Saul Griffith

Saul Griffith is an Australian-American engineer, inventor, and clean-energy entrepreneur. - **Background:** Born in Sydney, Australia; educated in engineering at the University of New South Wales and the University of Sydney, and earned a Ph.D. from MIT. He received a **2007 MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship**. - **Current role:** He is a **co-founder and chief scientist of Rewiring America**, a nonprofit promoting household and economy-wide electrification, and founded **Rewiring Australia**. - **Notable work:** Griffith co-founded **Makani Power**, which developed airborne wind-energy systems later acquired by Google; founded the engineering and technology firm **Otherlab**; and wrote *Electrify: An Optimist’s Playbook for Our Clean Energy Future*. His work focuses on replacing fossil-fuel technologies with electric alternatives powered by clean energy.

Saul Griffith is an **Australian-American engineer, inventor, and clean-energy advocate** best known for promoting large-scale electrification as a climate strategy.[1][3][4] He studied engineering in Australia, earned graduate degrees at MIT, and received a **MacArthur “Genius” grant** in 2007.[1][3][13] He is the **founder and chief scientist of Otherlab** and a **co-founder of Rewiring America**, a nonprofit focused on electrification and decarbonization.[1][3][8] His notable work includes founding or co-founding multiple technology companies, including **Makani Power** and **Instructables**, and writing books such as *Electrify* and *The Big Switch*.[1][3][4]

# Saul Griffith Saul Griffith is an engineer and inventor focused on clean energy and climate solutions. **Background:** - Trained as a mechanical engineer at MIT - Founded several companies including Makani Power (acquired by Google in 2020), which developed airborne wind turbines **Current Role:** - Co-founder and Chief Scientist of Rewiring America, a nonprofit focused on electrification and decarbonization of homes and buildings - Active researcher and public communicator on climate and energy topics **Notable Work:** - Advocates for widespread electrification as a climate strategy - Published research and given talks on the technical and economic feasibility of transitioning to clean energy - Known for making complex energy concepts accessible to general audiences I should note that my information has a knowledge cutoff date, so there may be more recent developments in his work that I'm not aware of. For the most current information, checking his organization's website or recent publications would be advisable.

**Background:** Saul Griffith is an Australian-born inventor, engineer, and author who earned his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He holds numerous patents and has founded several technology and clean-energy companies. **Current Role:** He is the co-founder and Chief Scientist of Rewiring America, a nonprofit research and advocacy organization focused on the electrification of households and the economy to combat climate change. He is also the founder of other ventures, including Otherlab (a research and development studio). **Notable Work:** * **Rewiring America:** Authored influential blueprints and books—such as *Electrify: An Optimist's Playbook for Our Clean Energy Future*—detailing how households can transition to electric vehicles, heat pumps, and solar power. * **High-Altitude Wind Energy:** Co-founded Makani Power (later acquired by Google), which developed airborne wind turbines designed to harvest energy from high-altitude winds. * **Inventions & Innovation:** Received the MacArthur Fellowship ("Genius Grant") in 2007 for his work in inventing new technologies across energy, materials science, and manufacturing.

Saul Griffith is an Australian-American engineer, inventor, and entrepreneur in the field of clean energy. Here is a concise factual summary: **Background**: Saul Griffith was born in 1968 in Australia. He earned his undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Sydney and his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the Australian National University. **Current Role**: Griffith is currently a Professor of Engineering at the Australian National University and a Research Scientist at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). **Notable Work**: Griffith is known for his work on renewable energy, energy storage, and sustainable technologies. Some of his notable contributions include: * Developing the first practical superconducting materials for power applications * Designing and building the first electric aircraft, the "E-Fan X", which flew in 2019 * Founding the company Suntech, which developed thin-film solar cells * Co-founding the company AusAniline, which developed a new process for producing aniline, a chemical used in the production of polyurethane foams Griffith has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to engineering and clean energy, including the Australian Prime Minister's Prize for Science in 2017. He is also a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).