Speakers

Roger Caldwell, CEO of Firm Clean Power, is a chemical engineer whose career began in Silicon Valley, developing foundational semiconductor technology in the 1980s. His entrepreneurial journey fostered a deep understanding of intellectual property, leading to over 12 patents in communications, microchip processing, renewable energy, biomass, AI, and clean energy storage.

As Director of Energy Storage at Sun Edison in 2011, he conceptualized underground pumped-hydro energy storage, recognizing its future potential. He also contributed to installing India's first one-megawatt solar plant and worked on projects in over a dozen countries. Caldwell spent eight years as chief innovation officer, developing technology roadmaps and managing resources in carbon capture and utilization, digital twin AI, and clean chemicals. In March 2025, Caldwell co-founded Firm Clean Power with Amad Chatilla, aiming to decarbonize large electrical grids by addressing solar and wind intermittency to create a world powered by reliable, clean energy.

Firm Clean Power

Firm Clean Power Corporation (FCP), based in Austin, Texas, addresses the intermittency of solar and wind power through its innovative Underground Pumped Hydro Energy Storage (UPHES) technology. FCP's mission is to provide a cost-effective solution for decarbonizing large electrical grids, aiming to enable 100% clean energy globally.

FCP’s UPHES projects use proven technology (TRL 9) leveraging well-established construction techniques and Digital Twin Artificial Intelligence (DTAI) for design and financial optimization. Optimally, FCP’s projects are large (600 MW and higher), with long duration storage on properties suitable for collocation with solar, with, data centers, and other large electrical loads. The deep storage brings the capability of providing certified clean energy 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.

Roger Caldwell (cofounder & CEO), and Ahmad Chatila (cofounder) formed FCP in March 2025. They have assembled a team of experts and are ready to start 2 projects in the Texas ERCOT grid, with the intent of building a multi-billion dollar pipeline of UPHES projects around the world within the next 5 years.