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Solidec secures pre-seed funding from Houston VC firm

fresh funding

Houston-based Flathead Forge Fund 1 has participated in Solidec's pre-seed funding round. Photo courtesy Greentown Labs

Houston-based Flathead Forge Fund 1 has invested in Houston startup Solidec, which specializes in modular onsite chemical manufacturing.

The investment was part of Solidec’s recent round of more than $2 million in pre-seed funding. The amount of Flathead Forge’s investment wasn’t disclosed.

“Flathead Forge brings exactly the kind of domain-specific capital and operational network that a company at our stage needs. Their focus on water and critical minerals makes this a genuinely strategic relationship,” Ryan DuChanois, co-founder and CEO of Solidec, said in a news release.

Other investors in the round included New Climate Ventures, Collaborative Fund, Echo River Capital, Ecosphere Ventures, Plug and Play Ventures, Safar Partners and Semilla Climate Capital.

Solidec produces industrial chemicals, including hydrogen peroxide, formic acid and acetic acid, using only air, water and electricity. Its modular reactors eliminate the need for energy-intensive production and long-haul distribution.

“Solidec’s platform cuts cost, emissions, and supply-chain fragility at the source,” Douglas Lee, managing director of Flathead Forge, added in the statement.

DuChanois said in an email that the company plans to use the funding to "scale (its) modular chemical manufacturing platform."

Solidec recently announced a pilot project with Lynas Rare Earths, the world’s only commercial producer of separated light and heavy rare earth oxides outside China, for production of hydrogen peroxide for a Lynas facility in Australia.

Solidec, a member of Greentown Labs Houston, spun out of associate professor Haotian Wang’s lab at Rice University in 2024. Wang focuses on developing new materials and technology for energy and environmental uses, such as energy storage and green synthesis.
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Rice University scientists' “recharge-to-recycle” reactor has major implications for the electric vehicle sector. Photo courtesy Jorge Vidal/Rice University.

Houston scientists develop 'recharge-to-recycle' reactor for lithium-ion batteries

reduce, recharge, recycle

Engineers at Rice University have developed a cleaner, innovative process to turn end-of-life lithium-ion battery waste into new lithium feedstock.

The findings, recently published in the journal Joule, demonstrate how the team’s new “recharge-to-recycle” reactor recharges the battery’s waste cathode materials to coax out lithium ions into water. The team was then able to form high-purity lithium hydroxide, which was clean enough to feed directly back into battery manufacturing.

The study has major implications for the electric vehicle sector, which significantly contributes to the waste stream from end-of-life battery packs. Additionally, lithium tends to be expensive to mine and refine, and current recycling methods are energy- and chemical-intensive.

“Directly producing high-purity lithium hydroxide shortens the path back into new batteries,” Haotian Wang, associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, co-corresponding author of the study and co-founder of Solidec, said in a news release. “That means fewer processing steps, lower waste and a more resilient supply chain.”

Sibani Lisa Biswal, chair of Rice’s Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and the William M. McCardell Professor in Chemical Engineering, also served as co-corresponding author on the study.

“We asked a basic question: If charging a battery pulls lithium out of a cathode, why not use that same reaction to recycle?” Biswal added in the release. “By pairing that chemistry with a compact electrochemical reactor, we can separate lithium cleanly and produce the exact salt manufacturers want.”

The new process also showed scalability, according to Rice. The engineers scaled the device to 20 square centimeters, then ran a 1,000-hour stability test and processed 57 grams of industrial black mass supplied by industry partner Houston-based TotalEnergies. The results produced lithium hydroxide that was more than 99 percent pure. It also maintained an average lithium recovery rate of nearly 90 percent over the 1,000-hour test, showing its durability. The process also worked across multiple battery chemistries, including lithium iron phosphate, lithium manganese oxide and nickel-manganese-cobalt variants.

Looking ahead, the team plans to scale the process and consider ways it can sustain high efficiency for greater lithium hydroxide concentrations.

“We’ve made lithium extraction cleaner and simpler,” Biswal added in the release. “Now we see the next bottleneck clearly. Tackle concentration, and you unlock even better sustainability.

Houston-based Solidec has closed an oversubscribed pre-seed round led by New Climate Ventures. Photo courtesy Greentown Labs.

Houston clean-chemicals startup Solidec raises $2M to scale tech

fresh funding

Solidec, a Houston startup that specializes in manufacturing “clean” chemicals, has raised more than $2 million in pre-seed funding.

Houston-based New Climate Ventures led the oversubscribed pre-seed round, with participation from Plug and Play Ventures, Ecosphere Ventures, the Collaborative Fund, Safar Partners, Echo River Capital and Semilla Climate Capital, among other investors.

Solidec’s approach to chemical manufacturing replaces centralized infrastructure with modular on-site production using only air, water and electricity. Solidec’s platform is powered by modular reactors capable of producing widely used chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide, formic acid, acetic acid and ethylene.

“We’ve known the Solidec team for almost two years and have developed a high degree of conviction in the team, their technology, and their go-to-market strategy,” Eric Rubenstein, managing partner at New Climate Ventures, said in a news release. “We’re particularly excited about Solidec’s ability to produce many different widely used chemicals. It gives them critical flexibility to expand and serve a broad customer base.”

Solidec is initially focusing on hydrogen peroxide.

“Traditionally, hydrogen peroxide is produced in centralized, energy-intensive facilities using carbon-intensive inputs, then transported long distances, resulting in a significant carbon footprint,” Ryan DuChanois, co-founder and CEO of Solidec, said in the release. “Solidec’s modular reactor produces clean chemicals like hydrogen peroxide on-site, in fewer steps, and with less energy, slashing emissions, supply-chain risk, and cost.”

Solidec said its technology “is poised to disrupt the multibillion-dollar commodity and chemical industries.” The company has already signed up several customers.

The startup, a Rice University spinout, is a graduate of the Chevron Catalyst Program and a member of Greentown Labs Houston. It was cofounded by DuChanois, Haotian Wang and Yang Xia.

New research from Rice and UH has helped boost the lifespan of CO2RR systems, a newer technology used for carbon capture. Photo via htxenergytransition.org

Rice University and UH labs team up to improve emerging carbon capture technique

new findings

A team of researchers led by professors from two Houston universities has discovered new methods that help stabilize an emerging technique known as carbon dioxide reduction reaction, or CO2RR, that is used for carbon capture and utilization processes.

The team led by Rice University’s Haotian Wang, associate professor in chemical and biomolecular engineering, and Xiaonan Shan, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at University of Houston, published its findings in a recent edition of the journal Nature Energy.

CO2RR is an emerging carbon capture and utilization technique where electricity and chemical catalysts are used to convert carbon dioxide gas into carbon-containing compounds like alcohols, ethylene, formic acids or carbon monoxide, according to a news release from Rice. The result can be used as fuels, chemicals or as starting materials to produce other compounds.

The technology is used in commercial membrane electrode assembly (MEA) electrolyzers to convert carbon dioxide into valuable compounds, but the technology isn’t perfected. A significant challenge in CO2RR technology has been the accumulation of bicarbonate salt crystals on the backside of the cathode gas diffusion electrode and within the gas flow channels. The salt precipitates block the flow of carbon dioxide gas through the cathode chamber, which reduce the performance and can cause a failure of the electrolyzers.

The goal in the study was to understand why and how bicarbonate salts form during this reaction. The Rice and UH teams worked together using operando Raman spectroscopy, which is a technique that allows researchers to study the structure of materials and any precipitates that adhere to them while the device is functioning.

“By utilizing operando Raman spectroscopy and optical microscopy, we successfully tracked the movement of bicarbonate-containing droplets and identified their migration pattern,” Shan said in the release. “This provided us the information to develop an effective strategy to manage these droplets without interrupting system stability.”

Next, the team worked to prevent the salt crystals from forming. First, they tested lowering the concentration of cations, like sodium or potassium, in the electrolyte to slow down the salt formation. This method proved to be effective.

They also coated the cathode with parylene, a synthetic polymer that repels water, like Teflon, which also notably improved the stability of the electrolyzer and prevented salt accumulation.

“Inspired by the waxy surface of the lotus leaf which causes water droplets to bead up and roll off, carrying off any dirt particles with it and leaving the leaf’s surface clean, we wondered if coating the gas flow channel with a nonstick substance will prevent salt-laden droplets from staying on the surface of the electrodes for too long and, therefore, reduce salt buildup.” Wang said in the release.

According to Wang, these relatively simple discoveries can extend the operational lifespan of CO2RR systems from a few hundred hours to over 1,000 hours.

The findings also have major implications for commercial applications, Shan added.

“This advancement paves the way for longer-lasting and more reliable (CO2RR) systems, making the technology more practical for large-scale chemical manufacturing,” Shan said in the release. “The improvements we developed are crucial for transitioning CO2 electrolysis from laboratory setups to commercial applications for producing sustainable fuels and chemicals.”

Rice professor and Solidec co-founder Haotian Wang's research enables CO2 to be converted into valuable chemicals and fuels. Photo courtesy Welch Foundation.

Houston clean energy pioneer earns prestigious Welch Foundation award

Awards Season

A Rice University professor has earned a prestigious award from the Houston-based Welch Foundation, which supports chemistry research.

The foundation gave its 2025 Norman Hackerman Award in Chemical Research to Haotian Wang for his “exceptionally creative” research involving carbon dioxide electrochemistry. His research enables CO2 to be converted into valuable chemicals and fuels.

The award included $100,000 and a bronze sculpture.

“Dr. Wang’s extensive body of work and rigorous pursuit of efficient electrochemical solutions to practical problems set him apart as a top innovator among early-career researchers,” Catherine Murphy, chairwoman of the foundation’s Scientific Advisory Board, said in a news release.

Wang is an associate professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Rice. The department’s Wang Group develops nanomaterials and electrolyzers for energy and environmental uses, such as energy storage, chemical and fuel generation, green synthesis and water treatment.

Wang also is co-founder of Solidec, a Houston startup that aims to turn his innovations into low-carbon fuels, carbon-negative hydrogen and carbon-neutral peroxide. The startup extracts molecules from water and air, then transforms them into pure chemicals and fuels that are free of carbon emissions.

Solidec has been selected for Chevron Technology Ventures’ catalyst program, a Rice One Small Step grant, a U.S. Department of Energy grant, and the first cohort of the Activate Houston program.

“Dr. Wang’s use of electrochemistry to close the carbon cycle and develop renewable sources of industrial chemicals directly intersects with the Welch Foundation mission of advancing chemistry while improving life,” Fred Brazelton, chairman and director of the Welch Foundation, said in the release.

Ramamoorthy Ramesh, executive vice president for research at Rice University, added: “We are proud to (Dr. Wang) at Rice. He’s using chemical engineering to solve a big problem for humanity, everything that the Welch Foundation stands for.”

Last year, the Hackerman Award went to Baylor College of Medicine's Livia Schiavinato Eberlin, who's known for her groundbreaking work in the application of mass spectrometry technologies, which are changing how physicians treat cancer and analyze tissues. Read more here.

Led by Haotian Wang (left) and Feng-Yang Chen, the Rice University team published a study this month detailing how its reactor system sustainably converts waste into ammonia. Photo by Jeff Fitlow/Rice University

Houston lab develops reactor that sustainably turns waste into ammonia

seeing green

A team of Rice University engineers has developed a reactor design that can decarbonize ammonia production, produce clean water and potentially have applications in further research into other eco-friendly chemical processes.

Led by Rice associate professor Haotian Wang, the team published a study this month in the journal Nature Catalysis that details how the new reactor system sustainably and efficiently converts nitrates (common pollutants found in industrial wastewater and agricultural runoff) into ammonia, according to the university. The research was supported by Rice and the National Science Foundation.

“Our findings suggest a new, greener method of addressing both water pollution and ammonia production, which could influence how industries and communities handle these challenges,” Wang says in a statement. “If we want to decarbonize the grid and reach net-zero goals by 2050, there is an urgent need to develop alternative ways to produce ammonia sustainably.”

Other methods of creating ammonia include the Haber-Bosh process and electrochemical synthesis. The Haber-Bosh process requires large-scale centralized infrastructure and high temperature and pressure conditions. Meanwhile, electrochemical synthesis requires a high concentration of additive chemicals.

According to Rice, the new reactor requires less additive chemicals than the electrochemical synthesis, allowing nitrates to be converted more sustainably. The reactor relies on an innovative porous solid electrolyte as well as recyclable ions and a three-chamber system to improve the reaction’s efficiency.

Additionally, this development provides an effective water decontamination method.

“We conducted experiments where we flowed nitrate-contaminated water through this reactor and measured the amount of ammonia produced and the purity of the treated water,” Feng-Yang Chen, a Rice graduate student who is the lead author on the study, says. “We discovered that our novel reactor system could turn nitrate-contaminated water into pure ammonia and clean water very efficiently, without the need for extra chemicals. In simple terms, you put wastewater in, and you get pure ammonia and purified water out.”

Pedro Alvarez, the George R. Brown Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, director of the Nanosystems Engineering Research Center for Nanotechnology-Enabled Water Treatment (NEWT) and the Water Technologies Entrepreneurship and Research (WaTER) Institute at Rice, says the reactor is "very timely and important" for growing cities that must deal with nitrate-contaminated groundwater supplies it.

"Conventional nitrate removal in drinking water treatment involves ion exchange or membrane filtration by reverse osmosis, which generates brines and transfers the nitrate problem from one phase to another,” he continues.

Wang's lab has been making headlines in recent years for innovative processes and technologies focused on the energy transition.

Last year, the lab published a study in Nature detailing a new technology that uses electricity to remove carbon dioxide from air capture to induce a water-and-oxygen-based electrochemical reaction, generating between 10 to 25 liters of high-purity carbon using only the power of a standard lightbulb.

In 2022, Rice reported that Wang’s lab in the George R. Brown School of Engineering had also replaced rare, expensive iridium with ruthenium, a more abundant precious metal, as the positive-electrode catalyst in a reactor that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen.

The lab received a portion of $10.8 million in research grants from the Houston-based Welch Foundation for research focused on converting carbon dioxide into useful chemicals, such as ethanol, last year. And Solidec, founded by Ryan Duchanois and Yang Xia from Wang's Lab, also received a $100,000 award from Rice as part of the One Small Step Grant program.

Wang has also been named among one of the most-cited researchers in the world.
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8+ must-attend Houston energy transition events in October 2026

Must-Attend Meetings

Editor's note: October is here, and there are many energy events to plug into in Houston this month. From summits and forums to exhibitions and networking opportunities, these are the top events to put on your calendar. Learn more below, and register now.

Oct. 6-7: Hydrogen Americas Summit and Exhibition

Hydrogen Americas delivers an unparalleled opportunity to explore how hydrogen integrates with CCUS and other energy solutions under the new U.S. and Americas energy paradigm. This event moves to Houston in 2026, providing unmatched access to industry leaders and opportunities. The summit will include CCUS dedicated sessions integrated directly into the conference programming, providing deeper insights into carbon capture, utilization, and storage. Look forward to networking opportunities to connect with global suppliers, regional developers, and key policymakers.

This event begins Oct. 6 at George R. Brown Convention Center. Register here.

Oct. 6-7: Annual Energy Summit — Energy, Risk, and Geopolitics

The 10th annual energy summit is co-hosted by Baker Botts and the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University's Baker Institute. This year's summit, “Energy, Risk, and Geopolitics,” will explore how a changing geopolitical landscape and shifts in supply chain risks are impacting investment, innovation, and market dynamics. The two-day program will include discussions spanning petroleum and LNG markets, critical minerals, electricity reliability, AI, and power demand.

This event begins Oct. 6 at 7:30 am at James A Baker III Hall. The event will also be livestreamed. Register here.

Oct. 7: Industrial Data Forward Forum 2026

Houston continues to sit at the intersection of energy, chemical production, and advanced manufacturing. Industrial data experts, automation engineers, and enterprise architects will gather for this one-day forum to address one of the region's biggest operational challenges: modernizing massive, legacy industrial plants without incurring high costs.

This event takes place Oct. 7 at Norris Conference Center. Register here.

Oct. 14: Houston Engineering, Energy & Transportation Networking Event

Connect with leading engineers, energy experts, environmental innovators, and transportation professionals during an evening of collaboration, insight, and opportunity. This exclusive event is designed for engineers, project developers, renewable energy specialists, urban planners, environmental consultants, and infrastructure leaders eager to expand their networks, exchange ideas, and explore solutions driving the future of sustainable development.

This event takes place on Oct. 14 at 7 pm at SOHO Garden. Get tickets here.

Oct. 14: Future of Global Energy Conference

This October, the sixth annual Future of Global Energy Conference kicks off, convening influential leaders from across energy, technology, finance and public policy who will come together to explore the forces defining the next era of global energy and Houston’s role in shaping it. Ryan Lance, Executive Chairman of ConocoPhillips and 2027 Chair of the Greater Houston Partnership’s Board of Directors, is the keynote speaker, bringing a global perspective on rising demand, market volatility and Houston’s role in the next era of energy growth.

This event takes place Oct. 14 at Marriott Marquis. Register here.

Oct. 17: Energy Day 2026

Energy Day Houston is the nation’s largest free, family-friendly STEM festival. It features over 50 interactive exhibits and live demonstrations focused on traditional and emerging energy career paths to power up your curiosity.

This event begins at 11 am on Oct. 17 at Sam Houston Park. Get details here.

Oct. 22: Geophysical Society of Houston Fall Forum

This one-day event will explore how geophysics continues to drive value in hydrocarbon development while opening new opportunities in geothermal, critical minerals, mining, microseismic monitoring, and other emerging subsurface applications. The forum will highlight both the technologies and business strategies needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving energy landscape.

This event begins at 7 am on Oct. 22 at SLB. Get details here.

Oct. 28-29: Energy Council Houston 2026

Energy Council Houston is a private executive forum for leaders across the U.S. upstream oil and gas sector. Over two days, operators, investors, financiers, and strategic partners will come together to discuss the issues shaping capital allocation, energy security, M&A activity, and energy investment across North America.

This event begins Oct. 28 at the Four Seasons Hotel Houston. Register here.

Houston geothermal company picks Nevada site for commercial-scale project

coming soon

Sage Geosystems, a Houston-based developer of geothermal power systems, has chosen a site in Nevada for its commercial-scale Project Vector facility.

The company’s two-well enhanced geothermal system (EGS) will deliver around-the-clock geothermal heat to Ormat Technologies’ Blue Mountain geothermal power plant in Winnemucca, Nevada.

The startup expects to begin drilling the first well later this year, with the first electricity to be generated in 2027 and full-scale production to start in 2028.

In the Nevada system, fluid will circulate through an engineered subsurface reservoir, absorb heat from the surrounding rock and return heat to the surface. The heat will be delivered to the Blue Mountain plant for conversion into electricity.

Project Vector builds on the performance of Sage’s SMECI facility in South Texas. That facility’s results, combined with Sage’s digital twin platform, will be used to shape to the design and development of Project Vector.

Project Vector supports Sage’s growing commercial pipeline, including a 150-megawatt geothermal power agreement with Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram.

“Blue Mountain is an ideal location for Sage to take the next step in continuing to commercialize our proprietary EGS approach,” Jason Peart, chief operating officer at Sage, said in a release. “By delivering geothermal heat into an existing power plant, Project Vector can demonstrate the model for bringing firm, 24/7 geothermal power to market at scale.”

Project Vector extends Sage’s relationship with Ormat.

In August 2025, Sage and Ormat agreed to accelerate commercialization of Sage’s geothermal technology at an Ormat power plant. This January, Ormat co-led Sage’s $97 million Series B funding round.

Sage, founded in 2020, has raised about $159 million across three funding rounds.

As the startup ramps up its ESG platform, Sage is targeting data centers as customers, among other large-scale users of electricity.

“The energy needs are huge, and they need it now,” CEO Cindy Taff said on Data Center Frontiers’ podcast. “They can’t depend on the grid anymore.”

Houston’s power advantage: Key takeaways from 2026 HETI Power Summit

The view from heti

Power has become a defining economic development issue as electricity demand rises across Texas.

Industrial expansion, advanced manufacturing, AI and data center growth are increasing the importance of reliable, affordable power delivered on the timelines major projects require.

The 2026 HETI Power Summit, titled Houston’s Power Advantage: Competing for Large-Load Growth, brought together leaders from utilities, power producers, large energy customers, technology and infrastructure providers, professional services firms and the public sector to examine how Houston can meet this moment.

Across keynotes, research report-outs, panel discussions and a fireside chat, a consistent theme emerged: Houston’s power advantage comes from the region’s ability to align utilities, customers, infrastructure, flexible demand, emerging solutions and regional partners around reliable, affordable and timely growth.

Reliability and Readiness

Public Utility Commission of Texas Commissioner Kathleen Jackson opened the summit by emphasizing reliability as the foundation for continued growth as Texas electricity demand rises.

Commissioner Jackson underscored the importance of sustained planning and investment to support new industrial, manufacturing and digital demand while maintaining a reliable power system. Remarks framed the morning’s broader discussion of how Houston can pair reliability with speed, affordability and long-term system readiness.

Scott Cockerham of FTI Consulting previewed HETI and FTI’s “Texas Power Market & Industry Assessment”. The research identifies accessibility, reliability, affordability, market flexibility and infrastructure readiness as key dimensions of regional competitiveness.

Leaders from FTI Consulting, Kroll, AWS and Constellation also discussed factors shaping major investment decisions, including reliability, infrastructure timelines, cost certainty, site readiness, community support and regional coordination.

For large customers, these factors must translate into credible project-level execution. Confidence in system performance, energization timelines and infrastructure plans can materially influence major capital commitments.

Building for the Houston We Want to Become

Jason Ryan of CenterPoint Energy challenged participants to plan now for the infrastructure needed to support Houston’s next phase of growth. Drawing on the idea that “what got you here won’t get you there,” Ryan urged the region to build infrastructure for “the Houston we want to become” and stay ahead of large-load demand.

A fireside discussion between CenterPoint Energy and Foxconn brought that challenge to the customer level. The conversation explored how early coordination between utilities and large customers can help advanced manufacturing projects move from site selection and planning to construction and operation.

Long-term growth will require continued investment in generation, transmission and distribution. In the near term, better use of existing infrastructure can create additional capacity.

HETI also shared findings from its Role of Efficiency & Demand Response to Meet Near-Term Regional Power Demand report. Energy efficiency can lower baseline electricity use, while demand response can shift or reduce demand during critical periods. Combined with supply-side investment, these tools can create grid headroom as longer-term infrastructure advances.

The summit’s closing panel, featuring leaders from Amperon, Enchanted Rock, EY and Quanta Services, expanded the discussion to emerging solutions. Panelists explored modular and flexible generation, advanced forecasting, grid intelligence and greater coordination among utilities, customers, infrastructure providers and communities.

Houston’s broader regional power landscape adds another dimension. Entergy Texas President and CEO Eli Viamontes described Southeast Texas as experiencing an “extraordinary trifecta of residential, industrial and data center growth.” His remarks highlighted how the MISO-facing portion of the region complements Houston’s ERCOT strengths through utility planning, generation and infrastructure investment, resource adequacy and coordination with major industrial customers.

Together, these approaches point to a broader strategy: invest for long-term demand while using flexibility, technology and regional coordination to create capacity for growth today.

From Power Advantage to Economic Advantage

Taken together, the Power Summit discussions point to a clear priority for Houston: translating power market and infrastructure strengths into coordinated execution.

Priority areas include earlier infrastructure planning, stronger site and project readiness, clearer pathways from projected demand to reliably served load, expanded efficiency and flexibility, and sustained coordination among utilities, customers, policymakers, communities, technology providers and economic development organizations.

HETI is advancing this work through research and convening efforts focused on Houston’s evolving power needs and economic competitiveness.

The 2026 Power Summit reinforced Houston’s strong foundation for power-intensive growth and the importance of aligning investment, reliability, flexibility and regional coordination around the next generation of economic opportunity.

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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. Gain more insights from HETI’s Energy Efficiency and Demand Response Report.

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