EFI Foundation at CERAWeek 2026

The EFI Foundation (EFIF) had a large presence CERAWeek 2026, the world’s premier energy conference. Our team engaged with private sector changemakers, government officials, and leading experts to forge pragmatic coalitions to address the world’s most pressing energy challenges.

In 11 official sessions, EFIF experts shared insights from our latest research in innovation, carbon management, finance, scaling nuclear energy, and how AI is straining grid capacity. This work weaves together the challenges of affordability, equity, competitiveness, and security into one energy conversation and proposes solutions through technological, policy, and business model innovation.

At CERAWeek, EFIF’s built cross-sectoral partnerships that pave the way for a cleaner, more resilient, and more affordable energy future.

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Agenda

Please note the agenda is subject to change.

Press Coverage

Microgrid KnowledgeCERAWeek Day One Takeaway: Behind-the-Meter Power is Critical for AI Growth

AI, Energy and Climate PodcastNuclear security in Iran, energy innovation and AI: Ernest Moniz

S&P Global’s Energy EvolutionFormer Energy Secretary Moniz discusses the Iran war, new technology and power demand

Session Recaps

Fusion: From Science to Scale by 2030s?

EFI Foundation Founder and CEO Ernest J. Moniz moderated “Fusion: From Science to Scale by the 2030s?” a panel on how fusion energy is moving from research to commercial deployment and what is needed to scale it. The panel included Type One Energy’s Thomas Sunn Pedersen, TAE Technologies’ Michl Binderbauer, and Lutz Reimers of the German Federal Chancellery.

Funding the Future: Innovation Strategies for a New Research Era 

EFI Foundation Founder and CEO Ernest J. Moniz led the discussion at “Funding the Future: Innovation Strategies for a New Research Era,” alongside Mahdi Aladel of Aramco Ventures, Evelyn Wang from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Jim Gable of Chevron. The panel focused on how to move energy innovations from research to deployment by strengthening collaboration, reducing risk, and improving feedback between sectors.

AI at Scale: Aligning Compute and Power Strategy 

EFI Foundation Chief Operating Officer April Salas was joined by John Donovan of Fermi America, Roman Kramarchuk of S&P Global, and Mike Kramer of Constellation to discuss pathways to reliably supply more power to both the public and to AI compute. Siting and permitting continues to be an obstacle to meeting new energy demands; companies must engage with local communities to ensure projects go from paper to reality.

The Capital Stack for Climate and Energy: Where Philanthropy Now fits in a Changing World

Ernest J. Moniz’s discussion with Tom Taylor of the Bezos Earth Fund evaluated philanthropy’s evolving role in climate solutions. Tom highlighted that philanthropic organizations can take a long-term view, which lets them take more risks or accept a lower return on investment than governments can afford to do.

Reimagining the Climate Strategy

The EFI Foundation’s Moniz joined a panel with Charlotte Wolff-Bye of PETRONAS, Fred Krupp of Environmental Defense Fund, James Wiemken of S&P Global, and Michael Greenstone of the University of Chicago to examine new approaches to familiar climate challenges. Greenstone emphasized that the response to climate change must happen quickly and broadly, stating that “sacred cows have got to go.”

Is AI Accelerating Development of Energy Technologies?

Moniz joined a session with Arun Majumdar of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, Astrid Poupart-Lafarge of AVEVA Software, Atul Arya of S&P Global, and Pratima Rangarajan of Climate Investment, to assess how AI can make the energy system more secure, reliable, and sustainable. In addition to being a massive power consumer, AI also has the potential to solve complex, intractable energy problems. Machine learning could improve how the grid operates, unlocking enhanced reliability, better handling of load changes, and overall efficiency gains.

Energy Futures: The Pragmatic Path Forward

Ernest J. Moniz joined Atul Arya, Scott Tinker, and John Kerry for the panel “Funding the Future: Innovation Strategies for a New Research Era.” The conversation explored how conflict in the Middle East is influencing global energy markets, and why a more pragmatic, all-of-the-above approach is essential to ensure energy security. Panelists emphasized the need to strengthen and scale markets for emerging clean technologies like advanced nuclear and geothermal by better aligning policy, investment, and innovation.

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For more information or to speak with an EFI Foundation expert, please contact Lizi Bowen at llbowen@efifoundation.org.