Austin energy startup expands to Houston, offering electricity with backup batteries

power move

Justin Lopas and Zach Dell founded Base Power in 2023 and are now expanding the company's electricity and backup battery offerings to Houston. Photo courtesy Base Power.

An Austin startup that sells electricity and couples it with backup power has entered the Houston market.

Base Power, which claims to be the first and only electricity provider to offer a backup battery, now serves the Houston-area territory served by Houston-based CenterPoint Energy. No solar equipment is required for Base Power’s backup batteries.

The company is initially serving customers in the Cy-Fair, Spring, Cinco Ranch and Mission Bend communities, and will expand to other Houston-area places in the future.

Base Power already serves customers in the Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth markets.

The company says it provides “a cost-effective alternative to generators and solar-battery systems in an increasingly unreliable power grid.”

“Houston represents one of the largest home backup markets in the world, largely due to dramatic weather events that strain the power grid,” says Base Power co-founder and CEO Zach Dell, son of Austin tech billionaire Michael Dell. “We’re eager to provide an accessible energy service that delivers affordable, reliable power to Houston homeowners.”

After paying a $495 or $995 fee that covers installation and permitting, and a $16- or $29-per-month membership fee, Base Power customers gain access to a backup battery and competitive energy rates, the company says. The startup is waiving the $495 setup fee for the first 500 Houston-area homeowners who sign up and make a refundable deposit.

With the Base Power backup package, electricity costs 14.3 cents per kilowatt-hour, which includes Base Power’s 8.5 cents per kilowatt-hour charge and rates charged by CenterPoint. The average electric customer in Houston pays 13 cents per kilowatt-hour, according to EnergySage.

“Base Power is built to solve a problem that so many Texans face: consistent power,” says Justin Lopas, co-founder and chief operating officer of Base Power and a former SpaceX engineer. “Houstonians can now redefine how they power their homes, while also improving the existing power grid.”

Founded in 2023, Base Power has attracted funding from investors such as Thrive Capital, Valor Equity Partners, Altimeter Capital, Trust Ventures, and Terrain. Zach Dell was previously an associate on the investment team at Thrive Capital.

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Ace Green Recycling Inc. will build one of India's largest battery recycling facilities and plans to develop a flagship battery recycling plant in Texas. Photo courtesy Ace Green Recycling Inc.

Houston battery recycling co. expands globally with new India facility, Africa partnership

going global

Ace Green Recycling Inc., a Houston-operated sustainable battery recycling and technology solutions provider, announced it has finalized a lease agreement for a location to build one of India's largest battery recycling facilities in Mundra, Gujarat.

The facility will expand Ace's existing Indian commercial operations, which have been recycling lithium-ion batteries since 2023, including lithium iron phosphate ("LFP") chemistries.

The deployment of Ace’s LithiumFirst LFP battery recycling technology in India will coincide with the deployment of the company's technology in Texas. Last year, the company announced it planned to develop a flagship battery recycling plant in Texas for lead and lithium-ion batteries.

Ace also plans to establish 10,000 metric tons of LFP battery recycling capacity per year in India by 2026. The Mundra LFP battery recycling facility is expected to create up to 50 jobs.

The new facility plans to use Ace's LithiumFirst technology to recycle LFP batteries at room temperature in a fully electrified hydrometallurgical process that produces no direct (or Scope 1) carbon emissions and with zero liquid and solid waste.

"Ace's innovative technology enables profitable recycling of LFP batteries, even with the current low lithium price, by recovering significant amounts of these critical minerals,” Vipin Tyagi, Chief Technology Officer of Ace, said in a news release. “We believe that our successful operational demonstration positions us for future partnerships and collaborations that will unlock the full potential of our LithiumFirst technology in this market.”

Ace will also utilize its GreenLead recovery technology to recycle lead batteries at the new recycling park. The technology is considered a more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional smelting operations.

The company also reported visiting China for possible future expansion. According to a release, it launched a facility in Taiwan last year and is developing projects in Europe and Israel, as well.

Today, the company also announced that it was tapped by Spiro, one of Africa’s largest EV battery producers, as its global preferred recycling partner. According to a release, Ace will recycle end-of-life lithium-ion batteries, including LFP batteries, and waste from Spiro's battery manufacturing facilities.

Ace Green Recycling Inc. is headquartered in Houston and Singapore.

Under this partnership, Home Depot customers will be able to buy Sunnova’s Adaptive Home products, which includes solar power, battery storage, and smart energy management. Photo via Sunnova

Home Depot taps Houston company as exclusive solar, battery service partner

deal's on

Houston-based clean energy company Sunnova Energy International has been tapped as the exclusive provider of solar power and battery storage services for the more than 2,000 Home Depot stores in the U.S.

Under this partnership, Home Depot customers will be able to buy Sunnova’s Adaptive Home products. The Adaptive Home line combines solar power, battery storage, and smart energy management.

Sunnova didn’t assign a value to the Home Depot deal.

“Our goal is to make clean, affordable, and reliable energy services more accessible to everyone,” Michael Grasso, executive vice president and chief revenue officer at Sunnova, says in a news release. “As utility rates continue to skyrocket across the country, weather patterns worsen, and remote work becomes more prevalent, the need for resilient, affordable, and dependable power at the home is non-negotiable.”

In 2021, Sunnova rolled out its SunSafe solar and battery storage service at 100 Home Depot stores in hurricane-prone states like Florida, Maryland, and Virginia. A year later, Sunnova made the service available to all Home Depot stores in Puerto Rico.

In 2023, Sunnova expanded the SunSafe offering to 15 Home Depot markets, encompassing about 400 stores.

Publicly traded Sunnova, founded in 2012, had 419,200 customers at the end of last year.

The company recorded revenue of $720.7 million in 2023, up from $557.7 million the previous year. Its net loss in 2023 totaled $502.4 million, up from $130.3 million in 2022.

ERCOT will close 2023 with nearly 3.3 gigawatts of battery storage capacity and almost 10.7 gigawatts by the end of 2024. That would represent a one-year jump of 225 percent. Photo via Getty Images

Texas sees major increase in battery storage capacity, according to a new report

by the numbers

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas — which runs the power grid serving about 90 percent of the state — is energizing the rise of U.S. battery storage capacity.

A new report from data provider S&P Global Commodity Insights forecasts that ERCOT will close 2023 with nearly 3.3 gigawatts of battery storage capacity and almost 10.7 gigawatts by the end of 2024. That would represent a one-year jump of 225 percent.

Austin-based ERCOT is expected to add nearly 400 megawatts of battery storage capacity during the third quarter after adding no capacity in the second quarter, according to S&P Global.

In terms of bulking up battery storage capacity, ERCOT had a momentous first quarter. The nonprofit organization added 498.6 megawatts of battery storage capacity during the first three months of 2023, accounting for 70.2 percent of all new capacity in the U.S., says S&P Global.

One gigawatt, which equals one billion watts, can provide enough power for about 750,000 homes.

ERCOT’s battery storage capacity has contributed to a lack of power outages during this year’s scorching summer heat in Texas. However, it’s worth noting that this summer’s wave of triple-digit temperatures is straining the ERCOT grid, prompting a series of pleas for Texans to conserve energy.

ERCOT set a new September peak demand record of 78,459 megawatts September 4, surpassing the previous September peak of 72,370 megawatts set on September 1, 2021. The current all-time peak demand, 85,435 megawatts, was set August 10.

As of September 5, ERCOT has set 10 records this year for peak demand. In 2022, ERCOT set 11 peak demand records, surpassing 80 gigawatts for the first time.

“Based on expected weather conditions, ERCOT anticipates there will be sufficient generation to meet customer demand this summer,” ERCOT said in its forecast for summertime power demand.

ERCOT’s combined solar and wind share of overall power generation is projected to reach 43 percent by 2035, according to S&P Global.

“Firing on all green energy cylinders, despite a long-surpassed renewable portfolio standard,” says S&P Global, “Texas leads the U.S. in operating and planned wind energy as well as solar and battery storage capacity in development … .”

Houston is playing a pivotal role in Texas’ adoption of battery storage of wind and solar power, with companies like Broad Reach Power and Key Capture Energy among the leaders.

“Known for its strong ties with oil and gas, Texas and Houston in particular are changing the narrative on their relationships with energy, with new innovations and initiatives being created to combat the effects of climate change and to create better, more efficient energy systems for years to come,” says the Greater Houston Partnership.

More than three-fourths of the 20.8 gigawatts of utility-scale battery storage capacity on track to be installed from 2022 to 2025 will be in Texas (7.9 gigawatts) and California (7.6 gigawatts), according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Houston-based Zeta Energy has fresh funding from the government. Image via Zeta Energy

Houston-based battery innovators receive $4M in federal funding

money moves

Houston-based Zeta Energy announced this week that it was selected to receive $4 million in federal funding for the development of efficient electric vehicle batteries.

The funds come from the U.S. Department of Energy's ARPA-E Electric Vehicles for American Low-Carbon Living, or EVs4ALL, program, which aims to increase the number of EVs on the roads by boosting the country’s supply chain of affordable, convenient, reliable and safe batteries.

Zeta Energy is one of 12 groups in the U.S. to receive funding from the program, which awarded $42 million in total.

“Electric vehicle sales in America have tripled since the start of this Administration and by addressing battery efficiency, resiliency and affordability, the projects announced today will make EVs attractive to even more drivers,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm said in a statement released in January. “This is a win-win for our efforts to fight climate change and power America’s clean transportation future with technologies produced by researchers and scientists right here at home.”

Other teams to receive funding include 24M Technologies, national laboratories and universities like The Ohio State University, University of Maryland, Virginia Tech, among others. Zeta is the only Texas-based company to receive funds. It received one of the largest grants among the group.

"We are thrilled to have been selected for funding by the ARPA-E EVs4ALL program," Zeta Energy CEO Tom Pilette said in a statement. "We have been working hard to make this technology a reality, and we are really grateful to receive this recognition of the promise of our technology and the progress we have made on it."

Zeta Energy is known for its lithium sulfur batteries that traditionally have not been long lasting. While sulfur is an economical and abundant material, it traditionally would dissolve after a few uses in lithium sulfur batteries.

However, Zeta uses its proprietary sulfur-based cathodes and lithium metal anodes that have shown to have higher capacity and density and better safety profiles, according to the company's website.

According to ARPAE, the company will create a new anode that will "be highly accessible and rechargeable" with the funding.

Zeta Energy closed a $23 million series A round led by New York VC firm Moore Strategic Ventures about a year ago. In addition to applications for electric vehicles, the company's technology is also expected to have uses in grid energy storage.

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This article originally ran on InnovationMap.

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ENGIE inks deal to supply wind energy for Oracle’s Texas operations

wind deal

Houston-based renewable energy company ENGIE North America has made a deal to supply up to 568 megawatts of renewable electricity for tech giant Oracle's projects in Texas.

The power will come from ENGIE’s wind resources serving the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid. Oracle is developing data centers in Abilene and Shackelford, Texas, according to its website.

The Oracle deal is part of ENGIE’s efforts to bring substantial new electricity supply to the grid. In the past six years, ENGIE has developed 12 gigawatts of new renewable generation and battery storage capacity in North Americas, equaling $11 billion in capital, according to the company.

"Our customers are looking for reliable, scalable energy solutions that can support long-term growth," Anne-Laure Chassanite, interim CEO of ENGIE North America, said in a news release. "ENGIE has invested heavily in developing new generation resources across North America, and we're pleased to support Oracle as it continues to expand its operations in Texas. These agreements reflect the strength of our portfolio and our ability to deliver customized energy solutions that help customers meet their business objectives.”

Computer technology and cloud computing company Oracle is working towards its goal to match 100 percent of AI data center electricity use with carbon-free electricity by 2035.

"Oracle is taking a responsible approach to meeting the energy needs of our growing AI and cloud operations in Texas — investing in carbon-free electricity without shifting costs to consumers," Julia Robin, head of infrastructure planning and sourcing for Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, added in the release. "Our agreements with ENGIE advance Oracle's goal to match 100 percent of our AI data center electricity use with carbon-free electricity by 2035, while supporting long-term economic growth with no cost impact to the state of Texas.”

ENGIE also recently won the 2026 Green Power Leadership Award in the Market Innovation category for its work advancing 24/7 renewable energy solutions. The awards honor individuals and companies advancing sustainability and renewables in the energy industry through innovation and leadership.

The company has inked major deals to supply renewable energy to other major companies like Meta, Daikin and others.

Houston energy and innovation leaders come together at Argonne National Laboratory

The view from heti

Nearly 20 companies from Houston, ranging from global multinationals to innovative startups, joined the team at Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, Illinois, for a full day of meetings, discussions, and networking focused on advancing innovation, commercialization, and industry collaboration.

The fly-in organized by the Houston Energy Transition Initiative, provided a unique opportunity for companies to engage directly with Argonne researchers, technical experts, and leadership while gaining a deeper understanding of the laboratory’s world-class capabilities. Participants explored how national laboratories can help bridge the gap between breakthrough research and commercial deployment, particularly in areas critical to U.S. competitiveness and economic growth.

The significance of this engagement extends beyond a single visit. While the U.S. Department of Energy operates 17 national laboratories, none is located along the Gulf Coast, a region uniquely home to industry, infrastructure, and energy systems at commercial scale. HETI’s continued work with the national laboratories helps bridge that geographic and operational gap by connecting world-class scientific research with companies that understand how to scale and deploy technologies. The Argonne fly-in also created space to address practical barriers to collaboration, including complex agreements and lengthy contracting timelines, and to explore ways to establish partnership frameworks more efficiently.

Explore HETI’s key takeaways from the fly-in:

1. Scaling Technologies for Commercial Use

A central theme was the importance of scale-up infrastructure and the role Argonne plays in helping companies reduce technical and manufacturing risks. Participants learned how facilities such as the Materials Engineering Research Facility (MERF) support the transition from laboratory discoveries to pilot-scale production and ultimately commercial manufacturing. These capabilities are especially valuable for companies working to move promising technologies from concept to market.

The discussions also highlighted Argonne’s extensive work in critical materials, battery recycling, advanced manufacturing, and supply chain resilience. Attendees learned about initiatives including the ReCell Center, AI-enabled materials discovery, and advanced modeling tools that can help businesses understand supply chain vulnerabilities and evaluate mitigation strategies. These capabilities have applications across energy, chemicals, manufacturing, semiconductors, defense, and emerging technologies.

2. Creating Pathways for Collaboration

Another key takeaway was the importance of engaging early. Companies do not need to arrive with a fully developed project or solution. Argonne offers multiple pathways for collaboration, including sponsored research, user facility access, technology licensing, pilot-scale testing, and Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs). These partnerships help companies access specialized expertise, facilities, and analytical tools that can accelerate innovation and commercialization

3. Building Connections Across Industry and Research

The fly-in reinforced the value of relationship building. Bringing together nearly 20 organizations in one place created meaningful opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and identifying future projects.

The conversations throughout the day demonstrated a shared commitment to strengthening domestic innovation, developing resilient supply chains, and creating pathways to bring new technologies to market.

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This article originally appeared on the Greater Houston Partnership's Houston Energy Transition Initiative blog. HETI exists to support Houston's future as an energy leader. Learn more about HETI’s role in advancing solutions and building partnerships to leverage Houston’s industry leadership for an energy-abundant, low-carbon future.

Fervo produces first geothermal power at flagship Utah project

energy milestone

Fervo Energy’s flagship project in Utah just generated its first geothermal power.

The electricity is now flowing to the power grid from one of Cape Station’s three generation units, Houston-based Fervo said in a news release. This represents an early but important milestone for the project, as the unit isn’t scheduled to deliver contracted power until Oct. 1.

The achievement, coming four months after Fervo’s roughly $2.2 billion IPO, demonstrates the viability of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS).

“This is a gamechanger for the geothermal industry. It establishes EGS as the defining new power generation technology of our time, and we believe it shows that the commercial and technical maturity of EGS is ready to meet the urgent need for reliable, clean power,” Tim Latimer, co-founder and CEO of Fervo, said in the release.

The plant’s two other units are scheduled to launch commercial operations on Jan. 1.

The three units make up the project’s 99-megawatt first phase. The next phase, which will add 400 megawatts of capacity, is under construction. The second phase is set to go online in 2028.

Altogether, Cape Station will provide more than 4 gigawatts of capacity, with 900 megawatts already spoken for. The 900 megawatts of contracted electricity would be enough to power nearly 1 million U.S. homes per year.

“Cape Station works because we treated the subsurface like an engineering challenge,” Jack Norbeck, co-founder and chief technology officer of Fervo, added in the release. “Years of drilling, completion design, subsurface modeling, and flow testing led to this moment, and this is the validation that matters most.”

Enhanced geothermal continuously draws on heat that’s deep underground, producing electricity around the clock regardless of weather or time of day. That makes it one of the only carbon-free resources capable of constant power delivery, which is critical for data centers and AI infrastructure.

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