(89d) Fueling the Energy Transition – Lessons Learned from a Renewable Energy Startup

Alder Renewables is a dynamic startup with a mission to transform the refinery industry by replacing fossil-based products to rebalance our relationship with the planet. Our primary focus is on scaling our foundational Alder Renewable Crude (ARC) oil platform within existing refinery infrastructure. As the Chief Technology Officer, I have gained invaluable insights during our journey towards deploying ARC, particularly for hard-to-decarbonize sectors like sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

In this talk, I will share the lessons we’ve learned from both successes and setbacks on our path to commercializing ARC. These lessons revolve around three key themes:

• Developing strategic collaborations with public and private entities: In our case, we have formed deeply integrated partnerships with Honeywell UOP and the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL). These relationships have allowed us to advance our technology, rapidly establish credibility, and navigate complex technical and regulatory landscapes.

• Addressing the pain points in the refinery and aviation fuel communities with ARC: Understanding the core value-drivers of ARC has been instrumental in shaping our technology development strategy. As we have finite resources and timelines, it has been essential to focus on areas that bring the most significant impact to these industries.

• Fostering a team culture of innovation and adaptability: Encountering unforeseen obstacles is inevitable when advancing a new technology. To navigate these challenges, our attitude and actions have been equally critical in maintaining a resilient mindset and steadfast pursuit of our mission to scale and deploy ARC.