CERAWeek 2026 Attendee; Writer, UChicago Sustainability Dialogue
Abhishekh is a mining and materials science engineer with experience in the mining and metals industry across five countries. He works at the intersection of investments, sustainability, and battery metals and has led numerous sustainability engagements and capital projects. He aspires to leverage his growing expertise in finance and business to drive greater investment in the mining sector and effect meaningful change.
“At CERAWeek 2026 in Houston, what I picked up was that industry leaders highlighted how artificial intelligence is becoming a central driver of power markets and infrastructure planning. AI’s growing energy demand, from model training to hyperscale data centers, is pushing grid capacity to its limits, and that all forms of energy (traditional, and new forms such as fusion and geothermal) will become critical.
During the CEO sessions, leaders emphasized the need for smarter, adaptive power systems where data centers can participate in demand response and real-time energy management, and how workforce will have to embrace AI in their day-to-day tasks, something I find important given we as MBA students will be running strategies for large companies and need to upskill ourselves when entering the workforce.
Geopolitical tensions and supply chain pressures add urgency. For energy executives and policymakers, the focus is very much on grid flexibility, strategic planning, and cross-sector collaboration to meet demand – especially given my background is in critical minerals, a lot of focus from a policy standpoint has been securing materials for meeting today’s demand.”