With a deep commitment to sustainable energy and technological innovation, Venancio Mendez Levy, PE, has emerged as a leading expert in the clean energy sector. Mendez Levy’s career reflects his dedication to advancing the global energy transition, with a focus on delivering advanced solutions that drive meaningful change in the industry.
A Commitment to Personal and Professional Growth
Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Mendez Levy attributes much of his success to his commitment to personal and professional growth. “It’s a matter of how much I’m improving myself over time to improve the environment, community and society around me,” he explains. This ongoing dedication to learning and expanding his skill set has been fundamental in his career.
Mendez Levy believes that career growth is about acquiring the knowledge and experience needed to build something sustainable and beneficial for society: “My commitment to self-improvement is not only helping me acquire the skills and experience needed to develop my own personal career, but also to build something sustainable and fruitful for society as well.”
Leading the Charge in Renewable Energy
As a senior renewable energy consultant at Wood PLC, Mendez Levy plays a pivotal role in helping the company handle the complexities of the energy transition. He is deeply involved in projects that advance the adoption of renewable energy, including solar, wind, and hydrogen. His leadership in his field is driven by a passion for entrepreneurship and innovation. “I love to lead projects and come up with new ways of solving challenges,” he shares.
This enthusiasm for creating new solutions has helped Mendez Levy make significant strides in the clean energy industry, from his time as an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) project engineer at Webber Energy to his current work at Wood PLC.
Entrepreneurship and Technological Inventiveness
In addition to his consulting role, Mendez Levy is an entrepreneur at heart. He aspires to found his own AI-driven startup focused on improving the efficiency of solar energy projects. He envisions a company that uses advanced technology to streamline construction operations, minimize errors, and enhance overall project performance — specifically within the utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) industry.
“AI technology represents a tremendous untapped potential to streamline project management, quality control, and improve asset reliability for solar project developers within a risk-adverse environment,” Mendez Levy explains.
Eventually, Mendez Levy aims to set new benchmarks for quality assurance in large-scale solar deployment, reinforcing the role of technology in accelerating the global transition to clean energy.
A Global Leader in Renewable Energy
Mendez Levy’s leadership extends beyond his professional career. He is involved with the Global Shapers Community as the leader of the Houston Hub. This organization is part of a network of more than 500 hubs globally, promoted by the World Economic Forum, that empowers youth to address local issues, such as economic disparity and climate change.
“We are working on two impactful initiatives at the Houston area currently. One of which aims to address the revenue and knowledge gap between high- and low-income communities in our city, with the hope to provide more tools and resources for individuals in underrepresented communities to start their own business and become successful entrepreneurs. Something that we hope will help bridge the gap between the rich and the poor in our beloved city,” Mendez Levy shares.
These, and other projects, reflect Mendez Levy’s deep commitment to creating solutions that have a lasting impact on the community. His involvement in the Global Shapers Community is just one example of his drive to inspire change and make a difference on a larger scale.
Shaping the Future of Energy and Technology
Mendez Levy views the energy transition as a continually evolving field. Since 2020, renewable energy generation has increased exponentially, primarily due to the decreasing cost of photovoltaic (PV) panels and the enhanced capacity of supply chains. Financing for renewable energy projects has secured significant capital, given the decreasing project risks and increasing return on investment (ROI). These factors have led renewable energy to become a substantial proportion of electricity generation in many U.S. states.
Despite progress, factors like the potential repeal of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and tariffs with China could raise costs, making energy less affordable in renewable-heavy states like Texas, California, and Florida. These gains may also fall short in meeting the rising energy demand from AI.
Training advanced AI models, like GPT-4, requires 30 megawatts (MW) of power, equivalent to a small city’s consumption. By 2030, AI data centers in the U.S. could demand over 5 gigawatts (GW), roughly the energy consumption of Manhattan. Companies like Meta, Google, and Microsoft plan significant data center expansions. For instance, Meta is investing $60-65 billion in AI infrastructure, including a $10 billion Louisiana data center.
The market must innovate faster, with options like small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) emerging. Google is already investing in nuclear to meet AI energy needs. While the success of SMRs remains uncertain, an “All of the Above” approach — mixing renewables, nuclear, biofuels, and some fossil fuels — will be essential for powering society in the short and medium term.
Mendez Levy emphasizes that the rapid growth of AI technologies presents new challenges for energy consumption, as these advancements require immense amounts of power to operate. As the energy landscape continues to shift, Mendez Levy remains focused on driving innovation and sustainability in the sector.
