Interview at COP30 — Edward Stones, Business Vice President, Energy and Climate, Dow

At the Net Zero Nuclear Pavilion at COP30, we spoke with Edward Stones, Business Vice President for Energy & Climate at Dow, about the critical role of reliable, clean energy in industrial decarbonisation and how advanced nuclear technologies can support a just transition for energy-intensive sectors.

As one of the world’s largest materials science companies, Dow operates energy-intensive facilities with around-the-clock heat and power demands. Stones discussed why nuclear is emerging as a practical, scalable solution for deep industrial decarbonisation—and how Dow’s partnership with X-energy is helping demonstrate a new model for industry–nuclear collaboration.

Key Themes from the Interview

Reliable & Clean Energy for Industry

Stones underscored how essential 24/7, high-temperature energy is for Dow’s global manufacturing operations. Industrial production depends on continuous baseload heat and power—needs that cannot be met by renewables alone. Nuclear offers a source of reliable, zero-carbon energy that aligns with Dow’s long-term net-zero strategy.

Just Transition & Community Partnerships

He highlighted the importance of delivering decarbonisation in a way that supports local communities, protects skilled industrial jobs, and ensures long-term economic stability. As Dow scales nuclear and other clean technologies, community engagement and transparent dialogue remain central to ensuring a just transition for industrial regions.

The Seadrift Project & X-energy Collaboration

Stones outlined Dow’s advanced nuclear project at Seadrift, Texas, developed in partnership with X-energy. The deployment of Xe-100 high-temperature gas reactors is designed to provide both power and process heat—an essential requirement for decarbonising chemical manufacturing. The project is part of Dow’s broader Path2Zero programme and demonstrates how industry–technology partnerships can accelerate real-world deployment.

Why Nuclear Appeals to Energy-Intensive Sectors

From stable long-term energy pricing to high-temperature steam production and grid-independent reliability, nuclear addresses several challenges that energy-intensive sectors face as they pursue net-zero targets. These characteristics make nuclear a compelling option for industries that need continuous, high-quality energy.

Policy, Regulatory & Market Enablers

Stones emphasised the need for clear regulatory pathways, predictable licensing timelines, supportive policy frameworks, and business models that reduce first-of-a-kind risk. Fuel security, project timing, and cost discipline also emerged as key global enablers for scaling industry–nuclear partnerships.

Cross-Sector Collaboration

He noted that accelerating deployment requires coordinated efforts between technology developers, manufacturers, fuel suppliers, utilities, and industrial energy users. Standardised designs and repeatable delivery models can help create a scalable ecosystem capable of supporting multiple global projects.

Expanding Momentum Beyond North America

While much of today’s progress is happening in the United States, Stones pointed to opportunities to replicate this momentum in other regions—provided that governments invest in enabling policy, modern regulatory frameworks, and early-stage commercial partnerships. Global supply chains, skilled labour, and long-term political commitment will be essential to deployment at scale.

Watch the Full Interview

View the full conversation on the World Nuclear Association’s YouTube channel to hear Edward Stones’ insights on how nuclear energy can support industrial decarbonisation, community resilience, and a competitive, low-carbon manufacturing future.