The Guest – Molly Webb, Founder of Energy Unlocked and Co-Founder of PeerCo
Molly Webb is the Founder of Energy Unlocked and Co-Founder of PeerCo, with over 20 years of experience at the intersection of technology and climate policy. She works to accelerate inclusive energy transitions by supporting startups, shaping policy, and enabling data-driven financing for electrification. Her focus spans demand-side flexibility, urban decarbonization, and creating tangible climate impact beyond tech hype.
Molly shares the origins and evolution of Energy Unlocked’s mission to empower Cleantech startups and influence policy, and how that work led to Peerco; a venture tackling the challenge of financing small-scale urban decarbonisation projects through innovative use of energy attribute certificates. From city farms in London to solar projects in Lagos, Molly offers a grounded perspective on the realities of system change, the need for robust verification in carbon markets, and the importance of collective action as we push toward 2030.
Some highlights of this episode include:
- The origin stories of Energy Unlocked and Peerco
- Inclusive energy transition & urban decarbonization
- Making behind-the-meter interventions financially viable
- Tech industry’s ethical role and cleantech initiatives
Q:If you were to look back in the last 20 years, what’s been the most rewarding aspect of the work so far for you?
“I’ve been a proponent of tech as a way to solve our challenges, but now I’m questioning some of that optimism. I was really excited to write the Smart 2020 report, showing how climate solutions could be digitally enabled. But looking back, I now see that many tech business models, like social media and advertising, have had unintended negative consequences on society.
[..] Not all tech is used in ways that are beneficial. So how are we, as an industry, going to stand up and say: yes, we’re using tech for better outcomes—but also recognize that it’s hard and slow, and we risk being outpaced by models that aren’t aligned with climate or social good?
[..] I’m starting to worry that if I say ‘tech for good’ now, people might see it as greenwashing. And that’s a real challenge. I genuinely want to solve these problems, but I’m more self-critical now than ever. We need to take responsibility and make sure our work leads to real, measurable impact—not just hype.”
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