OU Energy Symposium Finds U.S. Must Embrace All Forms of Energy in Marketplace

NORMAN, Okla., March 22, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- With the focus of the Energy Symposium on the future of the energy industry – including hydrocarbons, wind and solar power, electric transportation and more – delegates heard predictions for growth in battery power and natural gas as more and more people, spearheaded by innovative technology and digital analytics, make a move to cleaner energy. 

The sixth annual Energy Symposium, hosted by the Price College of Business Energy Institute at the University of Oklahoma, took place at the SandRidge Energy Auditorium in Oklahoma City.

The event, titled "The Future of Energy," included a keynote address from David Lawler, CEO of BP America Inc. – U.S. Lower 48 Onshore, who told the symposium, "The global energy transition is not simply about expanding the use of renewables; it's about reducing greenhouse gas emissions while also meeting increased demand for reliable, affordable energy."

Delegates also heard from a panel of experts across two sessions, where industry leaders told audiences there was space in the market for all energy forms – fossil fuels and renewables – supported by new and innovative technologies.

Panel speaker Joseph Stanislaw, senior partner of Bright Star Capital Partners, said, "It isn't one or the other. We need all forms of energy. There will be transitions from more dominance to less dominance, but we need them all. To get to tomorrow, in a world that will be sustainable in every sense of the word, we need to have oil and gas as a bridge, and as a solution, along with complementary workings with solar, with conservation, with efficiency – they all go together."

Touching on technology, all speakers spoke of the dynamic shift that the industry was facing, due to innovative technology advances.

Referencing Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos and "the Amazon approach," C. Michael Ming, vice president – executive liaison for marketing technology at BHGE (Baker Hughes, a GE company), spoke of the data-driven models increasingly being applied to projects within the industry.

Using big data technology and analysis, technology can change the role of energy – making it more reliable, efficient and cost-effective, he said.

The two panel sessions: The Future of Hydrocarbons and The Future Role of Alternative Energy and Related Technologies were moderated by Mike Stice, dean of the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy, and Bryan Hannegan, president and CEO of Holy Cross Energy, respectively.

The sessions focused on the increasing role for natural gas in the future of power generation, including a look at the future of LNG exports. They also included discussions about peak oil demand and future technology "game changers" – with artificial intelligence being a favorable future trend predicted to pass on cost savings through market intelligence and analysis.

Looking closely at alternative energies in the second panel, enhancing battery power came out as a strong discussion topic for the future of the industry.

Battery technologies are fast emerging as the new front line in the sustainable energy revolution.

The audience heard how the growth of battery adoption was picking up speed as part of the increase in popularity of electric vehicles over diesel and petrol cars, and battery-powered homes.

Paul Dabbar, Under Secretary for Science for the U.S. Department of Energy, said, "Batteries and storage really do have the capabilities to make some tremendous moves. There's an easy runway to get to batteries that have double the energy capacity at half the price.

"Batteries could be three times more powerful for 20 percent of the cost, and so, when you take a look at the personal electronics, grid support and electric vehicles – we're having conversations around the EV Tall, drones for transportation that use powerful batteries to fly around. And people like Uber and Airbus are sitting up and looking into it."

Dipankar Ghosh, executive director of the Price College of Business Energy Institute, said, "The international energy industry faces many challenges today, but it was clear from the high-quality debate at the Energy Symposium that very real opportunities for growth exist."

"In a fast-paced and exciting industry, it is fantastic to hear industry stalwarts and experts in their field discuss the changes they've witnessed and continue to witness as the energy industry embraces the changes required today to meet the demands of tomorrow."

Notes to editor

Guest speakers at the Energy Symposium were:

• C. Michael Ming - Vice President - Executive Liaison for Marketing Technology at BHGE (Baker Hughes, a GE company)
• Andrew Bradford - CEO at BTU Analytics, LLC
• Joseph Stanislaw - Senior Partner, Bright Star Capital Partners
• Thomas Flaherty – Senior Vice President, PwC Strategy Consulting Group
• Paul Dabbar – Under Secretary for Science, U.S. Department of Energy
• Michael Britt - Vice President - Energy Innovation Center, Southern Company

About the Price College of Business Energy Institute:

Through Education, Research and Outreach, the Price College of Business Energy Institute creates a platform for thought leadership and intellectual exchange on the intricate network of issues confronting today's energy businesses. The Institute also advances innovative and sustainable energy solutions to address the critical challenges facing our domestic and international communities. Since 1958, education and research in energy management has been central to the college's purpose and this year, it is proud to celebrate 60 years of energy education.

Media Contacts:

Price College of Business - Taylor Riggs, [email protected]

Fifth Ring for Price College of Business Energy Institute – Laura Glueck, [email protected]

SOURCE Price College of Business Energy Institute