The Stanford Energy | The Move To Zero - How To Get To True Carbon Neutrality

Abstract: Today, climate change is a well-known, and reasonably understood, problem with mitigation efforts and technologies (carbon sequestration, electric mobility, renewables, policy updates, and others) starting to gel together at a system level. However, at the end-use demand end, less progress has been made, and as wealth and populations rise, and health-socio-economic indicators improve, consumption, and end emissions per capita, are also increasing, somewhat or entirely negating the progress made on decarbonizing society. This is paradoxical, and at a higher-level of systems thinking, poses a strong threat. In this world-energy-outlook talk, we re-familiarize ourselves with the core problem, how we got here, what are current approaches to tackle our energy and climate crisis, and how all of us can play a central part in reducing (often) unnecessary consumption of goods and services. To truly achieve a declivity in carbon and green house gas concentrations in our atmosphere, we must address both ends of the equation – how energy’s produced and sourced (supply), and how and why is energy used (demand). The latter part, starts with you.

Speaker Bio: Satyan Chandra is a ten-year veteran of Tesla, where he recently led systems design, architecture, and engineering for the Semi-Truck product, the world’s first long-haul electric Semi, helping take Semi from a concept of one to a volume produced product. In prior efforts at Tesla, Satyan led several engineering and design projects on passenger vehicles (Model S, X, 3, Y), helped pioneer and innovate on many technologies (48V, EtherLoop, FlexInterconnect, DOJO Autopilot Architecture, and others), and closely shaped Tesla’s product design, technology strategy, and system architecture from cars to trucks to Autopilot systems. Prior to Tesla, Satyan worked with BMW Germany, Autoliv, General Motors and Flowserve on a number of automotive, design and energy projects. Satyan’s also pursuing his M.S. (Masters) in Engineering at Stanford, where he is holistically focused on energy sustainability, from mechanical, electrical and environmental engineering to business, economics and policy. He has previously been invited by, and given keynote tech-talks and guest lectures at, a number of institutions including Harvard University, University of British Columbia, Stanford University, and Brigham Young University (BYU). He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Brigham Young University (BYU). At BYU, he founded the university’s first sustainability organization, byuearth, bridging engineering, economics and policy to help reduce BYU’s carbon footprint, whilst navigating a strongly conservative political and social mindset in Utah. Along with General Motors, Satyan also led design efforts for the world’s first student-designed, full-scale, Formula-1 race car. Beyond his professional pursuits, Satyan likes mountain biking, jet skiing, ocean kayaking, meeting people and exchanging breakthrough ideas, and is currently taking a break from the past twelve years of non-stop hard work and running.