Hi! I’m Fadl Saadi, and I'm obsessed with creating a clean energy future. Realizing that goal has been the primary motivator in my professional career. I’ve worn many different hats in both technical and business operations with the aim of bringing that vision to reality. I’ve researched catalysts for solar fuels as a PhD student at Caltech, discovered under-explored clean energy technologies for the US Department of Energy, taught university students about clean energy innovation as an adjunct professor at Georgetown, started and grew a clean hydrogen startup that raised >$50M, invested in clean energy startups as a VC and am currently working at an incubator focused on creating solutions for the most pressing climate and energy problems out there.
Throughout this time, I’ve met hundreds of people working in the clean energy space. From researchers synthesizing cheaper solar energy materials to business managers looking to purchase thousands of tons of clean fuel per year, they’re all deeply passionate and dedicated to creating a brighter future. Yet despite that unifying goal, there is so much animosity and division within the clean energy space. Fierce debates rage online, and accusations of insincerity and deceit fly between supporters of different technologies. Nuclear advocates scoff at those proposing a transition to a fully renewable electricity grid, those looking to move to a completely electric future accuse proponents of hydrogen and renewable natural gas of being fronts for the oil lobby, and no one can seem to agree on the best way to store excess electricity for long periods.
Over time, I realized the fundamental issue: while all these people were imagining a clean energy future, they were envisioning different ones. This brings me to the purpose of this substack: to explore and understand these different futures. Each post will do a deep dive into a different clean energy future. I’ll look at what that future would look like from a technical and economic perspective, the reasons why people are excited about it, and the challenges the creation of such a world faces (and trust me, all of these futures come with many challenges). I’ll strive to explain all this as clearly and simply as possible so that everyone (not just energy nerds) can understand what these clean energy visions are. My goal won’t be to convince you to believe in any one future or technology but to understand why people sincerely believe in each of their envisioned visions.
What do I believe? Well, I believe that all of these visions have merit and that an ‘all of the above’ strategy to funding clean energy technology should be implemented. The world is a vast and varied space and the energy future will likely reflect that complexity. The best technologies for Dusseldorf, Germany, may differ from those in Fez, Morocco. Ultimately, by listening and taking each other’s hopes and concerns seriously, we can hopefully reduce some of the animosity in this space and help ensure that our efforts are constructive and impactful. After all, we all have the same overall goal: a cleaner and brighter future for all.