Please join the Women in Energy initiative at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia SIPA for a student roundtable lunch and discussion with Kadri Simson, who most recently served as European Commissioner for Energy. During this roundtable, Ms. Simson will discuss Europe’s energy future, hydrogen, and how to make European energy more secure and sustainable.

Biography

Kadri Simson most recently served as European Commissioner for Energy. In that role, she oversaw the European Union’s energy policies and worked to ensure that the bloc transitions to a more sustainable, secure, and competitive energy system.

Her priorities included the implementation of the European Green Deal, supporting the EU’s ambition to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, which includes boosting renewable energy and enhancing energy efficiency. Kadri was also responsible for Fit for 55, a legislative package designed to reduce EU emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030, compared to 1990 levels, through carbon pricing and cutting fossil fuel reliance. This included the first-ever hydrogen strategy—promoting the development of hydrogen as a clean energy carrier, particularly for sectors in which direct electrification may not be feasible.

Kadri worked to maintain EU energy security following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, to cut dependence on fossil fuels from Russia, and to strengthen energy diplomacy with trusted trading partners. She initiated the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, which helped repair and rebuild Ukraine’s energy sector and infrastructure damaged by Russian strikes.

Kadri previously served as the Estonian minister of economic affairs and infrastructure and was a member of the Riigikogu, the Estonian parliament. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Tartu and a master’s degree in political science from University College London. Kadri Simson will simultaneously serve as a Carnegie Distinguished Fellow at SIPA’s Institute of Global Politics.

Registration is required. This roundtable is open only to currently enrolled Columbia University students. To register, you must sign in with your UNI.

This event will be hosted in-person and capacity is limited. We ask that you register only if you can attend this event in its entirety. 

For more information about the event, please contact energypolicyevents@columbia.edu.

Please join the Women in Energy initiative at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia SIPA for a student roundtable lunch and discussion with Anne-Sophie Corbeau, a Global Research Scholar at CGEP. The discussion will focus on Anne-Sophie’s career and her research focus on Europe, hydrogen, and natural gas.

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Registration is required. This roundtable is open only to currently enrolled Columbia University students. To register, you must sign in with your UNI.

This event will be hosted in person and capacity is limited. We ask that you register only if you can attend this event in its entirety. 

For more information about the event, please contact energypolicyevents@columbia.edu.

The Center on Global Energy Policy’s Women in Energy initiative co-hosted an event entitled “Women in Hydrogen: Scaling Up Clean Energy” on September 18, 2023. The event featured a women-led discussion and focused on US national strategy and what is needed to ensure that the technology’s potential is fully realized and that meaningful climate, economic, and community benefits are delivered.

Following are some takeaways from the event: 

• Panelists discussed how hydrogen can play an important role in decarbonization. Hydrogen can become carbon-neutral and be used as fuel or for energy storage. However, building green hydrogen projects and commercializing hydrogen should be a top priority. At present, there is a lot of momentum for hydrogen, but less concrete action. 
• Attendees lauded recent US government actions like the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill as helping to expedite hydrogen development.  
• There was a discussion of how policy ambiguity and the implementation of tax credits, such as 45V, can present a challenge for hydrogen. 45V is particularly notable because the tax credit is contingent on the energy produced being renewable, and there are debates over which reporting mechanism should be used for the tax credit.
• One of the long-term goals of developing hydrogen is to be able to deliver it at a viable price point. Currently, hydrogen is expensive, and increasing the supply of hydrogen while connecting subsidized hydrogen with areas of high demand will help to reduce costs. 

The momentum for clean hydrogen has never been greater. With a landmark U.S. national strategy, policy and funding support in place, what’s needed next to ensure the technology’s potential is fully realized and meaningful climate, economic and community benefits are delivered?

Join Columbia University’s Women in Energy, Women+ in Hydrogen, Women in Green Hydrogen, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman and FTI Consulting for this women-led panel discussion and networking event during Climate Week NYC.

The event will feature a women-led discussion with speakers from a variety of backgrounds, followed by structured speed-networking and informal conversations over drinks and hors d’oeuvres.

Speakers:

• Ivana Jemelkova, Senior Managing Director, Energy Transition & Sustainability, FTI Consulting
• Elina Teplinsky, Energy Industry Team Leader, Hydrogen Practice Co-Leader, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
• Tessa Weiss, Senior Associate, Rocky Mountain Institute
• Vennela Yadhati, Senior Manager, P2X North America, Ørsted

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Advance registration is required and free-of-charge. Upon registration, you will receive a confirmation email.

For more information about the event, please contact energypolicyevents@columbia.edu.