Events

The demand for electrical energy has exploded over the last five years. Data centers, electric vehicles, and the electrification in many industry processes have increased the demand on the grid, not seen since the 1940s. Wind and solar energy are the cheapest forms of energy at point source, with batteries rapid development starting to address the energy storage problem with renewables. Natural gas is also playing a leading role in supplying the energy needed for electricity generation. The use of nuclear power is also getting attention, reinventing itself using small modular and micro reactors.  Electricity demand has caused significant increases in the cost of electricity generation across the entire country. Is there another energy source that we may have overlooked at the multi-quad energy level? If so, what needs to be done to integrate this energy source into our current infrastructure in the U.S.?

In this talk, Dr. James Seaba will explore pure carbon as a potential solution to our electricity generation demand. He will outline the challenges and some technical approaches to unlock carbon’s huge energy potential. He will also highlight the exciting economical aspects of using carbon.

Please register to attend. Lunch will be provided. 

About Dr. James Seaba

Dr. James Seaba currently serves as Program Director at the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). His focus at ARPA-E is on domestic synthetic fuels and chemicals production, novel energy system designs, energy distribution and storage. 

Dr. Seaba has spent over 30 years developing economically driven energy systems that minimize environmental impacts. He has spent most of his career in the oil and gas (O&G) sector, with some experience in automotive and aerospace. In O&G, he has successfully developed technologies for both upstream and downstream business units. Recently, Dr. Seaba has focused his efforts on domestic energy expansion in synthetic hydrocarbon fuels, developing price parity technologies to produce hydrocarbons compatible with U.S. infrastructure and end-use devices.  

Dr. Seaba founded and led a US-based research center in Ohio known as the Honda Research Institute (HRI). HRI developed cutting edge technology in microreactors, advanced hydrogen storage, and PEM fuel cell system development. At ConocoPhillips, Dr. Seaba developed fuel cell technologies, supported refining processes, hydrogen production, carbon capture, and novel low carbon processes for in-situ oil sands extraction. Dr. Seaba has leveraged internal research programs with U.S. National laboratories and Universities. He has developed technologies that minimize the environmental footprint for a variety of energy processes over the last 30 years. These processes cover a broad industry spectrum that includes the development of novel hydrogen production technology for refining to the reduction of carbon intensity in oil sands production. Dr. Seaba has successfully developed and executed technology strategies across multiple industries. Consistently recognized for creative problem solving, leading successful cross-functional teams and establishing/executing value-added technology development programs. He has successfully commercialized technology from idea to practice. Dr. Seaba has over 30 US patents and patent applications, and over 30 referred journal publications.