Changing the Future

Major energy conference returns to Rice University with invaluable networking opportunities

Photo by Natalie Harms

The 20th Annual Rice Alliance Energy Tech Venture Forum, which unites energy ventures with industry investors, is returning Thursday, September 21, at Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business.

For two decades, the Energy Tech Venture Forum — hosted by the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship — has served as the premier conference, bringing together energy industry leaders, venture capital investors, and promising energy and cleantech ventures to propel the future of energy.

Across interactive panels, keynotes speeches, and venture pitches, attendees can explore emerging energy sources, enhancements and efficiencies within existing energy resources, and advances in clean or renewable technologies — and, perhaps most importantly, learn where investors are contributing to the acceleration of these advancements.

More than 90 startup technology ventures commercializing energy transition innovations will participate and meet investors looking for disruptive energy technologies that can accelerate clean and renewable energy.

The full list of both presenting companies and pitching startup can be found here.

Keynote speakers include:

  • Christina Karapataki, partner at Breakthrough Energy Ventures, the venture capital fund cofounded by Bill Gates
  • Scott Nyquist, vice chairman at Houston Energy Transition Initiative, founded by the Greater Houston Partnership
  • Jeff Tillery, chief operating officer at Veriten, founded by Rice alumus Maynard Holt, formerly with Tudor Pickering Holt

The event also includes pitches from Rice Alliance’s Clean Energy Accelerator Class 3 Demo Day, plus the announcement of “Most Promising Company” chosen by the energy tech industry experts and participating investors.

You'll want to register now for this invaluable conference, but if you still need some convincing then check out the forum's agenda here.

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A View From HETI

Solar represented 14 percent of energy supplied to the ERCOT electric grid in 2025. Photo via bp.com

Solar barely eclipsed coal to become the third biggest source of energy generated for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) in 2025, according to new data.

In 2024, solar represented 10 percent of energy supplied to the ERCOT electric grid. Last year, that number climbed to 14 percent. During the same period, coal’s share remained at 13 percent.

From the largest to smallest share, here’s the breakdown of other ERCOT energy sources in 2025 compared with 2024:

  • Combined-cycle gas: 33 percent, down from 35 percent in 2024
  • Wind: 23 percent, down from 24 percent in 2024
  • Natural gas: 8 percent, down from 9 percent in 2024
  • Nuclear: 8 percent, unchanged from 2024
  • Other sources: 1 percent, unchanged from 2024

Combined, solar and wind accounted for 37 percent of ERCOT energy sources.

Looking ahead, solar promises to reign as the star of the ERCOT show:

  • An ERCOT report released in December 2024 said solar is on track to continue outpacing other energy sources in terms of growth of installed generating capacity, followed by battery energy storage.
  • In December, ERCOT reported that more than 11,100 megawatts of new generating capacity had been added to its grid since the previous winter. One megawatt of electricity serves about 250 homes in peak-demand periods. Battery energy storage made up 47 percent of the new capacity, with solar in second place at 40 percent.

The mix of ERCOT’s energy is critical to Texas’ growing need for electricity, as ERCOT manages about 90 percent of the electric load for the state, including the Houston metro area. Data centers, AI and population growth are driving heightened demand for electricity.

In the first nine months of 2025, Texas added a nation-leading 7.4 gigawatts of solar capacity, according to a report from data and analytics firm Wood Mackenzie and the Solar Energy Industries Association.

“Remarkable growth in Texas, Indiana, Utah and other states ... shows just how decisively the market is moving toward solar,” says Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the solar association.

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