Thomas Koch Blank

Principal

Rocky Mountain Institute

Thomas Koch Blank is a principal at the Rocky Mountain Institute. An engineer by education, he trained in operations and drilled in business acumen at McKinsey & Company, built the first "McKinsey Marginal Abatement Cost Curve" in 2005 and spent the following eight years building what would become a full scale practice (business area) around sustainability and resource productivity.

Inside the misconception that hydrogen is a significant warming risk

June 2, 2022

by Thomas Koch Blank

The myth vs. the reality: behind the controversy about green hydrogen and how to accelerate its potential.
A new Swedish iron processing project could disrupt the global steel industry

December 17, 2020

by Thomas Koch Blank

The new way of processing iron uses hydrogen instead of coal — building on hydrogen's low-emissions promise.
- Emissions Reduction
- Chemicals & Toxics
Entergy's plans mark a kickstart for U.S. hydrogen

October 22, 2020

by Thomas Koch Blank & Patrick Molloy & Christian Roselund

Could power sector demand scale hydrogen by 100 times?
- Renewable Energy
Green steel is a multi-billion dollar opportunity

October 14, 2020

by Thomas Koch Blank

No major technology shift has been introduced in the steel industry. But to get to net-zero emissions, new tech is fundamentally required — and fast.
When cheap doesn’t cut it: Why energy buyers should look at value, not just cost

May 16, 2018

by & Thomas Koch Blank

As renewables are mainstreamed, the cheapest energy project may no longer create the best value.
RMI scales community solar across the U.S.

March 3, 2017

by Thomas Koch Blank & Titiaan Palazzi & Todd Zeranski

How the organization enabled PPAs at prices 40 percent below median bids and plans to unlock a 5-30 GW market by 2020.
- Renewable Energy
- Community Energy
Community-scale solar can power corporations, too

September 27, 2016

by Titiaan Palazzi & Thomas Koch Blank

There's a new way for companies to invest in renewable energy. Is it right for you?
- Energy & Climate
- Community Energy
3 radical shifts required to hit the Paris climate goals

May 10, 2016

by Jules Kortenhorst & Thomas Koch Blank

It will take more than a 21st century grid makeover to reach a 2-degree world, including a rethinking of energy supply and demand.