Two Georgia Tech Grads Named to Forbes 30 Under 30 List in Energy

This is an excerpt from the Features story published on December 20, 2022.

Two Georgia Tech alumni have been selected to the Forbes 30 under 30 list in the Energy category. 

Nicholas Selby, a Mechanical engineering graduate from Georgia Tech and currently serving as the director of engineering at Renewvia Solar Africa, is building solar-powered minigrids to bring electricity to refugees in Northern Kenya and rural communities in Kenya, Nigeria and Ethiopia. 

"Joining the Georgia Tech Solar Racing team prepared me to succeed not only by introducing me to the incredible power of photovoltaic technology, but also by teaching me the leadership and engineering fundamentals I use building dolar mini-grids across Africa," he said.

With a master's degree in computer science from Georgia Tech, Zhenyu Zhang serves as the chief technologist at AmmPower, where he is developing an Independent Ammonia Making Machine to produce green ammonia that has various uses including a hydrogen carrier, carbon-free fertilizer, fuel or nitriding chemicals in the semiconductor industry. 

"My time at Georgia Tech has helped me tremendously. The Deliberate Innovation and Startup class taught by Merrick Furst helped me develop the idea of building an ammonia company and taught me valuable skills, including identifying cognitive biases and authentic demands."

Nicholas and Zhenyu were among the eight yellow jackets who made it to the 2023 Forbes 30 under 30 list.