From Jobs to Joules: The Current and Future State of Energy
A global energy entrepreneur, Bob Hemphill was a co-founder in 1981 of AES Corporate, a global electric power generating and distribution company. A $1M, 6-person startup in 1981, today AES employs approximately 27,000 employees and owns and operates 38,000 MW (megawatts) of power plants in 21 countries, is publicly listed on the NYSE, held $39B in assets and $17B in revenues in 2014.
In 2004, Hemphill initiated and led the transaction by which AES entered the wind power business with the purchase of SeaWest, a 90 MW wind company. He also started the AES utility battery storage business, which has since grown to be the largest such utility effort in the world. Hemphill was also a founder and served as CEO of AES Solar Power Ltd from its inception until his retirement in December 2013. The company, formed in March 2008, is a joint venture of the AES Corporation and Riverstone LLC, an energy focused private equity fund. AES Solar is a leading developer, owner, and operator of utility-scale photovoltaic solar plants connected to the electric power grid. These installations, ranging in size from less than 2 MW to more than 250 MW, consist of large arrays of land-based solar photovoltaic panels that directly convert sunlight to electricity. Under his leadership, the company designed, permitted, and constructed 51 solar plants in seven countries (Spain, France, Italy, Bulgaria, Greece, India and the US) and holds a portfolio of $2.5B.
In addition, Hemphill served as an airborne infantry officer in the U.S. Army in Vietnam as well as in the U.S. Special Forces; as a senior policy official at the U.S. Department of Energy; and as deputy manager of power at the Tennessee Valley Authority. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Yale University and earned a masters from UCLA, and an M.B.A from George Washington University.
Since leaving AES Solar, Hemphill has published two books focused on his energy, international, and business experience: Dust Tea, Dingoes and Dragons and Stories from the Middle Seat. He is a columnist for Huffington Post, and advises several small renewable energy companies.
Mr. Hemphill is the keynote speaker for CMC's Third Annual Green Careers Conference sponsored by the Roberts Environmental Center.