BOSTON — Clean Peak Energy was among a select group of businesses chosen for a presentation and open discussion at the Harvard Business School’s recent week-long seminar, “Launching New Ventures: Jump-Starting Innovation for Entrepreneurs and Business Owners.”
Clean Peak Energy’s Chief Executive Officer Edward Levene was among approximately half a dozen executives selected to present their businesses out of the 60-plus participating in the seminar. Harvard Business School Professor Christopher Stanton led off the session with a brief case study on Clean Peak Power and its role in creating efficiencies in the electricity market. Levene then followed with a question-and-answer session with the audience, delving into the economics and the environmental benefits of the technology behind Clean Peak Energy.
The seminar, which has previously been attended by notable companies such as Accenture, Eli Lilly, SanDisk, Revlon and others, delves into strategies for transforming disruptive innovation into competitive advantage. During the seminar, participants were immersed in an intensive learning experience that included faculty presentations, case studies, and group discussions.
Levene discussed how Clean Peak Energy’s patented strategic-response control technology enables large commercial buildings to store and release thermal energy at optimal times to reduce reliance on less-efficient electricity generation sources and reduce peak demand.
“ One of the founding goals of this project was to reduce CO2 emissions. The goal is to get this technology out there, so we all win.”
Ed Levene, Clean Peak Energy
“The science works – it’s not complicated.” Levene told the audience, when asked how additional efficiencies can be extracted from an already highly efficient LEED-Certified building. “At it’s simplest, yes, its turning on the air conditioning at night when [energy is] cheaper, and releasing the thermal energy during the day, but there’s eight years of research, thermodynamic strategies and patented technologies behind doing this with precision. In Atlanta, a team looked at the technology and agreed that it works – but conceded it would take them 200 man-days just to set the strategy for the upcoming day.”
In addition to the ability to reduce energy costs, the approach has a major benefit to the environment. “In the U.S., we run the most efficient — generally the cleanest burning — power plants at night, when demand is low,” Levene explained. “During the day and during periods of peak demand, oil-, coal- and less-efficient gas-powered plants come online to meet demand, generating additional pollutants.”
Levene closed by telling attendees Clean Peak is looking for large commercial sites interested in putting the system to use without any capital installation costs. “One of the founding goals of this project was to reduce CO2 emissions,” he said. “The goal is to get this technology out there, so we all win.”