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Empowering the next generation: Q&A with Ramanan Krishnamoorti

THE VIEW FROM HETI

The Houston Energy Transition Initiative spoke with Ramanan Krishnamoorti about the future of energy. Image via htxenergytransition.org

College students stand at the intersection of youth climate activism and emerging academic research that has the power to reshape the future of energy. Dr. Ramanan Krishnamoorti believe that college students have the power to tackle some of the world’s most pressing issues in energy, if given the opportunity. Krishnamoorti serves as University of Houston Vice President for Energy and Innovation and professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering is leading the university’s efforts to establish education, research and outreach partnerships to address energy and innovation challenges.

HETI sat down with Dr. Krishnamoorti to learn more about his journey in the energy industry, the importance of engaging the youth in climate change and how community partners can give college students a seat at the energy transition table.

Q: You have a passionate way of speaking about the energy transition and the mission to get to net zero by 2050. Tell us about your background in the energy industry.

My journey in the energy industry began in academia as a chemical engineer, where my early scientific focus revolved around polymeric materials, which are closely tied to the industrial and societal applications of oil and gas beyond traditional fuels.

During the early 2000s, when our society faced an energy shortage and was grappling with pressing challenges, my interest in the broader energy landscape began to take shape. It was during that time that I assumed the role of chair of the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Houston, which provided me the remarkable opportunity to establish the petroleum engineering program (eventually department), fostering close collaboration with industry stakeholders.

This experience granted me invaluable insights into the intricate operations of the energy industry as a whole, which ultimately led to me becoming the chief energy officer at UH. Over the past decade, my deep engagement across the energy industry has allowed me to fully grasp the immense value of energy and the critical challenges we face in ensuring that it remains affordable, reliable and sustainable.

Q: When it comes to the renewable energy workforce, you’ve spoken about the need to engage current K-12 students in STEM to ensure a robust talent pool in the future. What are some ways we can help students recognize their potential as change agents in the energy transition?

In today’s rapidly evolving energy landscape, success hinges on attracting a diverse and talented workforce, whether it be in the conventional oil and gas sector, the decarbonization realm (energy transition) or the renewable energy industry. Creating a broad and inclusive pathway that appeals to students from middle school onwards is crucial. We must vividly demonstrate the transformative power of their actions and the power of learning by doing. This would inspire them to explore the fundamental disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. By connecting these academic foundations to real world challenges, we can show them the immense impact they could have in shaping a sustainable and advancing future.

Energy is the lifeblood of modern society, and providing reliable, affordable and sustainable energy for all is our collective responsibility. We must convey to students the robust career opportunities available within the industry as a whole. The skills and knowledge gained in this field are highly transferable, enabling individuals to navigate various sectors and contribute to positive change across the entire energy spectrum but also help transform the world to one of opportunities for humanity.

Q: At the recent Future of Global Energy conference presented by Chevron, you spoke about the importance of empowering young leaders to act and influence decisions around energy, climate change and sustainability. How can leading energy companies give students and recent graduates a seat at the energy transition table?

Energy companies need to recognize the passion and impatience of this new generation and tap into it. These young individuals are eager to be part of the solution and are driven by a desire for tangible success in the challenge of building an equitable and sustainable energy sector. By providing opportunities for hands-on experience and learning-by-doing, energy companies can channel their enthusiasm and leverage their digital native mindset to develop scalable solutions for the grand challenge of energy solutions across the world.

Moreover, fostering a culture of mentorship and giving back is essential. Students and recent graduates have a strong inclination to make a positive societal impact. By offering organized mentorship programs within K-12 schools and higher education institutions, they can provide avenues for young talent to contribute meaningfully and gain valuable insights and guidance from industry professionals.

Lastly, it’s crucial for energy companies to recognize and embrace the inherent consideration of environmental, social and governance issues by the new generation of entrants. When confronted by complex engineering challenges, these young leaders naturally bring a constructive perspective that incorporates ESG considerations. By actively engaging with their perspectives, companies can benefit from fresh ideas and contribute to the overall advancement of sustainable practices.

Q: Do you believe that actions and initiatives put in place by young people have the power to trigger the momentum needed to help scale energy transition related businesses?

Absolutely! The energy transition demands innovative approaches to rapidly scale up technologies, while simultaneously addressing regulatory, financial and communication engagement challenges that may lag.

The new generation of students and industry entrants have demonstrated their ability to navigate bureaucratic systems that are two steps behind the problems they face, making them adept problem solvers. By empowering and supporting them, we can leverage their strengths to confront energy transition challenges head on. This team effort, combining their fresh perspectives with the necessary resources, will accelerate momentum and drive the scaling of energy transition-related businesses.

Q: Do students today recognize the importance of the energy transition?

Today’s students not only recognize the importance of the energy transition, but they are actively driving it and making choices that clearly indicate that they are meaningfully contributing to the change. They embrace risk-taking and innovative approaches to solve real-world energy challenges –– they are comfortable in a world where they understand the issue of bottlenecks (as is common in the complex energy systems) and the need for trade-offs.

What sets them apart is their dedication to promoting justice and equity. In fact, a recent poll conducted in collaboration with the UH Hobby School of Public Affairs revealed that many UH students prioritize companies committed to addressing societal and environmental issues, even if it means a sacrifice in salary. Their commitment speaks volumes about their desire to drive change.

Q: Looking toward the future of energy, how can universities and community partners provide support that fuels innovation and energy expertise in the youth today?

To fuel innovation and cultivate energy expertise in today’s youth, universities, industry leaders and community partners must collaborate. At the University of Houston, where approximately half of students are first-generation, it is our responsibility as educators to provide vital support. This includes facilitating connections, showcasing role models and expanding their awareness of opportunities. As the energy university located in Houston, a city rich in diverse talent, we have a unique advantage of continuing to build on Houston’s global leadership and demonstrating solutions at scale. By fostering this collaboration, we can inspire and empower the next generation.

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This article originally ran on the Greater Houston Partnership's Houston Energy Transition Initiative blog. HETI exists to support Houston's future as an energy leader. For more information about the Houston Energy Transition Initiative, EnergyCapitalHTX's presenting sponsor, visit htxenergytransition.org.

From Your Site Articles
Rising temps could result in rolling brownouts this summer–unless we work together to reduce the strain on the electric grid. Photo via Shutterstock

NERC warns of summer energy shortfalls–what you can do now

THINGS ARE HEATING UP

The North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) issued a warning with the 2023 Summer Reliability Assessment yesterday – energy shortages could be coming this summer for two-thirds of North America if temperatures spike higher than normal.

“Increased, rapid deployment of wind, solar and batteries have made a positive impact,” Mark Olson, NERC’s manager of reliability assessments says in the release. “However, generator retirements continue to increase the risks associated with extreme summer temperatures, which factors into potential supply shortages in the western two-thirds of North America if summer temperatures spike.”

For Texans, the combined risk of drought and higher-than-normal temperatures could stress ERCOT system resources, especially in the case of reduced wind. But before there’s a mad rush on generators, keep in mind, electricity consumers can take simple actions to minimize the possibility of widespread shortfalls.

Electricity demand begins rising daily around 2 P.M. in the summer and peaks in the final hours of daylight. These hours are generally not only the warmest hours of the day but also the busiest. People return from work to their homes, crank down the air conditioner, turn on TVs, run a load of wash, and prepare meals using multiple electric-powered appliances.

If everyone takes one or two small steps to avoid unnecessary stress on the grid in the hours after coming home from work, we can prevent energy shortfalls. Modify routines now to get into the habit of running the dishwasher overnight, using the washer and dryer before noon or after 8 pm and pulling the shades down in the bright afternoon hours of the day.

Try to delay powering up devices – including EVs – until after dark. Turn off and unplug items to avoid sapping electricity when items are not in use. And if you can bear it, nudge that thermostat up a couple of degrees.

Energy sustainability demands consistent collaboration and coordination from every consumer of energy. Let’s get in the habit of acting neighborly now with conservative electricity practices before we start seeing temperatures–of both the literal and figurative kind–flare.

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Investment bank opens energy-focused office in Houston

new to hou

Investment bank Cohen & Co. Capital Markets has opened a Houston office to serve as the hub of its energy advisory business and has tapped investment banking veteran Rahul Jasuja as the office’s leader.

Jasuja joined Cohen & Co. Capital Markets, a subsidiary of financial services company Cohen & Co., as managing director, and head of energy and energy transition investment banking. Cohen’s capital markets arm closed $44 billion worth of deals last year.

Jasuja previously worked at energy-focused Houston investment bank Mast Capital Advisors, where he was managing director of investment banking. Before Mast Capital, Jasuja was director of energy investment banking in the Houston office of Wells Fargo Securities.

“Meeting rising [energy] demand will require disciplined capital allocation across traditional energy, sustainable fuels, and firm, dispatchable solutions such as nuclear and geothermal,” Jasuja said in a news release. “Houston remains the center of gravity where capital, operating expertise, and execution come together to make that transition investable.”

The Houston office will focus on four energy verticals:

  • Energy systems such as nuclear and geothermal
  • Energy supply chains
  • Energy-transition fuel and technology
  • Traditional energy
“We are making a committed investment in Houston because we believe the infrastructure powering AI, defense, and energy transition — from nuclear to rare-earth technology — represents the next secular cycle of value creation,” Jerry Serowik, head of Cohen & Co. Capital Markets, added in the release.

Houston cleantech startup Helix Earth lands $1.2M NSF grant

federal funding

Renewable equipment manufacturer Helix Earth Technologies is one of three Houston-based companies to secure federal funding through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II grant program in recent months.

The company—which was founded based on NASA technology, spun out of Rice University and has been incubated at Greentown Labs—has received approximately $1.2 million from the National Science Foundation to develop its high-efficiency retrofit dehumidification systems that aim to reduce the energy consumption of commercial AC units. The company reports that its technology has the potential to cut AC energy use by up to 50 percent.

"This award validates our vision and propels our impact forward with valuable research funding and the prestige of the NSF stamp of approval," Rawand Rasheed, Helix CEO and founder, shared in a LinkedIn post. "This award is a reflection our exceptional team's grit, expertise, and collaborative spirit ... This is just the beginning as we continue pushing for a sustainable future."

Two other Houston-area companies also landed $1.2 million in NSF SBIR Phase II funding during the same period:

  • Resilitix Intelligence, a disaster AI startup that was founded shortly after Hurricane Harvey, that works to "reduce the human and economic toll of disasters" by providing local and state organizations and emergency response teams with near-real-time, AI-driven insights to improve response speed, save lives and accelerate recovery
  • Conroe-based Fluxworks Inc., founded in 2021 at Texas A&M, which provides magnetic gear technology for the space industry that has the potential to significantly enhance in-space manufacturing and unlock new capabilities for industries by allowing advanced research and manufacturing in microgravity

The three grants officially rolled out in early September 2025 and are expected to run through August 2027, according to the NSF. The SBIR Phase II grants support in-depth research and development of ideas that showed potential for commercialization after receiving Phase I grants from government agencies.

However, congressional authority for the program, often called "America's seed fund," expired on September 30, 2025, and has stalled since the recent government shutdown. Government agencies cannot issue new grants until Congress agrees on a path forward. According to SBIR.gov, "if no further action is taken by Congress, federal agencies may not be able to award funding under SBIR/STTR programs and SBIR/STTR solicitations may be delayed, cancelled, or rescinded."

Mars Materials makes breakthrough in clean carbon fiber production

Future of Fiber

Houston-based Mars Materials has made a breakthrough in turning stored carbon dioxide into everyday products.

In partnership with the Textile Innovation Engine of North Carolina and North Carolina State University, Mars Materials turned its CO2-derived product into a high-quality raw material for producing carbon fiber, according to a news release. According to the company, the product works "exactly like" the traditional chemical used to create carbon fiber that is derived from oil and coal.

Testing showed the end product met the high standards required for high-performance carbon fiber. Carbon fiber finds its way into aircraft, missile components, drones, racecars, golf clubs, snowboards, bridges, X-ray equipment, prosthetics, wind turbine blades and more.

The successful test “keeps a promise we made to our investors and the industry,” Aaron Fitzgerald, co-founder and CEO of Mars Materials, said in the release. “We proved we can make carbon fiber from the air without losing any quality.”

“Just as we did with our water-soluble polymers, getting it right on the first try allows us to move faster,” Fitzgerald adds. “We can now focus on scaling up production to accelerate bringing manufacturing of this critical material back to the U.S.”

Mars Materials, founded in 2019, converts captured carbon into resources, such as carbon fiber and wastewater treatment chemicals. Investors include Untapped Capital, Prithvi Ventures, Climate Capital Collective, Overlap Holdings, BlackTech Capital, Jonathan Azoff, Nate Salpeter and Brian Andrés Helmick.
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