Pioneering the Future of Energy: My Experience at National Grid's Future Forum

By Tony Pan , CEO of Modern Hydrogen

How can you make progress with solutions that work in the real world???

I was thrilled to have the chance to participate in National Grid's Future Forum to lead a discussion on this question. The Future Forum is an initiative that really gets to the heart of why entrepreneurship and fresh thinking are so vital as we reshape the energy landscape.?

What is the National Grid Partners Future Forum??

Hosted by the investment crew at National Grid Partners (let's call them NGP), the Future Forum is about injecting a big dose of entrepreneurial spirit into National Grid's culture. By having founders like me come share our stories with National Grid’s 30,000 employees, NGP is doing more than just showcasing potential game-changing technologies like Modern’s methane pyrolysis. They're inspiring out-of-the-box thinking on tackling energy's biggest challenges and opportunities by promoting a cross-functional team dialogue.??

Shared Vision for a Clean Future?

Modern Hydrogen's collaboration with National Grid is built on our unified vision of a decarbonized energy system. Our mission to enable clean hydrogen production using existing infrastructure dovetails perfectly with their aim to lead the clean energy transition. This collaboration embodies how we're innovating and deploying solutions to slash emissions while keeping energy affordable & secure.?

In an interview with Bloomberg News, National Grid Ventures’ Ben Wilson, the chief strategy regulatory officer, described the relationship with Modern Hydrogen: “National Grid is exploring hydrogen investments and is partnering with a Seattle-based startup, Modern Hydrogen, that is working on distributed hydrogen production technology that serves to ‘disrupt us.’”?

At CERAWeek , one of the world’s largest energy innovation global forums, Steve Smith -- the Group Head of Strategy, Innovation and Market Analytics at National Grid and President of National Grid Partners -- specifically highlighted Modern Hydrogen as an important investment to reach a zero-carbon system future.??

Talk Highlights?

Modern Hydrogen is a world leader in distributed hydrogen technologies, methane pyrolysis, and carbon management. Modern provides practical clean energy solutions using existing natural gas infrastructure for hard-to-decarbonize sectors. So, a key theme in my Future Forum talk was how pioneering tech like ours tackles the hurdles of scaling and integrating low-CO2 energy sources at the massive levels needed. We covered the crucial need to utilize existing infrastructure, hydrogen's super-role as an energy answer, and the economic and environmental upsides of our approach.??

By spotlighting our major National Grid-backed projects and big investments, I hoped to give a tangible picture of concrete steps we're taking toward a sustainable energy future. Importantly, we are decarbonizing natural gas quickly and cheaply by leveraging existing infrastructure. Our solution requires no permits for new grid lines or pipelines, doesn’t use water, and doesn’t use up valuable clean electricity. It’s one answer to the pragmatic question of how to make progress with solutions that work in the real world.?

I was really emboldened by the perceptive, well-informed questions from National Grid employees both in the UK and US. Their breadth of knowledge and curiosity underscored how deeply this company understands energy's rapidly shifting landscape.?

The Road Ahead?

Participating in the Future Forum intensified my belief in the power of startups and industry giants collaborating. As Modern Hydrogen and National Grid align on energy's future, our collaboration is more vital than ever. Together we're paving the way for a zero-carbon energy system that keeps our economy working sustainably, efficiently, and without trashing the planet.?

Sure, decarbonizing energy is an entangled challenge filled with hurdles. But with initiatives like NGP’s Future Forum - and partnerships that combine new thinking with industry muscle - the path gets clearer. I'm inspired about what's to come and grateful for partners who help shape this pivotal energy transition.?