Texas developer closes $225M to supercharge US energy storage expansion

growth ahead

Jupiter Power's Houston facility went online earlier this year. Photo courtesy of jupiterpower.io

Austin-based developer and operator of utility-scale battery energy storage systems Jupiter Power has announced the successful closing of a $225 million corporate credit facility.

The transaction strengthens Jupiter Power’s U.S. portfolio, which includes one of the nation’s largest energy storage development pipelines, totaling over 12,000 megawatts. Jupiter Power, which also has offices in Houston, began commercial operations with the launch of its 400-megawatt-hour battery facility, Callisto I, in central Houston in August of 2024.

"Securing this corporate credit facility highlights the market's recognition of Jupiter Power as a leader in advancing large-scale energy storage solutions, as evidenced by our 2,575 megawatt hours of battery energy storage systems already in operation or construction," Jupiter Power CFO Jesse Campbell says in a news release. “This funding enhances our ability to advance projects across our pipeline in markets where energy storage is needed most. We greatly appreciate the support of our banking partners in this transaction.”

The $225 million in total revolving credit facilities will include up to $175 million in letters of credit and $50 million in revolving loans. Leading on the lender side includes Barclays Bank PLC, HSBC Bank USA, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp.

“HSBC is proud to support Jupiter Power with their credit facility as they continue to expand and accelerate the development of their energy storage projects across the United States,” Paul Snow, head of renewables - Americas at HSBC adds. “HSBC’s inaugural facility with Jupiter Power not only reinforces our commitment to financing premiere clean energy projects, but complements our ambition to deliver a net zero global economy.”

The Houston project is the first in the area, and Jupiter Power's ninth to deliver energy storage to ERCOT, which brings its total ERCOT fleet to 1,375-megawatt-hour capacity.

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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

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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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Tesla, Houston City College to receive millions for workforce training

texas talent

Gov. Greg Abbott announced $1.73 million in workforce training grants for the Houston and Rio Grande Valley regions late last month, with the bulk of the funding heading toward Houston.

The funding comes through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) grant program from the Texas Workforce Commission. The grants will help train 689 current and new workers in technology, manufacturing, technology, logistics and other fields in high demand.

Three grants totaling $1.56 million will go to Houston City College to develop training programs for 602 Houston-area workers.

The largest grant, totaling $782,998, will go toward training 261 employees for Tesla Inc. as welders, maintenance technicians, process technicians and other jobs. In addition to Tesla’s $200 million megafactory in Brookshire, Texas, the electric vehicle company is also considering building a $10.1 billion solar cell manufacturing facility in Fort Bend County called Project Sun City. The company recently expanded its self-driving Robotaxi service throughout 610 Loop and northwest Houston.

A second grant of $690,044 will go toward training 300 workers at Texas Tissue LLC and Karsten Management LLC as frontline supervisors, production line operators, design specialists and maintenance technicians. An allocation of $83,963 will go toward training 41 workers at Watchfire Signs LLC as production supervisors, operations specialists, industrial maintenance technicians, and more.

According to HCC, its Corporate Training and Development will coordinate the program in partnership with the college’s Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence Southwest and the Material Science Center of Excellence Welding Department.

“These grants demonstrate how state agencies, employers and Houston City College can work together to meet evolving workforce needs, strengthen Texas businesses and create meaningful opportunities for workers,” HCC Chancellor Margaret Ford Fisher said in a news release.

TWC granted an additional $169,087 to Workforce Solutions Lower Rio Grande Valley to train 87 workers at Denso Ten America Limited, Alps Logistics (USA) Inc., Index Fresh Inc. and Emerson Electric Co.

“When we align local training directly with the needs of expanding industries, we strengthen the regional economy,” TWC Chairman Joe Esparza said in the news release. “These Skills Development Fund grants empower Houston City College and Workforce Solutions Lower Rio Grande Valley to provide the specialized, high-demand training that employers need to succeed right here in Texas.”

Texas A&M wins $5.4M DOE grant for advanced nuclear fuel research

fresh funding

The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) a $5.4 million grant to research ways to turn nuclear waste into fuel.

The goal of the project, “Turning Nuclear Waste into Fuel with a Thorium Molten Salt Reactor,” is to develop innovative reactor fuel technology that could help transform long-lived nuclear waste into a valuable energy resource while advancing the future of nuclear power, according to Texas A&M.

Lin Shao, a Texas A&M professor of nuclear engineering, will lead the project and unite researchers from TEES, Savannah River National Laboratory and Abilene, Texas-based nuclear power company Natura Resources. The team will use experimental testing, fuel preparation, reactor design and computational modeling in their work.

“Texas A&M Engineering is honored to receive this support from the Department of Energy to advance groundbreaking nuclear energy technologies,” Robert H. Bishop, vice chancellor and dean of Texas A&M Engineering and director of TEES, said in a news release. “This research aligns directly with our mission to solve the nation’s most pressing engineering challenges through innovation and collaboration. We have an opportunity to develop solutions that reduce nuclear waste, improve energy reliability and help maintain American leadership in advanced nuclear technologies.”

Texas A&M’s award is part of the DOE's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) $50 million advancement for next-generation nuclear fuels through the High-performance Optimized Recycled Nuclear Isotopes for Gen IV reactors (HORNIG) program. Texas A&M was one of eight projects selected as part of the ARPA-E efforts.

“America’s energy future depends on bold innovation and strong partnerships between the federal government, national laboratories, universities and industry,” U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy James P. Danly said when he awarded the grant on campus Oct. 29. “This project demonstrates how we can address long-term nuclear waste challenges while advancing technologies that strengthen our nation’s energy security. The Department of Energy is proud to support research that has the potential to unlock new value from existing nuclear materials and accelerate the deployment of advanced reactor systems.”

Zero-emission electric air taxi network to land in Texas in 2027

Electric Travel

San Jose, California-based aerospace company Archer Aviation is bringing its air-taxi system to the “Texas triangle” of Houston, Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth.

Currently, the planned zero-emission electric air taxi networks will use Archer’s Midnight air taxi to “turn 60- to 90-minute drives to major airports, business districts and major destinations into 10- to 20-minute flights,” the company said in a news release. Archer plans to begin flights in the Texas triangle next year.

The Midnight air taxi is an all-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. It can carry four passengers and a pilot and is designed for consecutive flights of about 20 miles.

Archer cites the Texas triangle as one of the busiest and fastest-growing “megaregions” in the country due to its proximity to coastal regions, major airports, and a number of business districts.

Archer Chief Commercial Officer Nikhil Goel described the air taxi experience to CW Houston as “100 times quieter than a helicopter for the price of an Uber Black.” He added that the air taxis are a combination of a helicopter, a small airplane and a drone.

In Houston, Archer’s air taxi network will aim to connect George Bush Intercontinental, William P. Hobby and Sugar Land Regional Airport with downtown destinations, including the Thompson Hotel helipad, and Galveston.

In Austin, it plans to link the city's Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Austin Executive Airport with the F1 Circuit Helipad at the Circuit of the Americas. Archer debuted its Midnight aircraft at the F1 Prix in the Fan Zone and the F1 Paddock at Austin’s COTA.

The Dallas-Fort Worth network is slated to include Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Dallas Love Field, Addison Airport, Arlington Municipal Airport, Fort Worth Meacham International Airport and Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport, plus major business hubs like Frisco Station.

“Texas is setting the bar for America’s leadership in the next generation of aviation,” Adam Goldstein, founder and CEO of Archer Aviation, said in the release. “Our planned networks will make the benefits of electric air taxis real for Texans — trading hours in traffic for minutes in the air, while connecting the biggest airports, business districts and sporting hubs in ways that America’s largest megaregion needs to grow.”

Archer is working with state and local partners to develop charging infrastructure and plans to pursue Texas operations through the White House’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, according to the release. It recently completed its "No Roads" flight tour, which included multiple flights over the San Francisco Bay, and flew to seven cities over three days.

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This article first appeared on InnovationMap.com.

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