by: Tom Hochstatter, President

We’re back from the “snow-pocalypse” events we all suffered through here in Austin and a large part of a dozen other States. We count our blessings our electric grid held even though we’ve now learned that it was minutes from a complete (and catastrophic) shut down that would have left Texas without power for weeks. Just those few days many of us weathered without power was frightening enough, given those single digit overnight lows we encountered. A weeks-long outage would have had unfathomable costs.

We’ll leave the political blame-game and the responsibility-checking to those better suited, but it continues to raise the volume and rhetoric around our once-in-a-generation, decades-long march toward newer, cleaner, more efficient energy production. And I, for one, see these events as “positive” catalysts to get at least the innovators more impassioned and energized about their visions for cleaner, greener, reliable energy production. I am not only watching I am now participating as mentor & advisor beyond my capacity at Techson to help shepherd in new energy ideas. It’s such a thrill. You should get involved too.

What I Continue to Watch – Clean Energy Labs & Accelerators

I’m watching new companies on their own as well as those in partnership with traditional energy production companies and those in partnership with incubators, accelerators and labs looking to boost the fortunes of new energy ideas.

Being here in Texas, I have a front row seat to all the current energy production innovation and a peek at what’s next too. Techson has the privilege of working with many of the top Oil & Gas “majors” and a handful of new energy firms alike. What we see is fascinating and encouraging.

One of the ways I keep on the pulse is by watching and working with various startup labs and accelerators in Texas. Here is just a small list of Texas-based facilities working to boost those next generation energy ideas.

Chevron Technology Ventures

Bring external innovation to Chevron, and Chevron to external innovation

Chevron Technology Ventures (CTV) was launched in 1999 to identify and integrate externally developed technologies and new business solutions with the potential to enhance the way Chevron produces and delivers affordable, reliable and ever-cleaner energy now and into the future. Learn More.

GEO – Geothermal Entrepreneurship Organization

The mission of the Geothermal Entrepreneurship Organization (GEO) is to leverage the legacy of oil and gas research and development at the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) and in the State of Texas at large to enable drilling for geothermal energy anywhere in the world. By building upon existing high temperature and pressure oil and gas technologies and methodologies, GEO aims to enable economically viable drilling at temperatures of 350C and at depths of 30,000 feet, making ubiquitous, CO2 free, baseload geothermal energy a reality within a decade. Learn More.

Greentown Labs Houston

Community of climatetech pioneers working to design a more sustainable world.

At Greentown Labs, we see with clear eyes the universal challenge that climate change poses. And we meet it with an equally clear vision for solving the problem—in fact, it’s an amazing opportunity for ingenuity and collaboration. Learn More.

Halliburton Labs

Dedicated to advancing clean energy technology.

We accelerate the growth of innovative, early-stage companies by providing access to our facilities, technical expertise, and business network. If you’re a startup working on disruptive, tangible-tech solutions in our targeted challenge areas, we want to hear from you! Learn More.

Rice Alliance Clean Energy Accelerator

A clean energy accelerator putting momentum behind momentous ideas.

The Rice Alliance Clean Energy Accelerator will launch in 2021 to increase the likelihood of success for early-stage energy startups building solutions for a cleaner, more efficient and sustainable future. The 12-week accelerator provides startups access to Rice Alliance's network of energy corporations, investors, and advisors. With an engaged support network and personalized mentor relationships, startups will also experience curriculum and programming intentionally designed to increase their likelihood of success—bridging the gap between ideas and business success. Once through the program, startups will be better positioned to attract capital and launch pilot programs and other initiatives, which can be facilitated through accelerator connections. Learn More.

Put these organizations on your watch list – and reach out to me if I have missed one you’d like us to put on the watch list.

Better yet, if you have ideas or innovations in the clean energy spaces please reach out to them and share your vision or company. If Techson can help with your intellectual property needs please ask. Email us.

Even new energy ideas need a jump start now and again to keep moving forward.

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