Jane Melia, Ph.D.

Current Position

CEO and Co-Founder at Harvest Thermal

Expertise

  • Sustainable Energy Solutions

  • Building Electrification

  • Thermal Energy Storage

  • Cleantech Startups

  • Product Development and Innovation

Professional Experience

Dr. Jane Melia has over 20 years of experience in technology innovation and leadership, with a strong focus on clean energy and sustainability. As the CEO and co-founder of Harvest Thermal, she leads the company's mission to transition homes off gas comfortably, safely, affordably, and at scale.

Throughout her career, Dr. Melia has held leadership roles in five technology startups, bringing innovative products to market and driving change in the cleantech sector. Her work at Harvest Thermal has resulted in the development of the revolutionary Smart Thermal Battery™, which has been installed in nearly 200 homes and has garnered prestigious awards, including the Gold Nugget Grand Prize for new home construction and a spot on TIME's Top GreenTech Company 2024 list.

Education

  • Ph.D. in Fluid Dynamics, University of Cambridge

  • BEng in Civil Engineering (1st Class Honors), Imperial College London

  • Executive Education in Financial Acumen, Communications Excellence, and Product Management, University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business

Contributions to Building Electrification

Dr. Melia has made significant contributions to building electrification through her work at Harvest Thermal. The company's Smart Thermal Battery™ technology represents a breakthrough in home heating and cooling, enabling more efficient and sustainable use of heat pumps. Her vision and leadership have been instrumental in advancing practical solutions for residential building electrification, addressing the critical need to reduce reliance on natural gas in homes.

Clubhouse Participation

Dr. Melia was a featured panelist in the "Oakland's Groundbreaking EcoBlock Project Update" discussion, where she shared insights on innovative heating and cooling solutions for sustainable urban development, drawing from her extensive experience in thermal energy storage and building electrification technologies.

Connect with Jane

Dr. Jane Melia generously contributed her expertise to the Building Electrification Clubhouse, hosted by BIG Oakland, demonstrating her commitment to advancing sustainable urban development and innovative energy solutions. Her work in developing and commercializing cutting-edge thermal storage technology exemplifies the practical application of research to real-world challenges in building electrification. Dr. Melia's passion for clean energy, which she has harbored for as long as she can remember, continues to drive her efforts to create more sustainable and efficient homes.