power partnership

CenterPoint partners with AI and infrastructure companies to boost reliability

CenterPoint has partnered with Atlanta-based Osmose and Australia-based Neara to use AI-powered predictive modeling to inform decisions on restorations and risk. Photo via Getty Images

Houston utilities giant CenterPoint is partnering with companies from Atlanta and Australia to use AI to increase data accuracy and strengthen the power grid.

The partnership is part of a collaboration between AI-powered predictive modeling platform company Neara and utility infrastructure asset assessment solutions company Osmose, according to a news release.

Last year, CenterPoint Energy announced an agreement with Neara for engineering-grade simulations and analytics and to deploy Neara’s AI capabilities across CenterPoint’s Greater Houston service area. Now, Neaera will work with Osmose to give energy providers like CenterPoint more up-to-date data to inform decisions on restorations and risks.

CenterPoint Energy is already using the partnership's tools to improve network reliability and enhance its storm preparedness.

"At CenterPoint Energy, we are focused every day on building the most resilient coastal grid in the nation and increasing the resiliency of the communities we are privileged to serve," Eric Easton, VP of Grid Transformation at CenterPoint Energy, said in a news release.

According to Osmose, its services to CenterPoint can result in repair cost savings of up to 70 percent and boost restoration times by up to 80 percent. Osmose also said its services assist with being 25 percent better at ensuring the most critical repairs happen first.

"By integrating Neara's AI-driven modeling with our industry-leading field services, we're giving utilities a powerful tool to make smarter, more data-driven decisions," Mike Adams, CEO of Osmose, said in a news release. "Accurate asset data is the foundation for a resilient grid, and this partnership provides the precision needed to maximize reliability and performance."

Ultimately, the companies say the partnership aims to help minimize disruptions and improve reliability for CenterPoint customers.

"As we work to leverage technology to deliver better outcomes for our customers, we're continuing to enhance our advanced modeling capabilities, which includes collaborating with cutting-edge technology providers like Neara and Osmose,” Easton added in the release.

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A View From HETI

The company has developed thermal insulation technology that improves efficiency and safety in buildings and outdoor infrastructure. Photo via LinkedIn

Houston-based NanoTech Materials has closed a $29.4 million Series A.

The round was led by Austin-based HPI Real Estate & Investments. Houston-based Goose Capital and Austin-based Milliken & Company also participated.

Nanotech has developed its patented Insulative Ceramic Particle (ICP) technology, which reduces heat transfer in buildings and outdoor infrastructure, improving efficiency and safety. It's known for its Cool Roof Coat, Wildfire Shield and Insulative Coat: Cool Touch product lines.

With the new funding, Nanotech plans to scale operations and expand its market reach for its products.

“We’re addressing one of the pressing and urgent challenges facing infrastructure owners today: controlling energy costs and extending asset life,” Mike Francis, CEO and co-founder of NanoTech Materials, said in a news release. “This financing marks a transformative moment for us. It allows us to rapidly scale production and bring our high-performance materials to market faster, while delivering measurable cost savings and redefining what resilience looks like in today’s built environment.”

Nanotech launched in 2020 and was the first company selected for Halliburton Labs. It moved into a 43,000-square-foot space in Katy in 2023. It brought on new partners that expanded the company's reach in the Middle East and Singapore the following year. Its technology was recognized as one of Time magazine's 200 Best Inventions of 2024.

“We were early investors in Nanotech Materials and are pleased to continue supporting the company as it becomes a leader in breakthrough materials science and technology,” John Chaney, investor at Goose Capital and board member at NanoTech, added in the release. “NanoTech’s ability to elevate fire resilience and energy efficiency in the built environment is critical for strengthening and hardening infrastructure. Its pioneered approach is transforming current building standards and making our lives safer.”

The company has secured $34.4 million in total to date, according to the release. It raised an oversubscribed funding round in 2023 and a $5 million seed round in 2020.

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