About
Co-Founder and CEO of Harvest - Time Magazine Top GreenTech Companies 2024 - Fast Company…
Articles by Jane
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Taking Inspiration from Nature - Welcome to Our New Look!
Taking Inspiration from Nature - Welcome to Our New Look!
It’s a big day for us at QuintessenceLabs. We’re proud to unveil our new look, which better captures what our company…
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The Second Quantum Revolution: Part III
The Second Quantum Revolution: Part III
This topic was part of a recent symposium “The Coming Quantum Revolution: Security and Policy Implications” I was…
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The Second Quantum Revolution: Part II
The Second Quantum Revolution: Part II
Quantum technology surrounds us with components like transistors, lasers, GPS and MRI imagers that all use quantum…
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The Second Quantum Revolution: Part I
The Second Quantum Revolution: Part I
Today, quantum technology is all around us, and just beginning to permeate our lexicon and mainstream culture – from…
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A Federal Cyber-security Primer
A Federal Cyber-security Primer
As new federal agency leaders continue to gather in Washington, DC, they’re facing serious cybersecurity…
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A Primer for new Cyber Leaders
A Primer for new Cyber Leaders
As new federal agency leaders continue to gather in Washington, DC, they’re facing serious cybersecurity…
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Australia’s Maturing Cybersecurity
Australia’s Maturing Cybersecurity
Watching Prime Minister Turnbull’s opening remarks to the SINET 61 (Security Innovation Network) event in Sydney just a…
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Secret Ingredients for Encryption Deployments… and a Sane IT Security Team
Secret Ingredients for Encryption Deployments… and a Sane IT Security Team
Cybersecurity decisions are often balancing acts: you want to move your company’s data to the cloud, but you’re worried…
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An In-House Security Approach for Cloud Services that Won’t Drive Your IT Department Insane
An In-House Security Approach for Cloud Services that Won’t Drive Your IT Department Insane
“If your security sucks now, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the lack of change when you move to cloud.” Chris Hoff…
Activity
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Despite California having twice the retail residential electricity price as Texas, Texans pay 28% more per capita for electricity each year because…
Despite California having twice the retail residential electricity price as Texas, Texans pay 28% more per capita for electricity each year because…
Liked by Jane Melia, Ph.D.
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Somehow- despite being buried in all time record snowfall here in Rhode Island - my heat pumps kept my house nice and toasty. They used an extra…
Somehow- despite being buried in all time record snowfall here in Rhode Island - my heat pumps kept my house nice and toasty. They used an extra…
Liked by Jane Melia, Ph.D.
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One of the great pleasures of my job these days is being able to talk the nitty-gritty of electricity with some of the smartest people out there. I…
One of the great pleasures of my job these days is being able to talk the nitty-gritty of electricity with some of the smartest people out there. I…
Liked by Jane Melia, Ph.D.
Experience
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Education
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Licenses & Certifications
Volunteer Experience
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Co-chair
CSA Quantum Safe Security Work Group
- 3 years 8 months
Science and Technology
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Co-Founder and Project Lead
350 SV
- 3 years 1 month
Environment
350 Silicon Valley is a chapter of 350.org, a global non profit founded by Bill McKibben to fight Climate Change. I co-founded this organization, taking roles on the coordination committee, project lead and general volunteer.
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Puppy Raiser
Guide Dogs for the Blind
- 3 years 3 months
Social Services
We raised 2 guide dog puppies from 8 weeks to 16 months in preparation for their full guide dog training.
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Volunteer
Multiple engagements with environmental organizations
- 2 years
Environment
Participant in Green Ribbon Task Force for the City of Palo Alto: I took responsibility for energy opportunity modeling to help direct priorities.
Sierra Club: participated in Cool Cities Campaign, specific involvement in San Jose group.
Publications
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Analysis Of Energy Production At A 1 MW CPV Site In Southern California
8th International Conference on Concentrating PV System
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Scalability of CPV towards multi-GW deployment
8th International Conference on Concentrating PV Systems
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SolFocus: Operational experience at Victor Valley College
3rd CPV Summit US
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Energy Modeling and Rating Systems
CPVC Workshop, Solar Power International, Dallas, Texas
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Inverter size optimization for grid-connected concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) plants
Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC), 2011 37th IEEE
Concentrator PV systems utilize different part of solar irradiation arriving at the Earth's surface and typically generate different power profiles than traditional flat plate PV or thin film. These factors need to be taken into account during plant design, particularly for inverter sizing strategies, and will result in very different inverter size/ rated DC power ratios than flat plate PV systems. This paper describes a methodology for sizing inverters for CPV power plants that optimizes the…
Concentrator PV systems utilize different part of solar irradiation arriving at the Earth's surface and typically generate different power profiles than traditional flat plate PV or thin film. These factors need to be taken into account during plant design, particularly for inverter sizing strategies, and will result in very different inverter size/ rated DC power ratios than flat plate PV systems. This paper describes a methodology for sizing inverters for CPV power plants that optimizes the financial return of a project, taking into account energy generation profiles and financial parameters for large scale projects. Using hourly CPV power output throughout the year for a number of locations with high Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI) in southwest US, the optimal inverter size to maximize financial return over the project term is determined taking into account the magnitude and financial value of inverter energy clipping, capital and on-going costs and other project financial parameters. This analysis demonstrates the value of inverter sizing to CPV rated power ratios at or close to 1:1 at CPV standard operating condition (SOC) rating (850W/m2 DNI, 20°C Ambient, On-Sun), or 1:1.25 at standard testing condition (STC) rating (1000W/m2 DNI, 25°C Cell). Concrete examples of how this methodology was applied to several commercial and planned SolFocus sites are presented.
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Rational Ratings
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Site Data Analysis of SolFocus CPV Plants
5th IEEE PV Specialists Conference, Honolulu, Hawaii USA
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Using Levelized Cost of Energy to Drive Engineering and Operations Decisions
2nd International Conference on Concentrating Photovoltaics, Darmstadt, Germany
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Key Advantages of CPV for Lowering Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE)
International Conference on Solar Concentrators for the Generation of Electricity ICSC 5
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Less is More, Later is Better
APICS Journal
Honors & Awards
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World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer 2018
World Economic Forum
What does QuintessenceLabs have in common with Airbnb, Google, Spotify and Twitter? We’ve all been named Tech Pioneers by the World Economic Forum! We were selected for our contributions in the field of data protection, helping companies get ready for quantum computing, which will seriously challenge existing data security approaches.
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SINET16 Innovator Award
SINET
Led QuintessenceLabs' SINET Innovator award application, resulting in our selection for this prestigious award from among the most competitive applicant pool since the Showcase began.The entries were vetted in a two-stage process by the SINET Showcase Steering Committee, comprised of 100 security experts from the venture, government, industry, academia, investment banking and private sector communities. QuintessenceLabs was chosen from a pool of applicants from around the world, representing a…
Led QuintessenceLabs' SINET Innovator award application, resulting in our selection for this prestigious award from among the most competitive applicant pool since the Showcase began.The entries were vetted in a two-stage process by the SINET Showcase Steering Committee, comprised of 100 security experts from the venture, government, industry, academia, investment banking and private sector communities. QuintessenceLabs was chosen from a pool of applicants from around the world, representing a range of solution providers offering cutting-edge technologies to address cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities.
Languages
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English
Native or bilingual proficiency
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French
Native or bilingual proficiency
Recommendations received
3 people have recommended Jane
Join now to viewMore activity by Jane
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💡 Clean energy innovation doesn't stop—it adapts. Yes, OBBBA is eliminating residential heat pump tax credits. But the clean energy transition is…
💡 Clean energy innovation doesn't stop—it adapts. Yes, OBBBA is eliminating residential heat pump tax credits. But the clean energy transition is…
Shared by Jane Melia, Ph.D.
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Fallon Vaughan
Excited to be heading to Aggie Square tomorrow for the MIX event and to be part of a conversation about what resilient, community-focused energy actually looks like in practice. In my recent post, I dove into why the microgrid market is set to nearly triple and why utilities and communities are starting to view microgrids as complete energy alternatives, not just temporary stopgaps—looking forward to carrying that discussion into the room with founders, policymakers, and partners who are building what comes next. BoxPower #Batteryenergystorage #Reliableenergy #Microgrids #Sacramento
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Nick Woolley
Dynamic rates, VPPs and active managed charging in California is growing! Thank you to AESP for the recognition and thank you to MCE and California Energy Commission for your continued partnership to deliver This is a great example of delivering advanced active managed charging, coordinated in real time with energy rates, and devices like solar to work in harmony with the energy system. ev.energy have been doing multi-device level distribution level grid coordinated optimization since 2017. We've grown from a proof-of-concept to a commercial multi-device platform, that works with pretty much all EVs plus solar and batteries in the USA. It's delightful to be able to be playing the leadership role at scale in California, helping to make energy bills more affordable, and more reliable, everywhere in the world. Our platform recently crested over 300,000 users, which in the residential space provides a route to ~2 GW of nameplate capacity globally. This big dispatchable resource includes EVs, solar panels and batteries and we can use to help manage the grid - for the benefit of energy companies and ratepayers. Thank you to everyone at ev.energy and all our partners who's contributed to make this impact happen. Looking forward to more impact as we continue to scale programs in the Golden State and beyond!
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Tim Ryan
Insightful - to see the USA/CA perspective - post “Net Electricity Metering” thinking. Not sure I agree though that grid defection is an option let alone an objective. We need a better more efficient distribution networks (and not lumbered with monopoly integrated [actual or synthetic] vertically integrated utilities!! It’s the “Consumers’ Grid”‼️ “There’s a very clear price signal to homeowners that they should invest in clean energy in a way that sets them up to either defect or cooperate with the grid,” Krause added, explaining that net billing has accelerated this utility death spiral that makes self-consumption of solar energy more economical.”
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Skylimit Solar
Step-by-Step: Getting Faster Solar Permits with Symbium and Our Consultancy Speed is everything in solar installation—and one of the biggest bottlenecks is solar permitting. If you're a solar installer in California, you know how long and unpredictable the permitting process can be. But with Symbium solar permitting and the help of an experienced consultancy like ours, you can dramatically reduce turnaround time and avoid costly delays. With over 3 years of experience and 300+ successful solar permits processed through Symbium, SolarApp+, and traditional AHJ channels, we help solar contractors streamline permitting What is Symbium Solar Permitting? Symbium is a smart digital permitting platform used by many California jurisdictions (AHJs). It simplifies the solar permitting process by automating much of the plan submission and review, reducing human error, and making communication between installers and city planners more efficient. However, using Symbium effectively still requires expertise. Every AHJ has its own rules, and missing even one detail can lead to revisions, rejections, and delays. That’s where we come in. Why Use a Symbium Permit Consultancy? While Symbium is designed for ease, real-world permitting is rarely that simple. Here's how our consultancy ensures faster, smoother, and error-free permits: We know the platform inside and out. We understand AHJ-specific requirements. We optimize the application for speed and approval. We communicate with the AHJ if issues arise. With our expert team handling your Symbium solar permits, you skip the guesswork and focus on your installations. Step-by-Step: How We Get Your Solar Permits Faster with Symbium Step 1: Project Intake & Review We start by gathering all your project details—system size, design files, structural loads, etc. Our team reviews the documents to ensure they meet Symbium standards and local AHJ codes. Step 2: Design File Optimization We audit and fine-tune your site plan, structural drawings, electrical layout, and supporting documents so that they meet both Symbium upload criteria and jurisdiction-specific requirements. Step 3: Submission Through Symbium Using our verified Symbium consultant login, we upload your documents into the appropriate AHJ’s portal via Symbium. We fill out all forms with precision and attach required documents in proper formats. Step 4: AHJ Monitoring & Corrections (If Needed) We monitor the submission status and quickly respond to any correction requests. Our team liaises with local officials to clarify requirements and ensure a speedy resolution. Step 5: Permit Approval & Delivery Once approved, we deliver the permit documents directly to you—often within a few days, depending on the AHJ’s responsiveness and system type. Why Installers Choose Our Symbium Consultancy Here’s what sets us apart: 3+ years of solar permitting experience 300+ permits successfully completed Deep knowledge of California AHJs and Symbium integration
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Green Collar - Find your talent
🌱 Planted Solar is redefining how solar gets built—faster, cheaper, and on land others can't use. The California startup just raised $12M to scale its terrain-conforming PV arrays, which require 50% less land and 70% less steel than traditional systems. With integrated software, robotics, and simplified construction, it’s a game-changer for community solar and land-constrained projects. Innovation like this is key to unlocking clean energy at scale! 👉 https://lnkd.in/ecBKVXAG #SolarPower #Innovation #CleanTech #CommunitySolar #EnergyTransition #GreenTech #RenewableEnergy
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Walker L Wright
“Our analysis demonstrates that the DSGS program can deliver reliable, utility-scale capacity at a significantly lower cost than traditional solutions,” said Ryan Hledik, Principal at The Brattle Group and coauthor of the report. “As more Californians install home batteries, programs like DSGS will be an important opportunity to tap into those batteries to improve energy affordability, enhance system reliability, and advance decarbonization goals.” #der ☀️ 🔋 🏠 💥 ☀️ 🔋 $
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EnergyScape Renewables
7 Ways California Can Cut Energy Bills—Without Hurting Solar Customers California’s rising energy costs don’t have to come at the expense of rooftop solar. It’s time for smarter, fairer solutions. In our latest blog, we break down 7 powerful ways the state can lower electricity bills and keep solar adoption thriving—including: ✅ Smarter time-of-use pricing ✅ Battery & storage incentives ✅ Virtual power plants ✅ Support for renters via community solar These aren’t future fantasies—they’re real strategies being used today. If you care about affordable energy and solar growth, this read is for you. 🌞 👉 Check out the full blog here: https://lnkd.in/dQrKBhD8 #CleanEnergy #SolarPower #CaliforniaEnergy #GridInnovation #EnergyStorage #SustainableFuture
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Tim Bernhard
New report outlines possibilities of permanent California solar + storage “resilience hubs” Power outages are on the rise nationwide as climate change brings more frequent wildfires, heat waves and severe weather events. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the state of California have both recently established funding to help communities create “resilience hubs” that rely on solar + battery systems to provide emergency power for residents.… The post New report outlines possibilities of permanent California solar + storage “resilience hubs” appeared first on Solar Power World.
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Erik Kobayashi-Solomon
From CTV Updates The latest news from the ClimateTech world Three breakthrough technologies just hit major milestones: Energy Vault's 57 MW battery system went live in Texas ahead of schedule, Anax Power is harvesting clean energy from pipeline pressure alone, and Captura opened their first US manufacturing facility for ocean carbon capture. Learn More: https://lnkd.in/gRe2TDYJ
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Spencer Frazier
**Why Stronger Solar Rights Laws Are Key to Supporting Rural Landowners and Clean Energy Progress** ✅ Local solar bans are limiting rural landowner opportunities More counties across the U.S. are enacting ordinances that restrict or even ban solar installations. This is especially damaging in rural areas, where landowners often have large parcels suitable for solar projects. These restrictions not only threaten rural economic independence but also hinder the nation’s clean energy goals. ✅ Solar rights laws can protect energy freedom and land use Stronger state-level solar rights protections are needed to ensure that landowners retain the choice to lease or develop land for solar power. Legislation can prevent arbitrary county or municipal bans that prevent farmers and property owners from taking advantage of this growing industry and earning reliable income — all while supporting local grid stability. ✅ Solar development boosts rural economies and sustainability Solar projects create new jobs, generate tax revenue, and provide long-term lease payments to landowners. These benefits are especially important in rural communities facing declining agricultural revenue. Strengthening solar rights isn’t just about energy — it’s about empowering communities to grow sustainably and benefit economically from the renewable energy transition. 🌞💼🌱 As local opposition grows, it’s more critical than ever
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