Five Point Energy closed its oversubscribed Five Point Energy Fund IV at $1.4 billion. Photo via Getty Images

A local private equity firm announced its latest round of funding that it plans on deploying into the energy transition infrastructure space.

Five Point Energy closed its oversubscribed Five Point Energy Fund IV at $1.4 billion in cumulative capital commitments. The new fund continues the firm's strategy of deploying capital into "an undercapitalized market and attractive long-term value generation," per a news release.

The firm is led by David Capobianco, CEO and managing partner, and Matthew Morrow, COO and managing partner.

"The closing of Fund IV is an endorsement of our team's demonstrated strategy of establishing and operating best-in-class sustainable infrastructure platforms, including the highly successful initial public offering of LandBridge," Capobianco says in the release.

Since its founding in 2012, Five Point has worked in midstream water management systems and addressed the produced water needs of our blue-chip clients, Capobianco says, adding that "the demand for energy, land and water resources is accelerating by the day, across all industries – we sit at the intersection of these macro and infrastructure trends."

To date, Five Point has raised around $4 billion across four funds. The fourth fund's limited partners were not disclosed.

The firm is led by David Capobianco (left), CEO and managing partner, and Matthew Morrow, COO and managing partner. Photos via fivepointenergy.com

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New Houston energy startup launches to power AI data centers

power move

Buoyed by a purchase agreement from Microsoft, Houston-based Joulent recently launched to build power plants that meet the electricity demands of AI data centers and other computing-heavy industries.

Joulent builds dedicated power-generating facilities that feed directly into data centers and other power-dependent facilities, eliminating the need for companies to siphon power from grids. Joulent’s plants combine generation, storage and smart controls in a modular, scalable setup, according to a news release.

Investment firm Engine No. 1 established Joulent in collaboration with energy technology company GE Vernova.

Joulent’s first project, the Project Kilby natural gas facility in West Texas, will be co-located with a Microsoft data center. It’ll deliver about 2.67 gigawatts of power under a 20-year deal between Microsoft and Energy Forge One, a subsidiary of Houston-based Chevron. Engine No. 1 and Chevron teamed up to build the plant.

GE Vernova will supply most of the plant’s power capacity, with additional capacity coming from Solar Turbines, a subsidiary of Irving-based construction and mining equipment manufacturer Caterpillar.

“Leadership in the AI era will be determined by who can deliver energy and compute the fastest, most reliably, and at the lowest cost,” Chris James, founder and CEO of Engine No. 1 and Joulent, said in a news release. “By building new power-generating facilities, Joulent enables customers across industries to power the next chapter of American innovation, while reducing pressure on existing grids and maintaining affordability for ratepayers.”

Baker Hughes signs deal to install 500 MW of geothermal power

geothermal growth

Baker Hughes has made a deal to further expand its geothermal operations.

The Houston-based energy giant has signed an agreement with Mantle Reach Power to develop geothermal energy projects across North America. The companies say they aim to install up to 500 megawatts of geothermal power in the next five years, according to a news release.

Through the new agreement, Baker Hughes will provide subsurface technology and solutions while Mantle Reach Power will lead project development, ownership and financing. Mantle Reach Power is a geothermal development company backed by the $47 billion EnCap Energy Transition Fund III.

According to the release, the deal aims to help solve one of geothermal energy's fundamental problems by aligning capital with expertise and technology, and enhancing "pre-construction bankability."

“Geothermal is a clean power solution that is proving to be a vital contributor to advancing sustainable energy development, with incredible potential to enhance U.S. energy security, support digital infrastructure, and ensure energy remains accessible and affordable ... Today’s announcement celebrates the commercial architecture the industry has been missing: a repeatable, financeable model that can be deployed at the speed and scale to meet global energy demands,” Baker Hughes Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Simonelli said in the news release.

“Integrating Baker Hughes’ subsurface-to-surface expertise with our capabilities in project development, finance, and execution positions Mantle Reach Power to commercialize geothermal assets at scale,” Nick Karambelas, CEO of Mantle Reach Power, added in the release. “This structure provides the construction and operating certainty necessary to access conventional project financing and accelerate our growth as an independent power producer.”

Baker Hughes has launched multiple geothermal partnerships in recent months. The company announced a deal with Oklahoma-based Helmerich & Payne Inc. (H&P) in May to develop a geothermal rig, where H&P will provide a geothermal-capable land drilling rig and Baker Hughes will contribute technology.

In March, the company announced support for XGS’s geothermal extraction projects in New Mexico, which are being used to meet the increasing demands of data centers in the state. Last year, Fervo Energy selected Baker Hughes to supply equipment for its flagship geothermal project in Utah.