# Charles Haworth

> Charles Haworth is a renewable energy founder specialising in hybrid wind-solar-battery optimisation for firm, baseload renewable power, and in building AI-native companies with high-performing teams. He is co-founder & CTO/COO of Modaso Energy and co-founder & chairman of Tessera Hybrid (formerly Converge Hybrid).

Essays from an operator's seat on making renewable power firm and running companies on AI: 71 essays since 2020. For speaking, podcast or media enquiries: speaking@charleshaworth.com. Speaking page: https://charleshaworth.com/speaking/.

## About
- [About Charles Haworth](https://charleshaworth.com/about/): Charles Haworth is co-founder & Chief Technology and Operating Officer of Modaso Energy, a renewable energy developer building AI-native infrastructure for African markets, and co-founder & chairman of Tessera Hybrid (formerly Converge Hybrid), a wind-solar-battery optimisation platform. Previously COO/CFO at CWP Global, overseeing a 200+ GW Power-to-X portfolio, he spent 16 years at GE Vernova closing multi-billion-dollar wind deals, including the landmark 800 MW Vineyard Wind project. He holds a PhD in laser physics from Imperial College London and writes at charleshaworth.com.
- [Speaking & media](https://charleshaworth.com/speaking/): speaking topics, short and long bios, headshot, booking
- [Writing](https://charleshaworth.com/writing/): archive of all 71 essays, searchable and filterable by topic
## Expertise
- Hybrid renewable energy optimisation
- Wind-solar-battery hybrid power plants
- Firm and baseload renewable power
- Renewable energy project development in Africa
- Onshore and offshore wind
- Green hydrogen and Power-to-X
- Energy transition economics
- AI-native companies
- AI operating systems for business
- Building high-performing teams
- Operational leadership (COO/CFO)
- Laser physics
## Companies
- [Modaso Energy](https://www.modasoenergy.com): AI-native renewable energy developer, baseload wind-solar-battery for African markets; Charles is co-founder & CTO/COO
- [Tessera Hybrid (formerly Converge Hybrid)](https://www.converge-hybrid.com): hybrid renewable optimisation platform that sizes and prices firm renewable power via 30-year hourly simulations of thousands of wind-solar-battery configurations; Charles is co-founder & chairman
## Speaking topics
- **Hybrid renewables & firm power** — Why wind, solar and batteries behind one grid connection can deliver baseload-grade power — and what it costs, all-in.
- **The energy transition** — Economics, the security premium, Africa, hydrogen and P2X — what is actually driving the build-out.
- **AI-native companies** — Running a real business on an AI operating layer: what a COO/CFO automates, what it replaced, and how small teams compete.
- **Leadership & high-performing teams** — Building teams, closing multi-billion-dollar deals, and operating lessons from GE to start-up.
- **Investing** — Long-horizon positioning, inflation, metals and Bitcoin — from someone who invests in energy and tech start-ups.
## Start here
### Hybrid renewables & the energy transition
- [Beyond Intermittency](https://charleshaworth.com/beyond-intermittency/): Battery-hybrid renewable projects can deliver baseload-grade power at costs competitive with fossil fuels, a route for Africa to leapfrog grid constraints.
- [The Security Premium is Driving the Energy Transition](https://charleshaworth.com/the-security-premium-is-driving-the-energy-transition/): Drawing on Carlyle's The New Joule Order, the energy transition is now driven by security, as countries pay a premium for local, resilient energy.
- [Why we consistently underestimate the renewable energy industry: Accelerating our green future.](https://charleshaworth.com/why-we-consistently-underestimate-the-renewable-energy-industry-accelerating-our-green-future/): Forecasters consistently underestimate renewables because costs fall exponentially; a fast transition would cost over $500B a year less than none.
- [The Gulf’s Renewable Energy Surge in Africa](https://charleshaworth.com/the-gulfs-renewable-energy-surge-in-africa/): Saudi and UAE capital is flooding African renewables, but grid access, payment security and permitting, not turbines or PV prices, remain the bottleneck.
- [Why do wind turbines need to be so large, tall and scattered?](https://charleshaworth.com/why-do-wind-turbines-need-to-be-so-large/): Wind turbines are huge because swept area grows with blade length squared and wind energy with the cube of wind speed, so bigger rotors on taller towers win.
- [The State of the Energy Transition: A New Era of Opportunity](https://charleshaworth.com/the-state-of-the-energy-transition-a-new-era-of-opportunity/): Renewables follow an exponential cost-decline curve, so the energy transition is an economic opportunity: lower costs, reliable grids and prosperity.
### AI-native operations
- [How I Built My AI Stack, and How You Can Build Yours](https://charleshaworth.com/how-i-built-my-ai-stack-and-how-you-can-build-yours/): My AI stack is a system of named agents running on OpenClaw, WSL and Tailscale, and a plain-English guide to how a non-technical person can build one.
- [AI Is Reshaping Every Part of My Life. Here’s a Week of Proof](https://charleshaworth.com/ai-is-reshaping-every-part-of-my-life-heres-a-week-of-proof/): I tracked one four-day working week in April 2026: AI tools saved an estimated 37 to 52 hours across finance, software and content work.
- [How I Replaced Spreadsheet Chaos With an AI-Powered Operating System for My Business](https://charleshaworth.com/how-i-replaced-spreadsheet-chaos-with-an-ai-powered-operating-system-for-my-business/): I replaced company budget spreadsheets with Postgres, NocoDB, Metabase and Claude on a roughly €10-a-month self-hosted server, built in a few hours.
- [Building a Second Brain with AI: How I Transformed my Notion Notes Into My Operating System](https://charleshaworth.com/building-a-second-brain-with-ai-how-i-transformed-my-notion-notes-into-my-operating-system/): Notion stays the human-facing layer while a local index and Obsidian-style markdown memory give my self-hosted AI agent fast, persistent context.
- [AI: The Surprising Key to Reducing Global Energy Consumption](https://charleshaworth.com/ai-the-surprising-key-to-reducing-global-energy-consumption/): AI's energy demand is often framed as a threat, but as cost-reducing technology it should cut overall energy use and speed up renewable deployment.
### Building high-performing teams
- [How to develop your teams and become a better manager](https://charleshaworth.com/how-to-develop-your-teams-and-become-a-better-manager/): Managers fail to give useful feedback; intentional observation fixes it: schedule time to observe, take notes, then give specific examples one-to-one.
- [Do you want to know the most important thing a team leader can do? Weekly check-ins.](https://charleshaworth.com/do-you-want-to-know-the-most-important-thing-a-team-leader-can-do-weekly-check-ins/): Weekly 30-minute one-on-ones with each direct report beat monthly team meetings, a lesson from Radical Candor and Nine Lies About Work.
- [How to: Strategy deployment with Hoshin Kanri X-matrices](https://charleshaworth.com/strategy-deployment-with-hoshin-kanri-x-matrices/): Hoshin Kanri X-matrices align global teams on strategy, linking 3-5 year breakthrough objectives to annual goals, priority actions, targets and owners.
- [The Future of Careers in an AI-Powered World: How to Adapt and Thrive](https://charleshaworth.com/the-future-of-careers-in-an-ai-powered-world-how-to-adapt-and-thrive/): The energy transition, digitisation and AI are reshaping jobs; future-proof your career with human skills, AI fluency and growth industries.
## All essays
- [How I Built My AI Stack, and How You Can Build Yours](https://charleshaworth.com/how-i-built-my-ai-stack-and-how-you-can-build-yours/): 2026-04 · AI & Systems
- [AI Is Reshaping Every Part of My Life. Here’s a Week of Proof](https://charleshaworth.com/ai-is-reshaping-every-part-of-my-life-heres-a-week-of-proof/): 2026-04 · AI & Systems
- [How I Replaced Spreadsheet Chaos With an AI-Powered Operating System for My Business](https://charleshaworth.com/how-i-replaced-spreadsheet-chaos-with-an-ai-powered-operating-system-for-my-business/): 2026-04 · AI & Systems
- [Building a Second Brain with AI: How I Transformed my Notion Notes Into My Operating System](https://charleshaworth.com/building-a-second-brain-with-ai-how-i-transformed-my-notion-notes-into-my-operating-system/): 2026-02 · AI & Systems
- [The Gulf’s Renewable Energy Surge in Africa](https://charleshaworth.com/the-gulfs-renewable-energy-surge-in-africa/): 2026-02 · Renewable Energy
- [Why I’m Betting on Copper: The Most Important Metal You’re Not Watching](https://charleshaworth.com/why-im-betting-on-copper-the-most-important-metal-youre-not-watching/): 2026-02 · Renewable Energy
- [A Guide to Start Investing and Protect Your Future](https://charleshaworth.com/a-guide-to-start-investing-and-protect-your-future/): 2025-11 · Tips & Productivity
- [Beyond Intermittency](https://charleshaworth.com/beyond-intermittency/): 2025-10 · Renewable Energy
- [The Hidden Cost of Calendar and Contacts Chaos](https://charleshaworth.com/the-hidden-cost-of-calendar-and-contacts-chaos/): 2025-09 · Tips & Productivity
- [FIAT Money Debasing Faster Than During COVID](https://charleshaworth.com/fiat-money-debasing-faster-than-during-covid/): 2025-09 · Investing & Money
- [Why You Should Benchmark Every Investment Against Bitcoin](https://charleshaworth.com/why-you-should-benchmark-every-investment-against-bitcoin/): 2025-08 · Investing & Money
- [How Creatine Transformed My Strength & Muscle Growth | A Vegetarian’s Secret Weapon 💪](https://charleshaworth.com/how-creatine-transformed-my-strength-muscle-growth-a-vegetarians-secret-weapon/): 2025-04 · Tips & Productivity
- [The Security Premium is Driving the Energy Transition](https://charleshaworth.com/the-security-premium-is-driving-the-energy-transition/): 2025-03 · Renewable Energy
- [AI Coding Just Blew My Mind](https://charleshaworth.com/ai-coding-just-blew-my-mind/): 2025-03 · AI & Systems
- [Why Should Invest Now: A Beginner’s Guide to Growing Your Wealth](https://charleshaworth.com/why-should-invest-now-a-beginners-guide-to-growing-your-wealth/): 2025-02 · Investing & Money
- [The Future of Careers in an AI-Powered World: How to Adapt and Thrive](https://charleshaworth.com/the-future-of-careers-in-an-ai-powered-world-how-to-adapt-and-thrive/): 2025-02 · AI & Systems
- [Why You Must Start Investing Now: The Hidden Truth About Money and Inflation](https://charleshaworth.com/why-you-must-start-investing-now-the-hidden-truth-about-money-and-inflation/): 2025-02 · Investing & Money
- [The Magic of Compound Interest: How to Grow Your Wealth Exponentially](https://charleshaworth.com/the-magic-of-compound-interest-how-to-grow-your-wealth-exponentially/): 2025-02 · Investing & Money
- [The State of the Energy Transition: A New Era of Opportunity](https://charleshaworth.com/the-state-of-the-energy-transition-a-new-era-of-opportunity/): 2025-02 · Renewable Energy
- [AI: The Surprising Key to Reducing Global Energy Consumption](https://charleshaworth.com/ai-the-surprising-key-to-reducing-global-energy-consumption/): 2024-09 · AI & Systems
- [How Big Things Get Done](https://charleshaworth.com/how-big-things-get-done/): 2024-09 · Book Reviews
- [The Luck Factor Book Review](https://charleshaworth.com/the-luck-factor-book-review/): 2024-03 · Book Reviews
- [From Overwhelmed to Organized: The Power of a “Second Brain”](https://charleshaworth.com/the-power-of-a-second-brain/): 2023-01 · Tips & Productivity
- [Why we consistently underestimate the renewable energy industry: Accelerating our green future.](https://charleshaworth.com/why-we-consistently-underestimate-the-renewable-energy-industry-accelerating-our-green-future/): 2022-10 · Renewable Energy
- [How to effectively use KPIs with your team](https://charleshaworth.com/how-to-effectively-use-kpis/): 2022-09 · Tips & Productivity
- [The science behind the energy transition](https://charleshaworth.com/the-science-behind-the-energy-transition/): 2022-09 · Renewable Energy
- [A guide to commercial decision making](https://charleshaworth.com/a-guide-to-commercial-decision-making/): 2022-06 · Investing & Money
- [The Point of Maximum Uncertainty – Book Review](https://charleshaworth.com/the-point-of-maximum-uncertainty-book-review/): 2022-05 · Book Reviews
- [5 tips to better understand your CFO and get them on your side](https://charleshaworth.com/5-tips-to-better-understand-your-cfo/): 2022-04 · Investing & Money
- [The off-grid solar mining experiment: What does this mean for the energy industry?](https://charleshaworth.com/off-grid-solar-mining-experiment/): 2022-04 · Renewable Energy
- [How to give effective and engaging virtual training: Analysis of an expert](https://charleshaworth.com/how-to-give-effective-and-engaging-training-analysing-an-expert/): 2022-04 · Careers
- [Nine Lies About Work Book Review](https://charleshaworth.com/nine-lies-about-work-book-review/): 2022-03 · Book Reviews
- [Do you want to know the most important thing a team leader can do? Weekly check-ins.](https://charleshaworth.com/do-you-want-to-know-the-most-important-thing-a-team-leader-can-do-weekly-check-ins/): 2022-03 · Business & Leadership
- [The energy industry is undergoing a revolution from an unlikely source: Bitcoin.](https://charleshaworth.com/the-energy-industry-is-undergoing-a-revolution-from-an-unlikely-source-bitcoin/): 2022-02 · Renewable Energy
- [How to live in a city without a car](https://charleshaworth.com/how-to-live-in-a-city-without-a-car/): 2022-01 · Renewable Energy
- [The moment I looked into an atom with my own eyes…](https://charleshaworth.com/the-moment-i-looked-into-an-atom-with-my-own-eyes/): 2022-01 · Tips & Productivity
- [Why do wind turbines need to be so large, tall and scattered?](https://charleshaworth.com/why-do-wind-turbines-need-to-be-so-large/): 2022-01 · Renewable Energy
- [4 ways to control your time and achieve your goals](https://charleshaworth.com/4-ways-to-control-your-time-and-achieve-your-goals/): 2022-01 · Tips & Productivity
- [How to develop your teams and become a better manager](https://charleshaworth.com/how-to-develop-your-teams-and-become-a-better-manager/): 2022-01 · Tips & Productivity
- [Why I use a hardware crypto wallet and how it can protect you too](https://charleshaworth.com/why-i-use-a-hardware-crypto-wallet-and-how-it-can-protect-you-too/): 2022-01 · Investing & Money
- [Want to manipulate the stock market? Not so hard if you are a nation-state.](https://charleshaworth.com/want-to-manipulate-the-stock-market-not-so-hard-if-you-are-a-nation-state/): 2022-01 · Investing & Money
- [Is your sleep disrupted during the night? I have a solution](https://charleshaworth.com/is-your-sleep-disrupted-during-the-night-i-have-a-solution/): 2022-01 · Tips & Productivity
- [Are you a frequent traveller looking to save time packing? Mari Kondo has the solution.](https://charleshaworth.com/are-you-a-frequent-traveller-looking-to-save-time-packing-mari-kondo-has-the-solution/): 2022-01 · Tips & Productivity
- [KPIs the value and the danger](https://charleshaworth.com/kpis-the-value-and-the-danger/): 2022-01 · Tips & Productivity
- [How to: Strategy deployment with Hoshin Kanri X-matrices](https://charleshaworth.com/strategy-deployment-with-hoshin-kanri-x-matrices/): 2022-01 · Tips & Productivity
- [How to differentiate yourself at work, and stay true to yourself.](https://charleshaworth.com/how-to-differentiate-yourself-at-work-and-stay-true-to-yourself/): 2022-01 · Careers
- [Innovative Customer Experiences: The 11-star Exercise](https://charleshaworth.com/innovative-customer-experiences-the-11-star-exercise/): 2022-01 · Tips & Productivity
- [Storyworthy Book Review](https://charleshaworth.com/book-review-storyworthy-by-matthew-dicks/): 2022-01 · Book Reviews
- [Struggling to find a job? Tired of online applications? My review of the “20-minute network meeting”](https://charleshaworth.com/the-20-minute-network-meeting/): 2022-01 · Book Reviews
- [How to review a Non-Disclosure-Agreement](https://charleshaworth.com/how-to-review-a-non-disclosure-agreement/): 2022-01 · Tips & Productivity
- [I was hacked: Tips to protect yourself](https://charleshaworth.com/i-was-hacked-tips-to-protect-yourself/): 2022-01 · Tips & Productivity
- [$200 to $10,000 in 7 days, my first NFT experience.](https://charleshaworth.com/my-first-nft-experience/): 2022-01 · Investing & Money
- [The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive by Patrick Lencioni – Book Review](https://charleshaworth.com/book-review-the-four-obsessions-of-an-extraordinary-executive/): 2022-01 · Book Reviews
- [Writing tips for technical professionals](https://charleshaworth.com/writing-tips-for-technical-professionals/): 2021-11 · Tips & Productivity
- [Are electric vehicles the key to unleashing renewable energy?](https://charleshaworth.com/are-electric-vehicles-the-key-to-unleashing-renewable-energy/): 2021-11 · Renewable Energy
- [The Psychology of Money Book Review](https://charleshaworth.com/the-psychology-of-money-book-review/): 2021-09 · Book Reviews
- [Storyworthy Book Review](https://charleshaworth.com/storyworthy-book-review/): 2021-09 · Book Reviews
- [Bitcoin and sustainable energy](https://charleshaworth.com/bitcoin-and-sustainable-energy/): 2021-09 · Renewable Energy
- [Will hydrogen save the planet?](https://charleshaworth.com/will-hydrogen-save-the-planet/): 2021-05 · Renewable Energy
- [How to be a better communicator](https://charleshaworth.com/how-to-be-a-better-communicator/): 2021-03 · Careers
- [Radical Candor Book Review](https://charleshaworth.com/radical-candor/): 2021-01 · Book Reviews
- [LEAN Optimisation for Office Work – Waste of time or gamechanger?](https://charleshaworth.com/lean-optimisation-for-office-work/): 2021-01 · Tips & Productivity
- [How can all houses be powered by the wind?](https://charleshaworth.com/how-can-all-houses-be-powered-by-the-wind/): 2020-12 · Renewable Energy
- [Make Time Book Review](https://charleshaworth.com/make-time-book-review/): 2020-12 · Book Reviews
- [How to manage a successful career in a large company](https://charleshaworth.com/how-to-manage-a-successful-career-in-a-large-company/): 2020-11 · Careers
- [Millionaire Expat Book Review](https://charleshaworth.com/millionaire-expat-book-review/): 2020-11 · Book Reviews
- [Unconscious bias and diversity in the workplace a middle-aged white guy’s view.](https://charleshaworth.com/unconscious-bias/): 2020-11 · Business & Leadership
- [Atomic Habits Book Review](https://charleshaworth.com/atomic-habits-book-review/): 2020-09 · Book Reviews
- [E-mail is a time killer – how to control the beast](https://charleshaworth.com/e-mail-is-a-time-killer-how-to-control-the-beast/): 2020-09 · Tips & Productivity
- [My first blog post](https://charleshaworth.com/my-first-blog-post/): 2020-08 · Tips & Productivity
- [Starting a career in renewable energy](https://charleshaworth.com/starting-a-career-in-renewable-energy/): 2020-08 · Renewable Energy
## Full text
- [llms-full.txt](https://charleshaworth.com/llms-full.txt): every essay in markdown
- [RSS](https://charleshaworth.com/feed.xml)
## Profiles
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-haworth/
- https://charleshaworth.substack.com
- https://x.com/Charles_Haworth