Editor's note: Dive headfirst into the new week with three quick things to catch up on in Houston's energy transition.
Events not to miss
Put these Houston-area energy-related events on your calendar.
- Baker Botts and the Center for Energy Studies will co-host their eighth annual energy summit on October 1 and October 2. Some programing will be livestreamed.
- The Center for Houston's Future's Future of Global Energy Conference will be held on October 9 at the Hilton Americas-Houston.
- World Geothermal Energy Day will take place at Karbach Brewery on October 17.
- Energy Day, Houston’s largest free family festival showcasing exhibits focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, will take place in downtown on October 19.
Big deal: Houston superconductor tech manufacturer raises $25M
The fresh funding will go toward advancing the company's Xeus HTS wire technology. Photo via metoxtech.com
A Houston company has closed its series B extension at $25 million.
MetOx International, which develops and manufactures high-temperature superconducting (HTS) wire, announced it closed a $25 million series B extension. Centaurus Capital, an energy-focused family office, and New System Ventures, a climate and energy transition-focused venture firm, led the round with participation from other investors.
"MetOx has developed a robust and highly scalable operation, and we are thrilled to partner with the Company as it enters this pivotal growth stage," says John Arnold, founder of Centaurus, in a news release. "The market for HTS is expanding at an unprecedented pace, with demand for HTS far outweighing supply. MetOx is poised to be the leading U.S. HTS producer, closing the supply gap and bringing dramatic capacity to high power innovations and applications. Their progress and potential are unmatched in the field, and we are proud to support their growth." Continue reading.
Expert opinion:HVAC innovation has a huge role to play in Houston amid energy transition
By prioritizing the deployment of smart, energy-efficient technologies, we can ensure that Houston remains at the forefront of the global energy landscape, setting the standard for other cities to follow. Photo via Getty Images
As Houston, the energy capital of the world, navigates the global energy transition, the city is uniquely positioned to lead by example. This transition isn’t just about shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy; it’s about creating an ecosystem where corporations, research institutions, startups, and investors collaborate to develop and implement innovative technologies.
One of the most promising areas for reducing energy consumption and minimizing environmental impact is in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, or HVAC, systems.
Houston’s intense weather patterns demand efficient and adaptable climate control solutions. Traditional HVAC systems, while effective in maintaining indoor comfort, often operate on fixed settings that don’t account for real-time changes in occupancy or weather. This results in energy waste and increased utility costs — issues that can be mitigated by integrating artificial intelligence into HVAC systems. Continue reading the article by Trevor Schick, president of KOVA.