FFFS 2026 | Future Energy Panel 1: Next Generation Energy
Why Next-Generation Energy? Building resilience means looking beyond today’s energy mix
Singapore, 23 September 2026 — As Singapore and Japan look towards the decades ahead, building energy resilience will require more than scaling the solutions available today. It will also require preparing for new energy sources, alternative fuels and the investment pathways needed to bring emerging technologies into real-world use.
Against this backdrop, the Future Food & Fuel Summit (FFFS) 2026 will convene its first Future Energy panel, “Next Generation Energy,” bringing together perspectives across fusion energy, green methanol, and energy investment and deployment .
Panelists
Yosuke Kubo
COO, Business Development
Helical Fusion Co., Ltd.
Zhaotan Xiao
Co-Founder & CEO
METHA8
Abhay Shah
Chief Investment Officer
Shizuoka Gas Asia
Moderator: Leave a Nest Singapore
Taking place on Friday, 2 October 2026, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, the panel will explore a central question: what will it take for the next generation of energy solutions to move from technological potential towards commercial deployment?
The discussion brings together three distinct but interconnected perspectives. Helical Fusion represents the long-term potential of fusion as a new source of energy. METHA8 brings the perspective of green methanol and alternative fuels, while Shizuoka Gas Asia adds the investment and established energy-industry perspective needed to examine how new solutions can be financed, integrated and deployed.
Rather than positioning any single technology as the answer, the panel will examine how the future energy landscape could involve a diverse portfolio of technologies operating across different timescales and applications. The discussion will consider the challenges between innovation and adoption, including commercial viability, infrastructure readiness, investment, industry partnerships and pathways to scale.
The Singapore–Japan relationship provides an important context for this conversation. Both countries face resource and energy constraints while possessing complementary strengths across technology development, engineering, investment, infrastructure and regional commercialization. As Singapore and Japan commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations, FFFS aims to explore how these strengths can translate into the next generation of energy partnerships.
Yosuke Kubo
COO, Head of Business Development, Helical Fusion
Yosuke Kubo is COO of Helical Fusion, a stellarator fusion developer spun out from Japan’s National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS), where he leads business development and operations. Prior to joining Helical Fusion, he spent 15 years at Mitsui & Co., Ltd. in the energy business. His primary expertise is in business development and commercial structuring, with experience spanning oil and gas upstream production, refining, commodity trading, M&A and strategic planning. Panels & Roundtable Info
Zhaotan Xiao
Co-Founder & CEO, METHA8
Zhaotan Xiao is Co-Founder and CEO of METHA8, the 2026 Temasek Liveability Challenge winner, focused on delivering affordable decarbonised power from liquid methanol. He also serves on the Board of Denominator, an AI-native data solutions provider for emissions compliance, MRV and EAC issuance. Previously, he served on the boards of RWDC Industries and REDEX. Zhaotan began his career as a trader at JP Morgan, Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein and ANZ, eventually serving as Global Head of Commodities Trading. He has also served as a Venture Partner with WI Harper.
Abhay Shah
Chief Investment Officer, Shizuoka Gas Overseas Business Division
Abhay Shah is Chief Investment Officer at Shizuoka Gas’ Overseas Business Division in Singapore. Shizuoka Gas is a Japanese utility actively investing globally and across Asia-Pacific in renewable energy and natural gas and LNG-related infrastructure, including midstream and downstream. Abhay has three decades of experience, including more than 15 years based in Singapore, focusing on Asia-Pacific’s power and infrastructure industry. His experience spans business development, investments and M&A, bringing an investment and commercial deployment perspective to the future of energy.
Event Details
Future Energy Panel 1: Next Generation Energy
Date: Friday, 2 October 2026
Time: 12:00 PM–1:00 PM
Venue: Padang & Co, Singapore
The Future Food & Fuel Summit 2026 is organized by Leave a Nest Singapore together with the Embassy of Japan in Singapore as part of SJ60 , bringing together approximately 100 invitation-only stakeholders across industry, government, research, investment and deep technology.
Learn more about FFFS 2026:
https://hic.lne.st/en/schedule/future-food-fuel-summit-2026/