Editor's note: As the year comes to a close, EnergyCapital is looking back at the year's top stories of Houston energy transition. From business advice to industry observations, these are five of the most-read pieces from experts in the industry. Make sure to click through the links below to read the full story.
Expert weighs in on fire protection standards in hydrogen industry growth
With the projected uptick of new hydrogen production projects, an expert explores hydrogen fire protection, reflects on the measures and standards established to mitigate risks, and more. Photo courtesy
Written by Stuart Bradbury, PPG business development manager of Fire Protection, Protective and Marine Coatings.
As First State Hydrogen continues to advance its groundbreaking clean hydrogen production facility in the U.S., the spotlight intensifies as hydrogen becomes an increasingly key player in the energy transition.
With the projected uptick of new hydrogen production and handling projects, let's explore hydrogen fire protection, reflect on the measures and standards established to mitigate risks, and ensure that the hydrogen economy thrives. Continue reading.
Unlocking climate tech’s potential in Houston: What health innovation's rise can teach us
If we can channel the same sense of urgency and public commitment toward climate change as we did for health crises in the past, climate tech could overcome its current obstacles. Photo via Getty Images
Written by Nada Ahmed, founding partner at Houston-based Energy Tech Nexus, a startup hub for the energy transition.
Over the past several decades, climate tech has faced numerous challenges, ranging from inconsistent public support to a lack of funding from cautious investors. While grassroots organizations and climate innovators have made notable efforts to address urgent environmental issues, we have yet to see large-scale, lasting impact.
A common tendency is to compare climate tech to the rapid advancements made in digital and software technology, but perhaps a more appropriate parallel is the health tech sector, which encountered many of the same struggles in its early days.
Observing the rise of health tech and the economic and political support it received, we can uncover strategies that could stabilize and propel climate tech forward. Continue reading.
Column: Should companies pay for EV chargers for corporate fleets?
By taking a thoughtful approach to employees’ individual situations, fleet managers can design a take-home EV program that fits their drivers’ needs and benefits the company’s bottom line in the long run. Photo via Getty Images
Written by David Lewis, founder and CEO of MoveEV.
As electric vehicles continue to rise in popularity among corporate fleets, the question of how to best accommodate charging needs for fleet drivers, especially those taking their vehicles home, is becoming increasingly important.
Charging EV fleet vehicles at home can be an excellent strategy to save employees time and cut operational costs. However, many companies hesitate in their take-home EV implementation, mistakenly believing that high-cost level 2 home chargers are a necessity. This misconception can stall the transition to an efficient, cost-effective fleet charging solution.
By taking a thoughtful approach to employees’ individual situations, fleet managers can design a take-home EV program that fits their drivers’ needs and benefits the company’s bottom line in the long run. Continue reading.
Uniquely Houston event to convene innovation experts across aerospace, energy, and medicine
For the eighteenth year in a row, the annual Pumps & Pipes event will showcase and explore convergence innovation and common technology themes across Houston’s three major industries. Image courtesy of Pumps & Pipes
Written by Stuart Corr, director of innovation engineering at The Bookout Center at Houston Methodist and executive director of Pumps & Pipes.
Every year, Houston's legacy industries — energy, medicine, and aerospace — come together to share innovative ideas and collaborate on future opportunities.
For the eighteenth year in a row, the annual Pumps & Pipes event will showcase and explore convergence innovation and common technology themes across Houston’s three major industries. The hosting organization, also called Pumps & Pipes, was established in 2007 in Houston and is dedicated to fostering collaboration amongst the city's three major industries.
With NASA in its backyard, the world’s largest medical center, and a reputation as the “Energy Capital of the World,” Houston is uniquely positioned to lead in cross-industry convergence innovation and is reflected in the theme of this year’s event – Blueprint Houston: Converge and Innovate. Continue reading.
Op-Ed: To protect the Texas grid, help Texans protect themselves
This latest incident is more than a sign that Houstonians must take control of their power. Photo by Eric Turnquist
Written by Bret Biggart, CEO of Freedom Solar Power, a Texas-based solar company.
On the evening of May 16, a devastating “derecho” storm howled through Houston. Nearly 800,000 customers lost power. Many were still without electricity days later, as a heat wave baked neighborhoods that couldn’t power air conditioners.
It was yet another unwelcome reminder about the precariousness of the power grid.
These outages followed repeated grid warnings, conservation calls, and near-misses last summer and the summer before, as well as the catastrophic Winter Storm Uri freeze in February 2021.
The outages also preceded the increasingly extreme weather Texas faces and staggering growth on the ERCOT grid: after growing about 1 percent a year for 20 years, the power grid covering most of Texas may need to be 78 percent bigger by 2030.
So, this latest incident is more than a sign that Houstonians must take control of their power. It also shows that more and more, the state needs you to act. Continue reading.
- Column: Houston expert on what the path to net-zero will look like ›
- Texas vs the nation: Comparing energy grid resilience across America ›
- Houston energy startup CEO calls for tech players to join the climate fight ›
- Expert weighs in on fire protection standards in hydrogen industry growth ›
- Expert weighs in on fire protection standards in hydrogen industry growth ›
- Expert: Demystifying SBIR grants for Houston energy transition startups ›
- Expert: Repurposing Houston’s infrastructure for a clean energy future ›
- Guest column: Cold weather and electric vehicles — separating fact from fiction ›