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Houston’s power future: The role of energy efficiency and demand response

The View from HETI

A new report from HETI looks at Houston's power future. Photo courtesy of HETI

In Houston, industrial expansion, advanced manufacturing, data centers, AI, electrification, and population growth are all increasing demand for power across the region. At the same time, the infrastructure needed to support that growth, from generation and transmission to distribution and storage, takes significant time and investment to plan and build.

This growing power demand creates a near-term challenge: how can the region support new investment while major grid projects are planned and built?

A new report from the Houston Energy Transition Initiative, “Role of Efficiency & Demand Response to Meet Near-Term Regional Power Demand”, examines how Houston can get more from the grid it has today. Its central finding: energy efficiency (EE) and demand response (DE) can create measurable grid “headroom” while new major infrastructure projects are being planned, financed, permitted and built.

Explore the key takeaways from the report:

Houston’s power challenge affects economic growth

Houston’s ability to attract industrial investment increasingly depends on reliable, affordable power. ERCOT and MISO Texas project major load growth through 2030 and 2035 from industrial development, data centers, AI, advanced manufacturing and electrification.

Efficiency and demand response can lower peak demand and help manage local grid constraints that could slow growth.

EE and DE are different tools, and Houston needs both

Energy efficiency creates lasting reductions in electricity use through equipment upgrades, building improvements and changes in operations. Demand response lets customers temporarily reduce or shift power use based on grid conditions, incentives or market signals.

Texas programs show measurable results

In 2024, Texas investor-owned utility programs delivered about 609 MW of evaluated demand reduction and 603 GWh of annual energy savings. The report puts the lifetime cost of saved energy at about $0.02 per kWh.
CenterPoint Energy accounted for more than 40% of ERCOT investor-owned utilities’ total demand reduction and energy savings. It achieved about 236 MW of peak demand reduction and 229 GWh of energy savings, above goals of 66 MW and 116 GWh.

Entergy Texas also achieved significantly more demand reduction and energy savings than its 2024 program year goals, with a reported 24 MW of peak demand reduction against a goal of 17 MW and 43 GWh of energy savings against a goal of 30 GWh.

Large power users can add flexibility

Data centers, industrial facilities and advanced manufacturers may be able to shift noncritical work, adjust cooling, use on-site resources or briefly cut consumption.

The report states that verified demand savings, flexible loads and behind-the-meter resilience could help reduce interconnection risk and support more cost-effective growth.

Technology can expand options

Storage, smart controls and energy management systems can work with efficiency and demand response. Smaller loads can also be combined across commercial buildings, multifamily developments and homes.

For Houston, these tools do not replace new generation, transmission, distribution or storage. They can help the region use existing infrastructure more effectively while new capacity is built, supporting reliable, affordable power and continued economic growth.

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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. For more information about the Houston Energy Transition Initiative, visit htxenergytransition.org. Download your copy of Role of Efficiency & Demand Response to Meet Near-Term Regional Power Demand to learn more.

Shell’s emissions reductions are happening across global operations. Photo by Alishia Abodunde/Getty Images

Shell expands lower-carbon energy solutions while cutting emissions

The View from HETI

Shell’s approach to sustainable development reflects an integrated value chain perspective—reducing emissions from oil and gas production, transforming downstream businesses to offer more low-carbon solutions, and building new energy businesses at scale. The company’s 31% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 operational emissions since 2016 demonstrates that this integrated strategy delivers results.

Three Strategic Priorities Drive Progress

Leading Integrated Gas: Shell is growing its world-leading LNG business with lower carbon intensity, meeting rising demand for natural gas as a transition fuel and foundation for renewable energy integration.

Advantaged Upstream: The company is cutting emissions from oil and gas production while keeping output stable, proving that operational excellence can reduce environmental impact without sacrificing energy security.

Differentiated Downstream, Renewables, and Energy Solutions: Shell is transforming its businesses to offer more low-carbon solutions while reducing sales of traditional oil products, positioning the company for the evolving energy market.

Shell’s emissions reductions are happening across global operations:

  • United States: Significant emissions cuts from production assets through operational efficiency and technology deployment
  • Malaysia & Philippines: Emissions reduction programs at offshore operations demonstrating that low-carbon production works in diverse environments
  • Norway: Continued emissions intensity improvements from mature assets, showing that even older fields can decarbonize

Whale Partnership Demonstrates Innovation

Shell’s recent partnership with Chevron at the Whale deepwater asset showcases what’s possible with next-generation project design. By integrating emissions reduction strategies from the start, the partnership has lowered the greenhouse gas intensity approximately 30% over the project lifecycle relative to similar deepwater oil and gas production assets.

Shell’s strategy to deliver more value with less emissions includes climate change transition plans, mitigation actions and decarbonization levers supported by a suite of processes and greenhouse gas emission reduction targets such as:

2025 Results:

  • Eliminated routine flaring from upstream operations
  • Maintained methane emissions intensity below 0.2%

By 2030:

  • Halve Scope 1 and 2 emissions under operational control (vs. 2016)
  • Achieve near-zero methane emissions
  • Reduce Scope 3 net carbon intensity (NCI) by 15-20% (vs. 2016)
  • Cut customer emissions from oil products by 15-20% (vs. 2021)

By 2050:

  • Achieve net zero emissions across Scopes 1, 2, and 3

Across all strategic initiatives, Shell prioritizes trading and optimization capabilities that maximize value while minimizing emissions. This commercial approach ensures that the company’s energy transition strategy creates long-term shareholder value while advancing climate goals.

Shell is building an integrated energy business for the low-carbon future by delivering the energy products customers need today while investing in the solutions they’ll need tomorrow.

As a steering-level member of HETI, Shell exemplifies the leadership and commitment required to transform Houston’s energy sector while maintaining global energy security.

———

This article originally appeared on the Greater Houston Partnership's Houston Energy Transition Initiative blog. Explore Shell’s energy transition strategy at: https://www.shell.us/about-us/sustainability.html, and read the full analysis here: https://htxenergytransition.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/07.18.25-HETI-Leadership-Narrative-Report-V2_pages-1-2.pdf

Sophia Cunningham is the new executive director of HETI. Photo via htxenergytransition.org

HETI's new executive director takes the helm

new leader

The Houston Energy Transition Initiative has a new executive director.

Sophia Cunningham assumed the position this month, succeeding the organization's founding executive director, Jane Stricker.

"Four years ago, I could never have imagined the opportunities, experiences and relationships this role has enabled," Strickler wrote in an address earlier this year. "I am truly grateful for the support and engagement of Houston’s business and community leaders, the visionary leadership of Bobby Tudor, Scott Nyquist, HETI Members, and the Greater Houston Partnership in creating this initiative at exactly the right moment in time. I am incredibly proud of the HETI and the Partnership team members who have delivered with purpose and passion, and I greatly appreciate Houston’s energy and climate leaders and champions who have supported my agenda, challenged my thinking, broadened my perspectives, and worked with HETI to demonstrate the power of partnership in developing, innovating and advancing the ideas and technologies needed to meet this challenge for our region and the world."

Stricker shared on LinkedIn that she has joined the advisory board of FluxPoint Energy, which launched last month during CERAWeek, in addition to her other roles at Greentown Labs, Prana Low Carbon Economy Investments and UNC Kenan-Flagler Energy Center.

Cunningham previously served as vice president at HETI, where she was responsible for efforts related to carbon capture, use and storage; methane management; community engagement and stakeholder activation. Before joining HETI, she was director of public policy at The Greater Houston Partnership.

She earned her master's in Energy Management and Systems Technology from Texas A&M University and holds a bachelor's degree from Davidson College.

“I’m honored to step into the role of Executive Director of the Houston Energy Transition Initiative at such a pivotal moment for our industry," Cunningham said over email. "Houston has the talent, infrastructure, and leadership to meet growing global energy demand while reducing emissions, and I’m excited to work alongside our members and partners to accelerate solutions that are reliable, affordable, and scalable.”

The Greater Houston Partnership launched HETI in June 2021 to "meet a Dual Challenge of producing more energy that the world needs with less emissions," according to its website.

The Gulf Coast is one of the most critical energy hubs in the world. Photo via Getty Images.

3 strategies to strengthen the Gulf Coast as a global energy hub

The View from HETI

The Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast is the backbone of America’s energy and chemical economy. Texas produces roughly 43% of U.S. crude oil and 28% of natural gas, while Texas and Louisiana together account for about half of the nation’s refining capacity, processing 9.3 million barrels of crude per day across 50 refineries. The region also produces approximately 80% of the nation’s primary petrochemicals and ships more than $117 billion in chemical products annually from Texas alone.

This unmatched concentration of refining, petrochemical manufacturing, pipelines, ports, and technical talent makes the Gulf Coast one of the most critical energy hubs in the world. But maintaining that leadership in a rapidly evolving global market will require intentional collaboration, faster technology commercialization, and strengthened supply chain resilience.

In fall 2025, the Greater Houston Partnership’s Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI) convened national laboratories, Gulf Coast universities, and industry leaders to examine how to reinforce the region’s long-term competitiveness. Participants included Argonne, Oak Ridge, Lawrence Berkeley, the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), and the National Laboratory of the Rockies, alongside Gulf Coast academic institutions and energy and chemical companies. Here are the key findings and takeaways from the workshop.

1. Supply Chain Resilience Requires Structured Industry–Lab Collaboration

Resilience—diversity of supply, operational flexibility, and rapid recovery—was a recurring theme. Recent disruptions exposed vulnerabilities in tightly interconnected energy and manufacturing systems.

National laboratories provide capabilities that complement Gulf Coast industrial scale, particularly at early and mid technology readiness levels (TRLs 1–7), before full commercial deployment. Examples include:

  • Advanced manufacturing and AI-enabled validation of critical components (Oak Ridge).
  • Materials scale-up and techno-economic modeling to move from lab discovery to industrial relevance (Argonne).
  • Pilot-scale testing for severe-service alloys, chemical conversion, and process innovation (NETL).
  • Integrated energy systems modeling to assess grid resilience and system disruptions (National Laboratory of the Rockies).

Recommendation: Organize targeted Gulf Coast industry missions to national laboratories focused on critical supply chains—power equipment, high-heat industrial processes, novel catalysts, refining, and grid infrastructure—to identify joint development opportunities and reduce time to commercialization.

2. Modeling, AI, and Open-Access Platforms Can Bridge the Technology Gap

A persistent barrier to innovation is the gap between scientific discovery, applied development, and commercial deployment. Universities often operate at TRLs 1–3, national labs at 1–7, and industry at 7–9. Bridging these silos requires shared modeling tools, high-performance computing, and structured feedback loops.

National labs maintain open-access platforms capable of:

  • Simulating grid expansion, investment, and dispatch decisions.
  • Modeling cradle-to-gate industrial material flows.
  • Optimizing complex energy and chemical systems.
  • De-risking carbon capture, critical mineral recovery, and advanced manufacturing integration.

Recommendation: HETI should convene structured training and feedback sessions on these public modeling platforms—ensuring Gulf Coast industry can apply, improve, and help guide further development of tools critical to regional competitiveness. Federal initiatives such as the Genesis Mission, focused on AI-accelerated scientific discovery, further expand opportunities for Gulf Coast participation.

3. Time to Commercialization Is the Ultimate Competitive Metric

The lithium-ion battery is a cautionary example: while pioneered in U.S. labs, large-scale manufacturing leadership shifted overseas. Without strategic intervention, U.S. firms are projected to capture less than 30% of domestic lithium battery cell value by 2030.

Successful DOE-backed consortium models show that mission-aligned, multi-partner collaboration reduces development timelines and strengthens domestic manufacturing know-how. However, public–private partnership mechanisms such as CRADAs and Strategic Partnership Projects can be time-intensive.

Recommendation: The Gulf Coast should actively engage DOE and national laboratories to streamline public–private partnership pathways, improve intellectual property clarity, and expand industry access to laboratory infrastructure.

The Path Forward: A Gulf Coast Consortium Model
The workshop’s central conclusion was clear: the Gulf Coast should formalize collaboration through a regional industry–academia–laboratory consortium.

Such a model could:

  • Co-locate national lab researchers within the region.
  • Share modeling data and analytical capabilities.
  • Establish open-access pilot facilities that complement lab infrastructure.
  • Harmonize IP frameworks to accelerate licensing and deployment.

With its dense industrial ecosystem, technical workforce, and decision-making concentration, the Gulf Coast is uniquely positioned to serve as a national demonstration hub for advanced energy and chemical manufacturing.

If industry, universities, and national laboratories align around a shared regional strategy, the Gulf Coast can:

  • Accelerate commercialization timelines.
  • Strengthen critical supply chains.
  • Unleash a world-class technical workforce.
  • Reinforce U.S. leadership in strategic energy and chemical sectors.

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This article originally appeared on the Greater Houston Partnership's Houston Energy Transition Initiative blog. A full report on the key learnings and recommendations from the workshop can be found here: https://bit.ly/4uEDEqk.

Quantum Power Systems took home the top TEX-E prize at this year's Energy Venture Day pitch competition during CERAWeek. Photo via LinkedIn

CERAWeek crowns winners of 2026 clean tech pitch competition

top teams

Twelve teams from around the country, including several from Houston, took home top honors at this year's Energy Venture Day and Pitch Competition at CERAWeek.

The fast-paced event, held March 25, put on by Rice Alliance, Houston Energy Transition Initiative and TEX-E, invited 36 industry startups and five Texas-based student teams focused on driving efficiency and advancements in the energy transition to present 3.5-minute pitches before investors and industry partners during CERAWeek's Agora program.

The competition is a qualifying event for the Startup World Cup, where teams compete for a $1 million investment prize.

PolyJoule won in the Track C competition and was named the overall winner of the pitch event. The Boston-based company will go on to compete in the Startup World Cup held this fall in San Francisco.

PolyJoule was spun out of MIT and is developing conductive polymer battery technology for energy storage.

Rice University's Resonant Thermal Systems won the second-place prize and $15,000 in the student track, known as TEX-E. The team's STREED solution converts high-salinity water into fresh water while recovering valuable minerals.

Teams from the University of Texas won first and second place in the TEX-E competition, bringing home $25,000 and $10,000, respectively. The student winners were:

Companies that pitched in the three industry tracts competed for non-monetary awards. Here are the companies named "most-promising" by the judges:

Track A | Industrial Efficiency & Decarbonization

Track B | Advanced Manufacturing, Materials, & Other Advanced Technologies

  • First: Licube, based in Houston
  • Second: ZettaJoule, based in Houston and Maryland
  • Third: Oleo

Track C | Innovations for Traditional Energy, Electricity, & the Grid

The teams at this year's Energy Venture Day have collectively raised $707 million in funding, according to Rice. They represent six countries and 12 states. See the full list of companies and investor groups that participated here.

Houston Energy Transition Initiative members will be featured at CERAWeek. Courtesy photo

HETI members to take the stage at CERAWeek 2026 in Houston

The View from HETI

CERAWeek returns to Houston March 23–27, convening global industry leaders to explore the trends shaping the future of energy.

The Greater Houston Partnership’s Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI) members will play a key role in this year’s program, contributing to discussions spanning digital innovation, power systems, decarbonization and workforce. Below are the sessions featuring HETI members throughout the week:

AI in Energy: Managing the Transformation
Monday, March 23 | 9:30-10:00 a.m.
Speakers: Hector Rocha, Accenture; Rebecca Hofmann, Blockchain For Energy; Paul Markwell, S&P Global

Scaling Innovation: Building the Ecosystem for the Next Energy Breakthroughs
Monday, March 23 | 10:30-11:10 a.m.
Speakers: Graham Gordon, Accenture; Carolyn Seto, S&P Global; Bernie Bulkin, Global Energy Infrastructure Plc; Georgina Campbell Flatter, Greentown Labs
Examines how partnerships across capital, policy and infrastructure can accelerate commercialization and scaling of breakthrough energy technologies.

Oil Strategies for a World in Transition
Monday, March 23 | 11:15-11:55 a.m.
Speakers: Olivier Le Peuch, SLB; Anders Opedal, Equinor; Vicki Hollub, Occidental; Atul Arya, S&P Global
Discusses how producers are adapting portfolio strategies to balance resilience, demand outlooks and transition pressures.

Gas: Growing Markets and New Players
Monday, March 23 | 12:00-12:40 p.m.
Speakers: Liz Westcott, Woodside Energy; Toby Rice, EQT Corporation; Shankari Srinivasan, S&P Global; Ryosuke Tsugaru, JERA CO., INC.

Advances in Exploration Technologies for Oil & Gas and Mining
Monday, March 23 | 1:30-2:10 p.m.
Speakers: Amy Callahan, Accenture; Hussein Shel, Amazon Web Services; Oscar Abbink, S&P Global
Highlights sensing, imaging and AI tools improving discovery efficiency and sustainability in exploration.

AI in Action: From Pilot to Profit
Monday, March 23 | 1:30-2:00 p.m.
Speakers: Shridevi Bale, Accenture; Paul Gruenwald, S&P Global
Shares lessons from scaling AI deployments beyond pilots into measurable operational value.

Power Networks: Collaborating to Meet Demand
Monday, March 23 | 2:15-2:55 p.m.
Speakers: Lawrence Coben, NRG Energy; Jim Murphy, Invenergy; Eduard Sala de Vedruna, S&P Global
Examines grid readiness and collaboration models needed to manage surging electricity demand.

New Phase of Gas: From Regional Security to Global Market Integration
Monday, March 23 | 3:00-3:40 p.m.
Speakers: Cederic Cremers, Shell; Balaji Krishnamurthy, Chevron; Kevin Gallagher, Santos; Mansoor Al Hamed, Mubadala Energy; Dave Ernsberger, S&P Global
Discusses LNG’s evolving role in global integration, energy security and future pricing structures.

Transforming Upstream: Pathways to Scaling New Technologies
Monday, March 23 | 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Speakers: Rami El Debs, Accenture; Trey Lowe, Devon Energy; Bader Al-Attar, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation
Explores adoption of advanced digital and automation technologies in upstream operations.

Leadership Dialogue
Tuesday, March 24 | 9:00-9:20 a.m.
Speakers: Wael Sawan, Shell; Daniel Yergin, S&P Global

One Grid, One ASEAN: Building a Shared Clean Energy Future
Tuesday, March 24 | 10:30-11:10 a.m.
Speakers: Akihiro Ondo, Mitsubishi Power; Gauri Jauhar, S&P Global

Harmonizing Carbon Accounting: Charting a Path Forward
Tuesday, March 24 | 10:40-11:20 a.m.
Speakers: Edward Stones, Dow; Sasha Mackler, ExxonMobil; Musaab Al-Mulla, Saudi Aramco; Kevin Birn, S&P Global
Examines efforts to standardize emissions accounting to improve comparability and market transparency.

Global Exploration Revival: Lessons and New Strategies
Tuesday, March 24 | 11:30-12:10 p.m.
Speakers: John Ardill, ExxonMobil; Dan Pratt, S&P Global; Guido Brusco, Eni

How Will AI Change the Game for Energy Profitability?
Tuesday, March 24 | 12:20-1:00 p.m.
Speakers: Rakesh Jaggi, SLB; Jim Masso, Honeywell; Atul Arya, S&P Global; Darryl Willis, Microsoft; Renata Baruzzi, Petrobras
Examines how AI and cloud technologies could reshape cost structures and performance across energy systems.

Balancing Act: Price, Reliability and the Global Call on U.S. Energy
Tuesday, March 24 | 2:35-3:15 p.m.
Speakers: Stéphane Michel, TotalEnergies; Eleonor Kramarz, S&P Global; Matt Schatzman, NextDecade; Brian Falik, Mercuria Energy America
Explores tensions between domestic supply reliability and global export opportunities.

The Future of Upstream: Matching Capital Discipline with Opportunity
Tuesday, March 24 | 2:35-3:15 p.m.
Speakers: Richard Jackson, Occidental; Philippe Mathieu, Equinor; Niloufar Molavi, PwC; Bob Fryklund, S&P Global

Transforming the Energy Industry: How Will Technology Change Business Models?
Tuesday, March 24 | 2:35- 3:15 p.m.
Speakers: Ryder Booth, Chevron; Peter Terwiesch, ABB; Atul Arya, S&P Global
Examines digital transformation and new partnership models reshaping energy value chains.

Sustainable Solutions: Partnership, Technology and Innovative Paths
Tuesday, March 24 | 3:25-4:05 p.m.
Speakers: Barry Engle, ExxonMobil; Luis Cabra, Repsol; Leanne Todd, S&P Global; Roeland Baan, Topsoe
Highlights collaborative approaches to deploying scalable decarbonization solutions.

The Future of Refining: Resilience, Innovation and Low-Carbon Pathways
Tuesday, March 24 | 3:25-4:05 p.m.
Speakers: Amber Russell, bp; Kurt Barrow, S&P Global; Martijn van Koten, OMV; Atsuhiko Hirano, Idemitsu; Magnus Heimburg, VAROPreem
Explores how refining and supply chains are adapting to policy, demand and emissions pressures.

Reinventing Business Strategies: Thriving in the New Energy Economy
Tuesday, March 24 | 4:15-4:55 p.m.
Speakers: Muqsit Ashraf, Accenture; Philippe Frangules, S&P Global; Sushil Purohit, Gentari Sdn Bhd
Discusses evolving strategies integrating new technologies and markets.

Creating AI-Ready Organizations
Tuesday, March 24 | 4:20-5:05 p.m.
Speakers: David Rabley, Accenture; Gwenaelle Avice-Huet, Schneider Electric; Dave Ernsberger, S&P Global; Rob Schapiro, Microsoft; Geoffrey Parker, Arthur L. Irving Institute for Energy and Society at Dartmouth
Focuses on workforce, leadership and infrastructure required for effective AI adoption.

Meeting Power Demand for Data Centers
Wednesday, March 25 | 10:30-11:20 a.m.
Speakers: Karim Amin, Siemens Energy; Ed Baine, Dominion Energy; Douglas Giuffre, S&P Global; Ingmar Ritzenhofen, RWE Supply & Trading and RWE Clean Energy; Amanda Peterson Corio, Google; Jim Shield, Invenergy
Discusses strategies for aligning infrastructure, policy and markets to meet data-center load growth.

Where Agentic AI Is Now and What Comes Next
Wednesday, March 25 | 10:30-11:00 a.m.
Speakers: Tathagata Basu, Honeywell; Ben Wilson, Amazon Web Services, Bhavesh Dayalji, S&P Global

People Power: Strategic Human Capital in a New Energy Era
Wednesday, March 25 | 10:40-11:20 a.m.
Speakers: Jessica Van Singel, Accenture
Examines workforce strategy alignment with innovation and competitiveness goals.

Global Energy Pathways in the Age of Abundance
Wednesday, March 25 | 11:45-12:35 p.m.
Speakers: Gareth Ramsay, bp; Atul Arya, S&P Global; Olu Verheijen, Office of the President of the Federal Public of Nigeria

Agentic AI: Embracing Autonomy
Thursday, March 26 | 10:00-10:30 a.m.
Speakers: Trygve Randen, SLB; Uwa Airhiavbere, Microsoft; Eric Hanselman, S&P Global
Examines governance and reliability considerations as autonomous AI systems expand in energy.

The Changing Mix of U.S. Power Generation: Gas, Renewables, Coal, Nuclear and Beyond
Thursday, March 26 | 10:30-11:20 a.m.
Speakers: Bill Newsom, Mitsubishi Power; Douglas Giuffre, S&P Global; John-Paul Jones, Urenco Enrichment Company; Leslie Duke, Burns & McDonnell; Mike DeBock, NextEra Energy Resources
Explores how policy and technology shifts are reshaping generation portfolios.

Large Load Growth: Reshaping the Future of Power
Thursday, March 26 | 11:10-11:50 a.m.
Speakers: Robert Gaudette, NRG Energy; Petter Skantze, NextEra Energy Resources; Douglas Giuffre, S&P Global; Peter Lake, National Energy Dominance Council
Discusses planning and market responses to large-scale electricity demand.

Interconnecting America: The Grid’s Last Mile
Thursday, March 26 | 12:00-12:40 p.m.
Speakers: Tim Holt, Siemens Energy; Philippe Frangules, S&P Global; David Brast, TC Energy; David Rosner, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

AI: Driving Performance in the Power Sector
Thursday, March 26 | 3:05-3:45 p.m.
Speakers: Dak Liyanearachchi, NRG Energy; Hanna Grene, Microsoft; Douglas Giuffre, S&P Global
Explores AI use cases improving grid management and forecasting.

Digital Twins: The AI Enabler for Multiple Sectors
Thursday, March 26 | 4:30-5:10 p.m.
Speakers: Sacha Abinader, Accenture; Oscar Abbink, S&P Global
Examines digital twins enabling predictive maintenance and AI training environments.

View the full CERAWeek agenda.

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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. For more information about the Houston Energy Transition Initiative, EnergyCapitalHTX's presenting sponsor, visit htxenergytransition.org.

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Kanin Energy raises up to $100M for waste-heat-to-power projects

fresh funding

Kanin Energy, a member of the Greentown Labs climatech and energy incubator in Houston, recently raised as much as $100 million in capital to grow its energy-as-a-service platform.

S2G Investments led a round of up to $50 million, and the Canada Growth Fund chipped in an additional $50 million. The money will primarily support Kanin’s development and operation of waste-heat-to-power projects.

Kanin—founded in 2020 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada—builds and runs onsite power assets for large-scale energy users. The startup says its energy-as-a-service offering lowers power costs, boosts power reliability and decreases emissions.

The company operates a waste-heat-to-power project at Ohio’s University of Dayton. The project supplies zero-emission electricity.

Kanin has a pipeline of projects totaling about 50 megawatts of capacity. This includes a waste-heat-to-power plant at the Phillips 66 Mewbourn gas-processing plant near Greeley, Colorado.

“Kanin was built on the belief that industrial facilities already hold the solution to their own energy challenges, they just need the right partner to execute,” Janice Tran, CEO of Kanin, who is based in Houston, said in a release. “At a time when power costs continue to rise, [our] solutions are an important tool for our industrial customers to manage their costs, operations, and emissions.”

Marisa Sweeney, principal at S2G, says waste heat is a largely underused resource for lowering power costs, alleviating grid congestion and improving power reliability.

The waste-heat-to-power process captures thermal energy from industrial activities and converts it to electricity. This happens without using extra fuel or generating more emissions.

Kanin says up to 58 percent of energy consumed by industrial processes is lost as waste heat. This heat winds up in the atmosphere at thousands of facilities in North America, including oil-and-gas operations, cement plants, and steel mills, the startup says.

Kanin was founded in 2020 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It opened offices at Greentown Labs Houston in July 2022.

7 Houstonians from energy sector make Forbes list of richest Americans

Rich List

The richest billionaires in America have a collective worth of $8 trillion in 2026, a staggering $1.4 trillion increase since last year, says Forbes. American billionaires are so wealthy that it now takes an unprecedented $4.4 billion net worth to be considered one of the richest people in the country. And one local billionaire has regained the title as Houston's wealthiest resident.

The annual Forbes 400 list is a definitive ranking of the wealthiest Americans, using interviews, financial data, and documentation provided by billionaires and their companies. In all, 43 billionaires across Texas made it on the 2026 list, and 10 are based in Houston. Seven of them have ties to the energy industry.

Oil tycoon Jeffery Hildebrand, 67, now reigns as the No. 1 richest Houstonian, the 9th richest Texan, and the 88th richest person in America for 2026. Hildebrand's net worth has surged $4.7 billion since last year, bringing his current net worth to $14.7 billion. He cofounded Hilcorp, one of the largest privately owned oil and natural gas producers in the U.S., in 1990 and served as its CEO until 2018. He still serves as the chairman of the company.

Kinder Morgan chairman Richard Kinder is the No. 2 richest in Houston. Kinder, 81, was dubbed Houston's richest billionaire in the 2025 Forbes 400 list. His net worth has increased from $11.1 billion to $12.9 billion in just one year. He is the 11th richest Texan and the 100th richest person in America.

Houston pipeline heir Randa Duncan Williams ranks 124th on the list with an estimated net worth of $11.7 billion. Fellow pipeline heirs Dannine Avara and Milane Frantz tie for 128th nationally. Each has an estimated net worth of $11.6 billion. Scott Duncan ties for No. 137 with an $11.3 billion estimated net worth.

Energy exploration chief executive George Bishop of GeoSothern Energy ranks No. 380 with an estimated net worth of $4.5 billion. Last year: $4.7 billion.

Here's how the rest of Houston's billionaires, outside of the energy industry, ranked on this year's list:

  • Toyota mega-dealer Dan Friedkin, 61, is the 102nd richest American with an estimated net worth of $12.9 billion, up from $9.7 billion last year. He most notably owns Gulf States Toyota, which sold $14.5 billion worth of Toyotas in 2025, per Forbes.
  • Hospitality honcho Tilman Fertitta, 69, has a net worth of $12.3 billion and is the 110th richest American. Fertitta owns hospitality corporation Fertitta Entertainment and the NBA team Houston Rockets. He most recently purchased the WNBA's Connecticut Sun and plans to relocate them to Houston under the Houston Comets name in 2027. He also keeps himself busy as President Trump's ambassador to Italy.
  • Texans owner and CEO Cal McNair, 64, ranks as the 218th richest person in America with an estimated net worth of $7.7 billion.

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A version of this article first appeared on CultureMap.com.

Houston-based ENGIE wins national award for clean energy leadership

top honor

Houston-based ENGIE has been recognized for its work in the clean energy space.

The battery storage and energy infrastructure company recently won the 2026 Green Power Leadership Award in the Market Innovation category for its work advancing 24/7 renewable energy solutions. The awards honor individuals and companies advancing sustainability and renewables in the energy industry through innovation and leadership.

The Center for Resource Solutions (CRS), a San Francisco-based environmental nonprofit, grants the awards each year during the Renewable Energy Markets conference. Past recipients include companies like Microsoft, Salesforce and Google. Other award categories include Education & Awareness, Impactful Procurement and Leader of the Year.

"This recognition reflects ENGIE's commitment to developing innovative solutions that give customers greater transparency, accountability and confidence in their sustainability strategies," Anne-Laure Chassanite, interim CEO of ENGIE North America and CEO of ENGIE Resources, said in a news release.

Specifically, the honor recognizes ENGIE's Energy+ 24/7 solution, which helps customers better understand the impact of their energy consumption while also pushing sustainability efforts. ENGIE assists organizations and the public in gaining insight into renewable energy and hourly electricity consumption to see where clean energy is being utilized most effectively.

"As the market continues to evolve, we believe the future of renewable energy procurement lies in helping organizations better understand the impact of their electricity consumption and make more informed energy decisions,” Chassanite added in the release.” Our 24/7 offering is helping establish a new standard by combining innovation with practical, scalable solutions that support meaningful progress toward sustainability goals."

ENGIE's US Energy+ team was also recognized for its customer-focused renewable energy solutions.

"This achievement is the result of the dedication and innovation of teams across ENGIE who are continually challenging what's possible in the energy transition," Chassanite also said in the release.

In June, ENGIE’s 24/7 signed an agreement with Aker BioMarine to supply Texas-sourced clean energy to the Norwegian company's Houston manufacturing site.

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