Francesco Starace, CEO, Enel: A Renewable Future is Inevitable

Published: May 24, 2022, 4 a.m.

Eliminating the world\u2019s dependence on fossil fuels might seem like a farfetched goal. But to Francesco Starace, decarbonization is inevitable. As a nuclear scientist and the CEO of Enel, one of Europe\u2019s largest energy companies serving 70+ million customers worldwide, Starace has seen firsthand the accelerated transition towards renewables over the past few years. It\u2019s driven, he says, by digital transformation, innovation, and the economic viability of green energy. Global events, like the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, have only intensified this acceleration. Starace joins the podcast to discuss the future of energy, why \u201celectrifying society\u201d is achievable well before 2050, and the forces changing the way we consume (and produce) energy.\n\nListen to this episode to learn:\n\n\u2022 How the pandemic tested our energy systems by dramatically changing energy consumption overnight, and how grid operators successfully adjusted in real-time\n\n\u2022 Why bringing sustainable energy to Africa needs to be centered around metropolitan areas, where most people will live in the future\n\n\u2022 The complicated energy dynamic created by the war in Ukraine, and why it will require us to insulate ourselves from gas by whatever means possible \n\n\u2022 Why globalization isn\u2019t going away; it\u2019s \u201cmutating\u201d \n\n\u2022 The emergence of consumers as energy producers and why they will help fuel energy demand\n\n\u2022 Why the future of electrification won\u2019t be possible without customer centricity