CERAWeek 2026 Attendee
Richard (Mingzhe) Li is a first-year MBA student and Polsky Energy Transition Scholar at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. His background spans law, investment banking, and international economics. Previously at The AES Corporation, he focused on M&A in the Power and Utilities sector, executing strategic renewable and thermal power transactions alongside critical supply chain management partnerships. Passionate about climate finance and inclusive leadership, he is a Clean Energy Leadership Institute (CELI) Fellow and is currently coordinating Booth’s China-US Forum on Clean Energy and AI. He is excited to explore solutions for structural bottlenecks in climate infrastructure, aiming to deploy capital strategically to scale breakthrough technologies and accelerate the global energy transition.
“CERAWeek was an incredibly rewarding experience for me. Having heard about this conference for many years, I was truly thrilled to finally attend thanks to the sponsorship from the University of Chicago. Over five days, the sessions and meetings covered a remarkable range of cutting-edge topics shaping today’s energy landscape—from geothermal and nuclear to data centers and AI applications. One of my favorite experiences was visiting the GE Vernova House, where I had the chance to put on a headset and virtually witness how electricity is generated through nuclear power. The metaverse-style technology was incredibly immersive, and I was deeply impressed by how effectively it brought such a complex process to life.
I was also fortunate to present my research on U.S. power market financing, which sparked thoughtful questions and led to meaningful conversations with industry professionals. It was an inspiring opportunity to learn, exchange ideas, and build connections, and I would be honored to return again in the future.”