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Expert on powering Texas: The promise and challenges of renewable energy

Guest Column

Texas must confront the growing gap between renewable potential and real-time reliability. Photo via Getty Images

Texas leads the nation in wind and solar energy, but that leadership is being tested as a surge in project cancellations raises new concerns about the future of renewables in the state.

While Texas clean energy has grown significantly in recent years, solar and wind often fall short of meeting peak electricity demand. As extreme weather, rising demand, and project cancellations strain the grid, Texas must confront the growing gap between renewable potential and real-time reliability.

Solar and Wind Energy

Solar generation in the Lone Star State has grown substantially over the past decade. The Texas solar industry is estimated to employ over 12,000 Texans and is contributing billions in local tax revenue and landowner income, and solar and storage are the largest sources of new energy on the Texas grid.

With a significant number of sunny days, Texas’ geography also enables it to be among the states with the greatest energy potential for solar power generation. Further moving to advance the use of solar energy generation, the 89th Texas legislature passed SB 1202 which accelerates the permitting process for home solar and energy storage installations. SB 1202 empowers homeowners to strengthen their own energy security and supports greater grid resilience across the state.

Texas has also led the United States in wind energy production for more than 17 years, with 239 wind-related projects and over 15,300 wind turbines, which is more than any other state. The economic impact of wind energy in Texas is substantial, with the industry contributing $1.7 billion a year to the state’s gross domestic product. With wind electric power generation jobs offering an average annual wage of $109,826, the growing sector provides lucrative employment opportunities.

However, solar and wind currently struggle to meet Texas’ peak electricity demand from 5 pm to 7 pm — a time when millions of residents return home, temperatures remain high and air conditioner use surges. Solar generation begins to decline just as demand ramps up, and wind production is often inconsistent during these hours. Without sufficient long-duration storage or dispatchable backup power, this mismatch between supply and demand presents a significant reliability risk — one that becomes especially urgent during heat waves and extreme weather events, as seen during ERCOT conservation alerts.

Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy uses heat from beneath the Earth’s surface to provide reliable, low-emission power with minimal land use and no fuel transport. Though it currently supplies a small share of energy, Texas is emerging as a leader in its development, supported by state leaders, industry, and environmentalists. During the 89th legislative session, Texas passed HB 3240 to create a Geothermal Energy Production Policy Council, set to begin work on September 1, 2025.

In 2024, Sage Geosystems was selected to develop geothermal projects at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, expanding its work with the Department of Defense. In partnership with the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program, Sage is using its proprietary Geopressured Geothermal Systems technology to evaluate the potential for geothermal to be a source of clean and consistent energy at the base.

One limitation of geothermal energy is location. Deep drilling is costly, and areas with high water tables, like some coastal regions, may not be viable.

Hydroelectric Energy

While hydropower plays a minor role in Texas’ energy mix, it is still an essential energy source. Its output depends on water availability, which can be affected by seasonal and long-term changes like droughts.

Texas has 26 hydropower plants with a total capacity of nearly 738 megawatts, serving about 2.9 million people as of 2019. Harris County holds 43% of all hydropower generation jobs in the state, and in 2021, hydroelectric power generation contributed $700 million to Texas’ gross domestic product.

Federal funding is helping expand hydropower in Texas. The Southwestern Power Administration has committed about $103 million to support infrastructure, including $32 million for upgrades to Central Texas’s Whitney Dam. The 2021 Inflation Reduction Act added $369 billion in tax credits for clean energy, supporting dam retrofits nationwide. In 2022, the Department of Energy launched over $28 million in new funding through the Infrastructure Law to help meet national clean energy goals by 2035 and carbon neutrality by 2050.

Tidal Energy

Driven by the moon and sun, tidal energy is predictable but limited to coastal areas with strong tides. Although Texas has modest tidal potential, research is ongoing to optimize it. Texas A&M University is developing a floating test platform for hybrid renewable systems, integrating tidal, wave, wind, and solar energy. In addition, St. Mary’s University in San Antonio is prototyping small-scale tidal turbines using 3D printing technology.

While commercial tidal power remains in the research phase, the state’s offshore capabilities, engineering talent, and growing university-led innovation could make it a player in hybrid marine renewable systems. Floating platforms that integrate wave, tide, solar, and wind offer a compelling vision for offshore power generation suited to Texas’ unique coastal conditions.

Biomass Energy

Biomass energy is the largest renewable source worldwide, providing 55% of renewables and over 6% of global energy. While reliable, it can be less efficient, sometimes using more energy to burn the organic matter than it produces, and demand may exceed supply.

In Texas, biomass is a nominal part of the state’s energy portfolio. However, substantial research is being conducted by Texas A&M University to attempt to convert algae and food waste into a cost-efficient source of biomass material. In addition, UK-based biomass and renewable energy company Drax opened its North American headquarters in Houston, which created more than 100 new jobs in Texas’ renewable energy industry.

It’s clear that renewable energy is playing an increasingly important role in shaping Texas’ energy future. But the road ahead demands a realistic view: while these sources can reduce emissions and diversify our generation mix, they do not yet solve for peak load reliability — especially during the critical 5 pm to 7 pm window when grid stress is highest.

Meeting that challenge will require not just investment in renewables, but also innovation in grid-scale storage, flexible generation, market reform and consumer programs. A diversified, resilient energy portfolio — one that includes renewables and reliable dispatchable sources — will be the key to ensuring that Texas remains powered, prepared and prosperous for generations to come.

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Sam Luna is director at BKV Energy, where he oversees brand and go-to-market strategy, customer experience, marketing execution, and more.

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Lydian Energy has secured financing for three battery storage system projects in Texas. Photo via Getty Images.

D.C. energy company secures $233M for ERCOT battery storage projects

fresh funding

The Electricity Reliability Council of Texas’ grid will get a boost courtesy of Lydian Energy.

The D.C.-based company announced the successful financial close of its first institutional project financing totaling $233 million, backed by ING Group and KeyBank. The financing will support three battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in Texas.

Lydian is an independent power producer that specializes in the development, construction and operation of utility-scale solar and battery energy storage projects. The company reports that it plans to add 550 megawatts of energy—which can power approximately 412,500 homes—to the Texas grid administered by ERCOT.

“This financing marks an important step forward as we continue executing on our vision to scale transformative battery storage projects that meet the evolving energy needs of the communities we serve,” Emre Ersenkal, CEO at Lydian Energy, said in a news release.

The projects include:

Pintail

  • Located in San Patricio county
  • 200 megawatts
  • Backed by ING

Crane

  • Located in Crane county
  • 200 megawatts
  • Backed by ING

Headcamp

  • Located in Pecos county
  • 150 megawatts
  • Backed by KeyBank

ING served as the lender for Pintail and Crane projects valued at a combined total of approximately $139 million.

KeyBank provided a $94 million financing package for the Headcamp project. KeyBanc Capital Markets also structured the financing package for Headcamp.

The three projects are being developed under Excelsior Energy Capital’s Fund II. Lydian’s current portfolio comprises 20 solar and storage projects, totaling 4.7 gigawatts of capacity.

“Our support of Lydian’s portfolio reflects ING’s focus on identifying strategic funding opportunities that align with the accelerating demand for sustainable power,” Sven Wellock, managing director and head of energy–renewables and power at ING, said in the release. “Battery storage plays a central role in supporting grid resilience, and we’re pleased to back a platform with strong fundamentals and a clear execution path.”

The facilities are expected to be placed in service by Q4 2025. Lydian is also pursuing additional financing for further projects, which are expected to commence construction by the end of 2025.

“These financings represent more than capital – they reflect the strong demand for reliable energy infrastructure in high-growth U.S. markets,” Anne Marie Denman, co-founding partner at Excelsior Energy Capital and chair of the board at Lydian Energy, added in the news release. “We’re proud to stand behind Lydian’s talented team as they deliver on the promise of battery storage with bankable projects, proven partners, and disciplined execution. In the midst of a lot of noise, these financings are a reminder that capital flows where infrastructure is satisfying fundamental needs of our society – in this case, the need for reliable, sustainable, domestic, and affordable energy.”

Texas' energy demand will nearly double by 2030, says ERCOT. Photo via Getty Images

Guest column: How growing energy demand will impact the Texas grid

Guest Column

Although Texas increased its power supply by 35% over the last four years, a recent report from ERCOT predicts that Texas’ energy demand will nearly double by 2030, with power supply projected to fall short of peak demand in a worst-case scenario beginning in summer 2026. There are many factors and variables that could either increase or decrease the grid’s stability.

Homebuilding in Texas

One of the most easily identifiable challenges is that the population of Texas is continuing to grow, which places greater demand on the state’s power grid. With its booming population, the state is now the second most populous in the country.

In 2024, Texas led the nation in homebuilding, issuing 15% of the country's new-home permits in 2024. Within the first two months of 2025, Houston alone saw more than 11,000 new building permits issued. The fact that Houston is the only major metro in the United States to lack zoning laws means it does not directly regulate density or separate communities by use type, which is advantageous for developers and homebuilders, who have far fewer restrictions to navigate when constructing new homes.

Large-scale computing facilities

Another main source of the growing demand for power is large-scale computing facilities such as data centers and cryptocurrency mining operations. These facilities consume large amounts of electricity to run and keep their computing equipment cool.

In 2022, in an effort to ensure grid reliability, ERCOT created a program to approve and monitor these large load (LFL) customers. The Large Flexible Load Task Force is a non-voting body that develops policy recommendations related to planning, markets, operations, and large load interconnection processes. LFL customers are those with an expected peak demand capacity of 75 megawatts or greater.

It is anticipated that electricity demand from customers identified by ERCOT as LFL will total 54 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) in 2025, which is up almost 60% from the expected demand in 2024. If this comes to fruition, the demand from LFL customers would represent about 10% of the total forecast electricity consumption on the ERCOT grid this year. To accommodate the expected increase in power demand from large computing facilities, the state created the Texas Energy Fund, which provides grants and loans to finance the construction, maintenance, modernization, and operation of electric facilities in Texas. During this year’s 89th legislative session, lawmakers approved a major expansion of the Texas Energy Fund, allocating $5 billion more to help build new power plants and fund grid resilience projects.

Is solar power the key to stabilizing the grid?

The fastest-growing source of new electric generating capacity in the United States is solar power, and Texas stands as the second-highest producer of solar energy in the country.

On a regular day, solar power typically constitutes about 5% of the grid’s total energy output. However, during intense heat waves, when the demand for electricity spikes and solar conditions are optimal, the share of solar power can significantly increase. In such scenarios, solar energy’s contribution to the Texas grid can rise to as much as 20%, highlighting its potential to meet higher energy demands, especially during critical times of need.

While the benefits of solar power are numerous, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, lowering electricity bills, and promoting energy independence from the grid, it is important to acknowledge its barriers, such as:

  • Sunlight is intermittent and variable. Cloudy days, nighttime, and seasonal changes can affect energy production, requiring backup or storage solutions. Extreme weather conditions, such as hailstorms, can damage solar panels, affecting their performance and lifespan.
  • The upfront costs of purchasing and installing solar panels and associated equipment can be relatively high.
  • Large-scale solar installations may require significant land area, potentially leading to concerns about land use, habitat disruption, and conflicts with agricultural activities.
  • Integrating solar power into existing electricity grids can pose challenges due to its intermittent nature. Upgrading and modifying grids to handle distributed generation can be costly.

Although Texas has made progress in expanding its power supply, the rapid pace of population growth, homebuilding, and large-scale computing facilities presents challenges for grid stability. The gap between energy supply and demand needs to continue to be addressed with proactive planning. While solar power is a promising solution, there are realistic limitations to consider. A diversified approach that includes both renewable and traditional energy sources, along with ongoing legislative movement, is critical to ensuring a resilient energy future for Texas.

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Sam Luna is director at BKV Energy, where he oversees brand and go-to-market strategy, customer experience, marketing execution, and more.

SMT Energy is expected to bring a new battery storage facility online next year to support the ERCOT grid. Photo via Getty Images

$135 million in funding secured for new Houston battery storage facility

battery expansion

Boulder, Colorado-based SMT Energy has secured $135 million in funding for a 160-megawatt battery energy storage facility, dubbed SMT Houston IV, according to an announcement.

The new facility will work to support the ERCOT grid by providing access to stored energy. The project is expected to be online by 2026 and store and dispatch enough electricity to power 8,800 homes in Texas annually.

Macquarie and KeyBanc Capital Markets were joint lead arrangers in a $100 million project financing facility. Macquarie's Commodities and Global Markets business will also provide a preferred equity investment and are mandated to sell the project's investment tax credits of approximately $62 million, according to SMT. KeyBanc will also act as a financial advisor to SMT.

North Carolina-based battery energy storage integrator FlexGen Power Systems will obtain equipment for the project. The project will also use FlexGen's energy management system software. The software provides site integration, site control and advanced analytics insights to maximize the availability and operating ranges of battery energy storage assets.

"FlexGen is proud to partner with SMT Energy on the deployment of the SMT Houston IV project, which will deliver critical services to the dynamic ERCOT power grid," Jason Abiecunas, Executive Vice President of Business Development with FlexGen said in the release.

In 2023, SMT Energy and joint venture partner SUSI Partners announced plans to add 10 battery storage projects to Texas, doubling capacity from 100 megawatts to 200 megawatts in the Houston and Dallas areas. SMT has a 2 gigawatt per hour pipeline of battery energy storage projects in ERCOT and Southwest Power Pool targeted for commercial operation by 2030, according to the release.

Solar power met nearly 25 percent of midday electricity demand within the ERCOT grid during some of 2024's hottest summer days. Photo by Red Zeppelin/Pexels

Report: Texas solar power, battery storage helped stabilize grid in summer 2024, but challenges remain

by the numbers

Research from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas shows that solar power and battery storage capacity helped stabilize Texas’ electric grid last summer.

Between June 1 and Aug. 31, solar power met nearly 25 percent of midday electricity demand within the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) power grid. Rising solar and battery output in ERCOT assisted Texans during a summer of triple-digit heat and record load demands, but the report fears that the state’s power load will be “pushed to its limits” soon.

The report examined how the grid performed during more demanding hours. At peak times, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the summer of 2024, solar output averaged nearly 17,000 megawatts compared with 12,000 megawatts during those hours in the previous year. Between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., discharge from battery facilities averaged 714 megawatts in 2024 after averaging 238 megawatts for those hours in 2023. Solar and battery output have continued to grow since then, according to the report.

“Batteries made a meaningful contribution to what those shoulder periods look like and how much scarcity we get into during these peak events,” ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas said at a board of directors conference call.

Increases in capacity from solar and battery-storage power in 2024 also eclipsed those of 2023. In 2023 ECOT added 4,570 megawatts of solar, compared to adding nearly 9,700 megawatts in 2024. Growth in battery storage capacity also increased from about 1,500 megawatts added in 2023 to more than 4,000 megawatts added in 2024. Natural gas capacity also saw increases while wind capacity dropped by about 50 percent.

Texas’ installation of utility-scale solar surpassed California’s in the spring of last year, and jumped from 1,900 megawatts in 2019 to over 20,000 megawatts in 2024 with solar meeting about 50 percent of Texas' peak power demand during some days.

While the numbers are encouraging, the report states that there could be future challenges, as more generating capacity will be required due to data center construction and broader electrification trends. The development of generating more capacity will rely on multiple factors like price signals and market conditions that invite more baseload and dispatchable generating capacity, which includes longer-duration batteries, and investment in power purchase agreements and other power arrangements by large-scale consumers, according to the report.

Additionally, peak demand during winter freezes presents challenges not seen in the summer. For example, in colder months, peak electricity demand often occurs in the early morning before solar energy is available, and it predicts that current battery storage may be insufficient to meet the demand. The analysis indicated a 50% chance of rolling outages during a cold snap similar to December 2022 and an 80% chance if conditions mirror the February 2021 deep freeze at the grid’s current state.

The report also claimed that ERCOT’s energy-only market design and new incentive structures, such as the Texas Energy Fund, do not appear to be enough to meet the predicted future magnitude and speed of load growth.

Read the full report here.

Jupiter Power's Callisto I is up and running. Photo courtesy of jupiterpower.io

Houston clean energy storage facility goes online to power ERCOT grid

green light

A new battery energy storage facility in Houston is officially up and running to power the ERCOT grid with a supply of reliable, zero emissions power.

Jupiter Power announced the commercial operations launch of its 400-megawatt-hour battery facility, Callisto I, in central Houston on the site of the former HL&P H.O. Clarke fossil fuel power plant.

"Jupiter couldn't be prouder about bringing the Callisto I project online," Andy Bowman, CEO of Jupiter Power, says in a news release. "This project responds to lawmakers' calls to increase affordable and dispatchable new generation in an area where people need more power. Callisto I is the first energy storage project at this scale in the City of Houston and will help meet Houston's growing power needs while also increasing resiliency from extreme weather events."

The new project is Jupiter Power's ninth project to deliver energy storage to ERCOT — bringing its total ERCOT fleet to 1,375-megawatt-hour capacity — but its the first in the Houston area. The company is currently developing over 11,000 megawatts of projects across the country. Founded in 2017, Jupiter Power is headquartered in Austin and has offices in Houston and Chicago.

"The announcement of Jupiter Power's Callisto I Energy Storage project is significant and exciting for the region, as it's the first large-scale transmission-connected energy storage project in the City of Houston," Jane Stricker, senior vice president at the Greater Houston Partnership and executive director at the Houston Energy Transition Initiative, adds. "This critical project will help address peak power demand and is another great example of our region's leadership in scaling and deploying impactful solutions for an all the above energy future."

Among the company's financial backers is Houston-based EnCap Energy Transition, which invested in Jupiter Power via its Fund II.

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Houston-area sustainable steel company emerges from stealth with $17M in VC funding

heavy metals

Conroe-based Hertha Metals, a producer of substantial steel, has hauled in more than $17 million in venture capital from Khosla Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Fellows, Pear VC, Clean Energy Ventures and other investors.

The money has been put toward the construction and the launch of its 1-metric-ton-per-day pilot plant in Conroe, where its breakthrough in steelmaking has been undergoing tests. The company uses a single-step process that it claims is cheaper, more energy-efficient and equally as scalable as conventional steelmaking methods. The plant is fueled by natural gas or hydrogen.

The company, founded in 2022, plans to break ground early next year on a new plant. The facility will be able to produce more than 9,000 metric tons of steel per year.

Hertha said in a news release that its process, which converts low-grade iron ore into molten steel or high-purity iron, “doesn’t just materially lower cost and energy use — it fundamentally expands our capacity to produce iron and steel at scale, by unlocking a wider range of iron ore feedstocks.”

Laureen Meroueh, founder and CEO of Hertha, says the company’s process will fill a gap in U.S. steel production.

“We’re not just reinventing steelmaking; we’re redefining what’s possible in materials, manufacturing, and national resilience,” Meroueh says.

Hertha says it’s in talks with magnet producers — which make permanent magnets and magnetic assemblies from raw materials such as iron — to become a U.S. supplier of high-purity iron. In its next stage of growth, Hertha will aim to operate at a capacity of 500,000 metric tons of steel production per year.

The company won the Department of Energy's Summer Energy Program for Innovation Clusters (EPIC) Startup Pitch Competition last summer. Read more here.

Houston foundation doles out $700K for Texas chemical research

fresh funding

Houston-based The Welch Foundation has issued $700,000 in additional funding to support chemical research through two of its newest grant programs.

The foundation has named the recipients of its Welch eXperimental (WelchX) Collaboration Retreat and Pilot Grants and the Welch Postdoctoral Fellows of the Life Sciences Research Foundation Grants.

The WelchX grants were awarded to teams of two Texas researchers who presented "innovative and collaborative ideas" addressing challenges in the clean energy space, according to the foundation.

Researchers from Texas universities gathered in Houston earlier this summer to discuss the theme “Chemical Research for Grand Challenges." They then paired off into nine teams and submitted proposals for the $100,000 pilot grants. The seven selected teams, several with ties to Houston, and their research topics include:

  • Yimo Han, Rice University, and Yuanyue Liu, The University of Texas at Austin, “Stabilizing Copper Electrocatalysts for CO2 Conversion”
  • Ognjen Miljanic, University of Houston, and Indrajit Srivastava, Texas Tech University, “Ping-Pong' Afterglow Luminescence in Self-Assembled Molecular Cubes”
  • Raúl Hernández Sánchez, Rice University, and Andy Thomas, Texas A&M University, “Accelerating Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Agent Discovery via Rapid Injection NMR: Improving the Detection of Lithium for Disease Diagnostics”
  • Benjamin Janesko, Texas Christian University, and MD Masud Rana, Lamar University, “Cyber Twin Chemical Ensembles for Near-Infrared-Emitting Graphene Quantum Dot Therapeutics”
  • Ivan Korendovych, Baylor University, and Dino Villagrán, The University of Texas at El Paso, “Selective Bio-Inspired Electrochemical Probes for PFAS Analysis and Degradation”
  • Samantha Kristufek, Texas Tech University, and Kayla Green, Texas Christian University, “CIRCUIT: Critical Ion Recovery using Conductive and Ultrafiltration Intelligent Technology”
  • Fang Xu, The University of Texas at San Antonio, and Hong Wang, University of North Texas, “Visualize Molecular Adsorption on Supported Ni-porphyrin Model Catalysts via Substitute Effect”

The Welch Postdoctoral Fellows of the Life Sciences Research Foundation provides three-year fellowships to recent PhD graduates to support clinical research careers in Texas.

The foundation previously announced that it would name fellows from Rice University and Baylor University who would receive $100,000 annually for three years. This year's recipients and their research topics include:

  • Teng Yuan, Rice University, “Unlocking New Chemistry of Nonheme Iron Enzymes for α-Amino Acids and γ-Lactones Synthesis”
  • Katelyn Baumler, Baylor University, "Crystal Growth of Ln2Fe4Sb5 Phases Toward the Study of Novel Quantum Properties”

“As these programs become more established, it is thrilling to see the new research our awardees are exploring,” Adam Kuspa, president of The Welch Foundation, said in a news release. “The Foundation is very pleased by the applications that we continue to receive describing exciting new research projects to advance chemical research.”

This additional funding comes on the heels of the foundation doling out $27 million for chemical research, equipment and postdoctoral fellowships earlier this summer. The foundation made 85 grants to faculty at 16 Texas institutions at the time. Read more here.

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This article originally appeared on our sister site, Innovationmap.com.

10+ Houston energy transition events to attend in September 2025

Must-Attend Meetings

Editor's note: September is here, and the calendar is full of must-attend energy transition events. Get the details on the top energy happenings in September 2025, and begin registering today. Please note: this article may be updated to include additional events.

September 3 — Houston Energy + Climate Tech Startup Week Preview Happy Hour

Head to the Ion for a networking happy hour to preview Houston Energy + Climate Startup Week 2025. Industry leaders, investors, startups, and key partners from Houston’s energy and climate innovation ecosystem will gather to share the inside scoop on the upcoming event's programming and opportunities.

This event takes place Wednesday, September 3 at 5:30 pm at the Ion. Click here to register.

September 3-4 — 11th Annual Digitalization in Oil & Gas Conference

This conference will delve deep into the intersection of digitalization and decarbonization, highlighting the transformation required for the oil and gas sector to stay relevant, resilient, and achieve business value. This year, the focus is on leveraging AI and generative AI, driving sustainability and workforce development, and achieving operational excellence through digitalization. Key objectives include building future-ready facilities, planning for a lower carbon market, and realizing business value through innovative solutions.

This event begins Wednesday, September 3 at Hilton Americas Houston. Click here to register.

September 8-10 — SPE Energy Transition Symposium

The SPE Energy Transition Symposium brings together professionals from multiple disciplines across the energy sector, offering a comprehensive platform for learning, networking, and collaboration. Its primary objective is to facilitate the exchange and dissemination of knowledge drawn from the insights of industry leaders, technical experts, academics, practitioners, representatives from the financial community, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) leaders. This year's symposium is titled "Synergizing Innovation and Collaboration: Transforming Energy for a Sustainable Future."

This event begins Monday, September 8 at Houston Marriott Sugar Land. Click here to register.

September 12 — Workforce of the Future

UH Energy collaborates with the Society for Underwater Technology and SPRINT Robotics to host an immersive, full-day event spotlighting how AI and robotics are reshaping the energy industry. Industry leaders, innovators, and educators will converge to discuss how to empower the next generation of talent to lead the digital transformation of energy.

This event takes place Friday, September 12 at University of Houston Student Center South – Houston Room. Click here to register.

September 15-19 — Houston Energy & Climate Week

Houston Energy & Climate Week utilizes Houston's potential to propel global climate action. This gathering welcomes an unparalleled selection of global energy leaders and communities, giving participants opportunities to interact and discuss capital, technology, workforce, and policy needs. It is organized by Allies in Energy, a nonprofit dedicated to building energy and climate literacy and a pathway to the workforce of the future.

Following an invite-only dinner on Sunday, September 14, this event begins with Opening Ceremonies on Monday, September 15. Click here for details.

September 15-19 — Houston Energy + Climate Startup Week

Launched in 2024, the official Houston Energy and Climate Startup Week returns for its second year, showcasing how Houston is developing and scaling real solutions for the dual challenge of meeting growing global energy demand while reducing carbon emissions. Join leading energy and climate venture capital investors, industry leaders, and startups from around the world for this showcase of the most innovative companies and technologies that are transforming the energy industry while driving a sustainable, low-carbon energy future.

This event begins Monday, September 15 with a kickoff event at the Ion Plaza. Click here for details.

September 16 — Pilotathon 2025 & Company Showcase

EnergyTech Nexus hosts its annual Pilotathon — a high-impact event designed to fast-track pilot deployments for climate and energy tech startups. Expect a full day of curated startup pitches, a 50-plus company innovation showcase, and direct engagement with corporate partners, investors, and ecosystem leaders. The afternoon will also feature participants from the ETN CoPilot Accelerator. Startup applications and event registration is now open at www.pilotathon.com.

This event takes place Tuesday, September 16 at 8 am at GreenStreet. Click here to register.

September 18 — ACCEL Year 3 Showcase

As part of Houston Energy and Climate Startup Week, Greentown Labs will celebrate ACCEL, an accelerator program for startups led by BIPOC and other underrepresented founders. The third ACCEL cohort will present a showcase featuring their technologies, what they’ve accomplished in the first six months of the program, and where they’re headed next. Attendees will also have the opportunity to network with industry leaders who are passionate about and building an inclusive and sustainable future.

This event takes place Thursday, September 18 at 5 pm at Greentown Labs. Click here to register.

September 18 — 22nd Annual Energy Tech Venture Forum

The Rice Alliance Energy Tech Venture Forum will showcase energy tech innovations to shift towards a more sustainable, reliable and lower carbon future. This anchor event of Houston Energy + Climate Startup Week will showcase quality companies and conversations, giving attendees the chance to connect with other leaders and see where energy is headed.

This event takes place Thursday, September 18 at Rice University. Click here to register.

September 22-23 — Southwest Process Technology Conference

The 16th Southwest Process Technology Conference, with the theme “Process Technology in 2025: Solid Foundation, Dynamic Future,” will feature a diverse range of keynote presentations and technical sessions, addressing key topics in the technology and business environment of the rapidly evolving oil refining and chemical industries along the Gulf Coast.

This event begins September 22 at the University of Houston. Click here to register.

September 29-30 — Energy Tax Equity and Credit Markets

Infocast's Energy Tax Equity and Credit Markets two-day event brings together the top tax equity investors, financial advisors, platform providers, lenders, and insurers to give critical insights into how to accelerate the dealmaking process. They will provide invaluable insights on navigating the impacts of IRA changes, qualifying projects to take advantage of tax equity investments, strategies for accelerating project financing pipelines, and a deep dive into how to obtain tax credit investments via both traditional and transfer markets.

This event begins Wednesday, September 29 at the C. Baldwin. Click here to register.

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