What is the Electrocene?
Welcome to the Electrocene: Powering the Future, Now!
Electricity and energy systems will define the next few decades as profoundly as human activity defined the Anthropocene. The Anthropocene asked what humans have done to the planet. The Electrocene asks something harder: what will we do next? In this era, energy isn't just infrastructure — it's the organizing principle of civilization.
In our current epoch, we are introduced to an era in which our energy systems, economy, and society are transforming one another. How we choose to build, power, and utilize these systems is up to us.
BERC's 19th Annual Energy Summit will bring together investors, builders, policy leaders, and academia to explore the many facets and forces defining this era of electricity: from the urgency of firming our power system, to meeting & managing exploding demand, all while serving the ever-pressing needs for affordability, reliability, and equity.
A New Epoch
The shift to electricity-based systems is as civilizationally significant as the Industrial Revolution. Energy is no longer just infrastructure — it has become the organizing principle of modern society itself.
Systemic Co-Evolution
Energy systems, economies, and societies are actively reshaping one another in real time. No single sector transforms in isolation — the feedback loops between power, capital, and human behavior run in every direction.
The Agency Imperative
Unlike the Anthropocene — defined by what humans did to the planet — the Electrocene is defined by what we choose to do next. How we build, power, and deploy these systems is still an open question, and the window to answer it wisely is now.
Civilizational Stakes
The decisions made in the next few decades will compound across generations. The Electrocene doesn't just ask how we decarbonize — it asks who controls energy, who benefits from it, and what kind of civilization we're building around it.
The Path to the Electrocene
The Steam Age
1760 – 1850
The Industrial Revolution transforms human muscle into machine power. Coal-fired steam engines remake manufacturing, transportation, and urban life. For the first time, humanity begins drawing down millions of years of stored carbon — and the clock starts ticking.
Summit Agenda
Opening Keynote: Welcome to the Electrocene
Fireside Chat: Financing the Next Wave of Energy Infrastructure
Workshop: Project Finance — How Project Finance Determines What Gets Built
Workshop: PPAs in Practice — Behind-the-Meter vs. Front-of-Meter PPAs
Workshop: Financing the Energy Transition — Impact Measurement and Diligence
Workshop: Interconnection — Unlocking the Grid Expansion
Workshop: Data Centers — The Energy Problem
Closing Fireside Chat: Blending Expertise in Pursuit of the Clean Energy Transition
Sponsors & Partners
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Join leading organizations in powering the conversation about our energy future. Sponsorship opportunities are available at multiple levels.
Contact UsEvent Details
Venue Information
Location
Spieker Hall - Chou 6th Floor
Haas School of Business
University of California, Berkeley
2220 Piedmont Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94720
Date
April 20 & 22, 2026
Earth Day
Time
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM PDT
Breakfast & Registration at 8:00 AM
By BART
Downtown Berkeley station, 10 min walk to campus
By Car
Parking available in campus garages (fees apply)
Hotels
Graduate Berkeley, Hotel Shattuck Plaza nearby
About BERC
The Berkeley Energy and Resources Collaborative (BERC) is a multidisciplinary network of UC Berkeley students, alumni, faculty, and industry professionals. BERC is entirely student-run and spans 11 colleges and 28 departments across UC Berkeley.
We plan and host a variety of conferences and events across the year, including the annual Energy Summit and Resources Symposium, monthly “BERCshop” panels, the Clean Energy Speaker Series course at the Haas School of Business, and the annual Climate Change 101 event for Berkeley students. Our partnership with the Energy Institute at Haas helps us provide our members with opportunities to engage with cutting-edge research and current industry applications.
Organizing Team
Iliana Griva
Co-VP
Samuel Houmaoui
Co-VP
Tomas Diez Canedo
Director of Engagement
Jen Chan
Director of Design
Tomas Augusto Coello
Director of Workshops
Lukin (Louie) Jacobs
Director of Headline Speakers
Patricia Nader
Director of Workshops
Frances Swanson
Director of Content
Delany Broome
Director of Logistics
Jonathan Zou
Director of Logistics
Aurelia Heitz
Director of Logistics
Register Now
Join us April 20 & 22, 2026 for two days of insights, networking, and action. All tickets include both days of the summit.
Student
- Two-day access (April 20 & 22)
- Breakfast & lunch included
- Networking reception
- Digital materials
*Valid .edu email required
RegisterProfessional
- Two-day access (April 20 & 22)
- Breakfast & lunch included
- Networking reception
- Digital materials
Late Bird pricing now in effect. Check luma for all tickets.
Group discounts available for 5+ attendees. Contact us for details.