Matthew GriffinFounder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
G7 · G20governments advised
850+keynotes
102countries
17codexes
Energy and sustainability sessions forUnited NationsBureau of International RecyclingAVEVAAditya Birla GroupSUEZAZ China
Featured inBloombergThe Wall Street JournalThe Telegraph
Cedric and the team invited Matthew to give this year's keynote at the 10th annual Smart Energy Summit in Switzerland, which brought together people from around the world to explore the future of energy. COVID-19 forced big changes: most attendees joined virtually, and strict social distancing was enforced at the venue, a few kilometres from Mont Blanc, where global warming is taking its toll on the Alpine glaciers.
Matthew set out the challenge. We already have the technology to eliminate over 70 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, and energy, from generation to the emissions of aircraft, cargo ships and transport, accounts for almost 30 percent of that total. Many argue the transition away from fossil fuels to greener renewables is still too slow, and they have a point.
"Today, we already have the technology to help us eliminate over 70 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions."Matthew Griffin, Switzerland, September 2020
In a 30-minute keynote on our abundant energy future in 2050, he moved through what he calls a Cambrian age of innovation, from battery technology and grid-scale storage to fusion, nuclear and wireless energy transmission, before even reaching the explosion of innovation across renewables. Examples included new catalysts that could let cargo ships replace bunker fuel with seawater, solar panels with efficiencies in excess of 100 percent, and the use of AI in battery development.
The future of energy will be green, but Matthew also showed what happens when different exponential technologies are combined. In one case, that points to a future where houses could be 3D printed complete with their own nuclear reactors, something most of the energy experts in the room thought was impossible until they saw it for themselves.
311 Intelligence
What this means for your leadership team
Use the technology that already exists.
Matthew stressed that tools to eliminate over 70 percent of emissions already exist. The gap is deployment, not invention.
Plan around storage.
Battery technology and grid scale storage decide how much renewable power a grid can use.
Watch for combinations, not single breakthroughs.
The biggest surprises came from combining exponential technologies, which most experts in the room had not expected.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
Which proven low carbon technologies have we not yet deployed?
How much storage would our energy plans need to work?
Which combinations of technologies could change our energy costs?
The trends and technologies behind this session
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
The 311 Starburst tracks renewables now out-generating coal as the shift from fossil fuels to clean energy gathers pace, and rates it Act now.
Why does grid scale storage matter?
It keeps lots of electricity for later, using big batteries and other methods. The 311 Starburst expects wide use around 2028.
Is wireless energy real?
Wireless energy means sending electric power to a device through the air with no cable. The 311 Starburst expects wide use around 2039.
How can 311 brief our leadership team on this?
Through a private executive briefing or leadership workshop, tailored to your sector, in person first.
Bring this to your leadership teamA private executive briefing or leadership workshop, tailored to your sector. In person first, anywhere in the world.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s session and 311 data.
If Matthew gave this session today
Emerging technologies are reshaping global culture, industry and society.
311 Institute's Future of Exponential Technology Codex explores hundreds of emerging technologies and their implications for global culture, industry and society, including the kind of combined breakthroughs Matthew showed reshaping energy.
