and geopolitical risk. Tune in to the full episode—and join the conversation March 23–27, 2026, in Houston. Learn more at ceraweek.com

In this special episode of the CERAWeek Podcast with Atul Arya, Daniel Yergin and Atul Arya join guest host Naki Mendoza to reveal the thinking behind the CERAWeek 2026 theme: "Convergence and Competition: Energy, Technology, and Geopolitics." They explore how accelerating linkages between energy and technology—and the geopolitical tensions surrounding them—are reshaping strategy, investment, and global supply chains. Key forces include: AI, forging unprecedented linkages between the energy and technology industries Regional markets integrating into global systems Growing strategic importance of metals and minerals Geopolitical rivalries fracturing long-standing supply chains Economic nationalism and trade barriers complicating corporate choices New energy sources and technologies competing to power an electrifying world These dynamics sit at the core of the 2026 theme and will frame the dialogue this March. Convergence and Competition will drive the conversations at CERAWeek 2026, March 23–27 in Houston. This episode offers a first look—listen now and get ready to join the discussion. Learn more at ceraweek.com

We open the third season of the CERAWeek Podcast with Atul Arya, exploring one of the most urgent questions for the global energy system: What happens when the worlds of gas, power, minerals and artificial intelligence collide? Atul brings forward insights from a recent dialogue with Daniel Yergin and Carlos Pascual, examining the forces reshaping energy security—from the next wave of LNG supply, to intensifying competition for critical minerals, to the explosive and uncertain rise of AI-driven power demand. How will data centers reshape gas markets? Could new technologies erase the expected surge in electricity demand? And what does it mean when copper, rare earths and AI chips become issues of national security? This episode previews the conversations ahead of CERAWeek 2026 | Convergence and Competition: Energy, Technology and Geopolitics. Join us March 23-27, 2026, in Houston, Texas. Learn more at ceraweek.com

In this episode of the CERAWeek Podcast, Atul Arya, Chief Energy Strategist at S&P Global, engages in a compelling discussion with industry leaders Matt Berchtold, Chief Product Officer at Context Labs, Ed Lush, Director of Low Carbon Products and Energy Ventures at Williams, and Howard Dieter, Vice President of Environmental, Health and Safety at Jonah Energy. The conversation delves into innovative technologies related to emission quantification and carbon management, highlighting how collaboration among companies is essential for developing cutting-edge solutions in the energy sector. Guests share insights on the importance of accurate emissions measurement, the role of advanced analytics in operational decarbonization, and the need for a comprehensive carbon management platform to support the transition to net zero. They discuss the complexities of managing low carbon natural gas and LNG, as well as the regulatory frameworks and market dynamics shaping the future of carbon management technologies. This episode sets the stage for CERAWeek 2025, scheduled to take place next week, where global energy leaders will gather to explore the strategies and innovations driving the future of energy. Topics include: Innovative emission quantification technologies and carbon management strategies Collaboration in the energy sector for climate differentiated commodities Advanced data integration and AI applications in operational efficiency The challenges and opportunities in measuring and managing methane emissions CERAWeek "Moving Ahead: Energy strategies for a complex world" is taking place March 10-14, 2025 in Houston, Texas. Learn more at ceraweek.com

In this episode of the CERAWeek Podcast, Atul Arya, Chief Energy Strategist at S&P Global, speaks with Bader Al Attar, Managing Director of Planning and Finance at Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), about KPC's approach to balancing production growth with sustainability, navigating market shifts, and the strategic capital decisions shaping its future. Al Attar highlights how KPC is leveraging carbon capture, renewable energy integration, and transparent operations to reduce emissions while meeting rising global energy demand. The conversation underscores how the future of the Oil & Gas industry lies in balancing low-cost production with reduced carbon footprints, driven by strategic investments and innovative technologies. This discussion sets the stage for CERAWeek 2025, where global energy leaders will explore strategies driving the future of energy. Topics include: Capital strategies across upstream, downstream, and petrochemicals Balancing production growth with decarbonization goals The role of carbon capture, technology, and renewables in operational efficiency Navigating the complexities of upstream and downstream investment decisions CERAWeek "Moving Ahead: Energy strategies for a complex world" is taking place March 10-14, 2025 in Houston, Texas. Learn more at ceraweek.com

In this episode of the CERAWeek Podcast, Atul Arya, Chief Energy Strategist at S&P Global, speaks with Francesco Mazzagatti, CEO of Viaro Energy, about balancing gas production with nuclear energy, navigating UK regulations, and the critical role of private capital in advancing energy projects. Mazzagatti underscores the need for continued investment to sustain North Sea production and adapt to a shifting energy landscape. This discussion sets the stage for CERAWeek 2025, where industry leaders will convene and discuss the strategies shaping the future of energy. Topics include: Balancing gas and nuclear in the energy transition Strategic investments to sustain North Sea production Regulatory challenges for UK oil & gas The role of private capital in energy innovation Strategies for maintaining hydrocarbons output in a changing market CERAWeek "Moving Ahead: Energy strategies for a complex world" is taking place March 10-14, 2025 in Houston, Texas. Learn more at ceraweek.com