UT Energy Week 2024
March 25, 2024 – March 29, 2024
Quick Links
About the Event
UT Energy Week 2024 brought together students, faculty, industry leaders, and policymakers for a week of dialogue on the most pressing issues in the global energy system. Hosted on the UT Austin campus, the conference featured five days of panels, keynotes, and networking events.
Panels explored topics including critical minerals supply chains, the hydrogen economy, carbon management, and strategies for industrial decarbonization. UT researchers also presented findings from flagship initiatives like Fueling a Sustainable Energy Transition (FSET) and Planet Texas 2050.
Opening Keynote
Dr. William Charlton, Director of the Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory, opened the conference with welcome remarks. The talk framed the energy transition as both a technological and societal challenge, setting the stage for the week’s conversations.
Student Perspectives
Debjyoti Chatterjee, president of the Longhorn Energy Club, emphasized how UT Energy Week provides a platform for students to learn directly from leaders shaping the energy landscape.
“This event lets us showcase student innovation while hearing candid insights from industry and policy experts,” they said.
Faculty Leadership
Dr. Brian Korgel, Director of the UT Energy Institute, highlighted the collaborative nature of the event.
“Energy Week 2024 once again demonstrated UT’s leadership in research, innovation, and convening power across the global energy space,” they said.
2024
PROGRAM
UT Energy Week 2024 brought together students, faculty, industry leaders, and policymakers for a week of dialogue on the most pressing issues in the global energy system. Hosted on the UT Austin campus, the conference featured five days of panels, keynotes, and networking events.
Panels explored topics including critical minerals supply chains, the hydrogen economy, carbon management, and strategies for industrial decarbonization. UT researchers also presented findings from flagship initiatives like Fueling a Sustainable Energy Transition (FSET) and Planet Texas 2050.
Monday, March 25
- Opening Reception & Research Poster Showcase
- NETL
- Texas Nuclear Association
- Lightning Talks and Energy Research Poster Competition
View Full Monday Agenda
12:00 p.m. | Networking Hour
1:00 p.m. | Welcome Remarks
Dr. William Charlton, Professor and Director of the Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory, UT Austin
1:15 p.m. | Molten Salt Research Reactor Discussion
Dr. Derek Haas, Professor, Nuclear and Radiation Engineering, UT Austin
Dr. Ondrej Chvala, Senior Research Scientist, Nuclear and Radiation Engineering, UT Austin
2:00 p.m. | Networking Break
2:15 p.m. | Digital Twin Discussion
Dr. Kevin Clarno, Professor, Nuclear and Radiation Engineering, UT Austin
Dr. Cole Gentry, Senior Engineering Scientist, Nuclear and Radiation Engineering, UT Austin
Dr. Nicholas Herring, Senior Engineering Scientist, Nuclear and Radiation Engineering, UT Austin
3:15 p.m. | Working Groups
Dr. Derek Haas, Professor, Nuclear and Radiation Engineering, UT Austin
Dani Zigon, Director of Strategic Initiatives, UT Austin
3:45 p.m. | Networking Break
4:00 p.m. | NETL
Dr. William Charlton, Professor and Director of the Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory, UT Austin
4:15 p.m. | Texas Nuclear Association
Reed Clay, President of the Texas Nuclear Alliance (TNA)
4:30 p.m. | Lightning Talks
5:00 p.m. | Research Poster Showcase
Light refreshments
Tuesday, April 7
- Texas Nuclear Symposium
- Hydrogen Workshop
- The Future of Geothermal: Exploring Technology Breakthroughs & Policy Solutions
View Full Tuesday Agenda
8:00 a.m. | Registration
Breakfast Provided
8:30 a.m. | Welcome & Research Showcase Opening
Brian Korgel, Director, Energy Institute, UT Austin
Showcasing 12 collaborative projects advancing real-world energy solutions through the 2024 Strategic Energy Seed Grant Program.
8:45 a.m. | Texas Nuclear Symposium: Day 2 (Concurrent Affiliate Event)
8:45 a.m. | Research Presentations, Part 1: Carbon Management, CCUS
Featured Research Teams:
- Computational Design and Engineering of Biocatalysts for CO2 Conversion — Yi Lu (Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences) and Narayana Aluru (Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering)
- Combining Quantitative Leakage Risk Assessment with Financial Liability for CO2 Geologic Storage — Sahar Bakhshian and Susan Hovorka (Bureau of Economic Geology, Jackson School of Geosciences) and James Dyer (Department of Information, Risk, and Operations Management; McCombs School of Business)
- Self-Sealing Capacity of Wellbore Cement Under Geologic CO2 Storage — Charles Werth and Maria Juenger (Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering; Cockrell School of Engineering) and Sahar Bakhshian (Bureau of Economic Geology, Jackson School of Geosciences)
- Carbon Dioxide Hydrate-Based Carbon Sequestration on the Seabed — Vaibhav Bahadur (Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering) and Yingda Lu (Hildebrand Department of Petroleum & Geosystems Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering)
- Impacts of Geochemistry on Carbon Dioxide Adsorption in Organic-Rich Mudrocks — Zoya Heidari and Nicolas Espinoza (Hildebrand Department of Petroleum & Geosystems Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering)
- Laboratory experiments & modeling to accurately evaluate critical CO2 saturation for geologic carbon storage — Hailun Ni and Sahar Bakhshian (Bureau of Economic Geology, Jackson School of Geosciences) and David DiCarlo (Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering)
- Long-term Surveillance of Plugged and Abandoned Wells for Immediate Detection of CO2 Leakage in Geologic Carbon Storage Sites — Sahar Bakhshian, Susan Hovorka and Michael H. Young (Jackson School of Geosciences – Bureau of Economic Geology)
- Enabling Zero Carbon Emission by Electrochemical CO2 Reduction Technology — Guihua Yu, Jamie Warner, and Yuanyue Liu (Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Materials Institute)
- Study CO2 foams in an effort to improve long-term carbon storage in depleted oil and gas reservoirs — Angel Wileman and Sarah Stuart (Southwest Research Institute); David DiCarlo and Masa Prodanovic (Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering)
- Study CO2 pipeline flow behaviors as part of a larger effort to facilitate large-scale carbon capture, utilization & storage (CCUS) — Kevin Supak and Kelsi Katcher (Southwest Research Institute); Yingda Lu (Hildebrand Department of Petroleum & Geosystems Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering)
9:45 a.m. | Research Presentations, Part 1B: Clean Hydrogen
Featured Research Teams:
- Hydrogen Production at Natural Gas Wellheads — Yingda Lu and Kishore Mohanty (Hildebrand Department of Petroleum & Geosystems Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering)
- Controlling Intrinsic Defects in Metal Oxides for High-Performance, Low-Cost Green Hydrogen Production — Delia Milliron, Joaquin Resasco and Wennie Wang (McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering)
- Integrated Computational & Experimental Microscopic Elucidation of Amorphous Electrocatalysts for Water Splitting — Wennie Wang, Joaquin Resasco and C. Buddie Mullins (McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering)
- Ammonia Reforming to Hydrogen Using Non-Equilibrium Plasma Discharges — Fabrizio Bisetti and Thomas Underwood (Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Cockrell School of Engineering)
- Develop & evaluate an enhanced turbine cooling method to facilitate the use of cleaner hydrogen fuel engine applications — David Bogard (Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering) and Ellen Smith (Southwest Research Institute)
- Create a cost-effective & environmentally friendly method for producing hydrogen fuel — Thomas C. Underwood (Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics), Fabrizio Bisetti (Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics | Oden Institute), Graeme Henkelman (Chemistry | Oden Institute), C. Buddie Mullins and Michael Miller (Southwest Research Institute)
- Leveraging Permian Basin Assets for the Emerging Clean Hydrogen Energy Economy in Texas — Michael C. Lewis (Center for Electromechanics, Cockrell School of Engineering) and Ning Lin (Bureau of Economic Geology, Jackson School of Geosciences)
10:45 a.m. | Between Two Cacti with Brian Korgel
Between Two Cacti with Brian Korgel: The Case for Collaboration – Bridging the Gap Between Industry & Academia to Advance Energy Research
Haibin Xu, Shell
Dominic Clausi, ExxonMobil
Brian Korgel, Director, Energy Institute, The University of Texas at Austin
11:00 a.m. | Hydrogen Workshop: From Hydrogen Market Development to Project Development (Concurrent Affiliate Event)
11:30 a.m. | Lunch & Research Poster Session
Lunch | Research Poster Session for Morning Research Teams: Carbon Management, CCUS, & Clean Hydrogen
Rowling Hall Atrium, RRH 1.300 | Crum Auditorium Foyer, RRH 1.400F
12:30 p.m. | UT Energy Symposium
UT Energy Symposium: Can Business Models Accelerate Sustainable Energy Transitions in the Commercial Sector Without the Need for Government & Utility Incentives or Feed-In Tariffs? The Budderfly Case Study
Matthew Nemerson, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, Budderfly
1:30 p.m. |Panel Discussion: Student Energy Startup Founders
Panel Discussion: Getting a Head Start on Innovation – Insights from Student Energy Startup Founders
Moderator: Jeremy Pitts, Managing Director, Activate Houston • View PDF slides
- Joshua Ammon Johnson (Prairie View A&M, senior), Founder, Horizen
- Jack Phillips (UT Austin, graduated 2023), CEO, MACH Transit • View PDF slides
- Sajana Raj (UT Austin, sophomore), Founder and CEO, Energy Umbrella • View PDF slides
2:15 p.m. | Research Presentations, Part 2: Environmental Monitoring, Supply Chain, Circular Economy & Policy
Watch Here
Research Presentations, Part 2: Environmental Monitoring, Supply Chain, Circular Economy & Policy
Featured Research Teams:
- Uncertainty Quantification for Circular Economies & Supply Chains — Michael Baldea (Oden Institute and McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering) and Erhan Kutanoglu (Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering)
- Developing a Network of Ecological Sensors for Analysis of Long-Term Acoustic & Environmental Data — Timothy Keitt and Andrea Contina (Department of Integrative Biology, College of Natural Sciences)
- Go Clean Fast: The Political Economy of Green Industrial Policy — Joshua W. Busby (Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs) and Nathan Jensen (Department of Government)
- Breaking the Hydrocarbon Cascade in Electric Process Heating: Strategies for Upgrading Fuel Gas Streams — Michael Baldea, Thomas C. Underwood, and Buddie Mullins (McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering; Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics)
- Modernizing Brownfield Electric Power System Reliability & Quality to Support the Electrification of Industrial Processes — Surya Santoso and Brian Johnson (Chandra Family Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering)
- The Effects of Surfactants, Salt Concentration & Suspended Solids on Selective Oil Permeation — Lynn Katz and Frank Seibert (Department of Civil, Architectural & Environmental Engineering; Center for Energy and Environmental Resources)
3:30 p.m. | Research Presentations, Part 3: Power Grid & E-Mobility; Low/Zero-Carbon Fuels & DERs
Featured Research Teams:
- Lower Grid Emissions & Better Grid Performance — Kara Kockelman (Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering) and Benjamin Leibowicz (Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering)
- Toward Equitable Transportation Electrification in Austin, TX — Junfeng Jiao, Kijin Seong and Abigail Johnson (Community and Regional Planning, School of Architecture)
- Advanced Algorithms for Optimizing Electricity Demand of Electric Vehicle Fleets in Texas to Support the Grid & Local Communities — Javad Mohammadi and Sergio Castellanos (Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering)
- A Modular & Flexible DC-AC Converter Cell for Future Grid Systems — Brian Johnson and Alex Hanson (Chandra Family Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering)
- High-rate, large-area deposition of magnetic materials for next-generation energy technologies — Alex Hanson and Jean Anne Incorvia (Chandra Family Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering) with Jianliang Lin (Southwest Research Institute)
- Manufacturing of High-Strength Nanolattice Coating for Cryogenic Liquid Hydrogen Fuel Storage — Chih-Hao Chang and Li Shi (Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering)
- Analysis of Permian Basin Clean Ammonia Production, Distribution, & Market Demand — Michael Lewis (Center for Electromechanics), Ning Lin (Bureau of Economic Geology), and Vaibhav Bahadur (Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering)
- Microbial Reactions during Underground Hydrogen Storage — Kishore Mohanty and Wen Song (Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering)
4:30 p.m. | The Future of Geothermal in Texas (Concurrent Affiliate Event)
Moderator: Matt Welch, Executive Vice President, Texas Geothermal Energy Alliance
The Future of Geothermal in Texas: Exploring Technology Breakthroughs & Policy Solutions
Hosted by PowerHouse Texas and the Texas Energy & Climate Caucus • Texas State Capitol Extension
This Energy Innovation Forum brings together leading experts to discuss the latest breakthroughs in geothermal technology, the status of implementing geothermal-related legislation from the last legislative session, and what more the legislature can do to support this rapidly growing industry.
Featured Research Teams:
- Senator Brian Birdwell, District 22
- Jennifer Bremer, Executive Director, Texas Land & Mineral Owner Association
- Cindy D. Taff, CEO, Sage Geosystems
- Dr. Ken Wisian, Associate Director, Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin
- Jason Sorter, Community Engagement and Policy Director, Geothermal Rising
4:30 p.m. | Startup Night Keynote Address
Presented by Nicole Iseppi, Director, Global Energy Innovation, Bezos Earth Fund
4:45 p.m. |Startup Night: Energy Startup Spotlight Presentations
Aaron Fitzgerald, Founder & CEO, Mars Materials • View PDF
Joselyn Lai, Co-Founder & CEO, Bedrock Energy • View PDF
Carson Crawford, CEO & Co-Founder, Pike Robotics • View PDF
Jhana Porter, Founder & CEO, frakktal • View PDF
5:30 p.m. |Startup Night: Evening Reception
❖ Energy Startup Showcase & Mixer
Recruiting Companies Include:
Activate Houston
Austin Technology Incubator
Austin Urban Technology Movement
Bedrock Energy
Capital Factory
Energy Umbrella
Genesis UT
Horizen
Verified Carbon
IC2 Institute
LaunchPad at UT
MACH Transit
Mars Materials
Pike Robotics
Texas Entrepreneurship Exchange for Energy (TEX-E)
Texas Venture Labs
Tech Ranch
UT Inclusive Entrepreneurship & Innovation
5:30 p.m. | Research Poster Session for Afternoon Teams
Topics: Environmental Monitoring, Supply Chain, Circular Economy, Policy, Industrial Decarbonization, Water Use & Conservation, Power Grid & E-Mobility, Low/Zero-Carbon Fuels and Distributed Energy Resources (DERs)
6:30 p.m. | Energy Ventures Practicum: Elevator Pitches
Wednesday, April 8
- Panels, Conversations & Networking
- Campus Energy Tour
- Student Club Mashup
- Industry Networking Reception & Student Career Mixer
View Full Wednesday Agenda
8:00 a.m. | Registration
Breakfast Provided
8:50 a.m. | Welcome Remarks
Brian Korgel, Director, Energy Institute, UT Austin
9:00 a.m. | Critical Minerals and Their Importance to Geopolitical Stability
Moderator: Dilawar Syed, Faculty & Sr. Economic Policy Advisor, LBJ School of Public Affairs and McCombs School of Business, UT Austin
Josh Busby, Professor, LBJ School of Public Affairs, UT Austin; Author
Marek Locmelis, Associate Professor, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences & Bureau of Economic Geology, Jackson School of Geosciences, UT Austin
Zacharia Page, Co-Founder, Supra Elemental Recovery; Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, UT Austin
10:00 a.m. | Industry Leaders in Dialogue: Sustainable Resourcing of Power and Water for AI and Data Centers
Marilu Hastings, Executive Vice President, Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation; Chair, Energy Institute Advisory Board
Chris Crosby, Chief Executive Officer, COMPASS Datacenter
10:30 a.m. | Networking Break
10:45 a.m. | Informing Energy & Environmental Policymaking: Life Cycle Assessments of Plastic and Alternative Packaging
Experience “XP” Nduagu, Advanced Research Associate, ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
Plastic packaging supports modern life through its versatility, durability, and low cost, but growing demand and challenges in end-of-life (EoL) waste management have intensified calls for robust comparative assessments to guide material substitution decisions. This talk will cover recent cradle-to-EoL life cycle assessments (LCAs) comparing polyethylene (PE)-based packaging and available market alternatives like paper, glass and metals across major applications in the US and Europe, excluding the use phase (e.g., product loss from packaging breakage). The results indicate that substituting PE with alternatives may increase environmental impacts across most impact categories studied, including global warming potential, fossil fuel use, water scarcity and land use. Insights into the cradle-to-EoL potential environmental impacts of high-temperature, chemical recycling pathways for plastic waste will be covered. Policymakers, regulators and decision-makers should weigh the full life cycle impacts of material substitution policies to avoid unintended consequences and support science-based and technology-neutral policy development.
11:15 a.m. | Networking Lunch, Campus Energy Tour, and Student Club Mashup
Enjoy lunch and network with fellow attendees.
❖ Campus Energy Tour
Powered by the Carl J. Eckhardt Combined Heating & Power Complex, the UT Austin campus is one of the nation’s largest microgrids, giving students a unique edge in learning about energy solutions. Join Jim Walker, Director of the Office of Sustainability, for a quick Lunch & Learn session at Energy Week headquarters (San Jacinto Hall), before taking a guided walk (about 10 mins) to the power plant, where Travis Iskason, Assistant Director of Utilities Operations, will lead walking tours of the plant. The group will return together to San Jacinto Hall after the tour. This hands-on experience allows students and energy professionals to see firsthand how UT’s power plant generates 100% of the campus’ electricity, heating, and cooling.
Note: The power plant tour can accommodate up to 30 people; availability is first come, first served.
Tour Schedule*
11:45am: Lunch & Learn (San Jacinto Hall)
12:15pm: Depart San Jacinto Hall
12:30pm: Tour Carl J. Eckhardt Combined Heating & Power Complex
1:10pm: Arrive back at San Jacinto Hall
*Weather-permitting.
Jim Walker, Director, Office of Sustainability
Ryan Thompson, Director of Utilities, Utilities and Energy Management
Travis Iskason, Assistant Director of Utilities Operations, Utilities and Energy Management
❖ Student Club Mashup
Hosted by the Energy Institute Student Energy Engagement Council (SEEC), the Mashup brings together UT’s student organizations across energy, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Discover new groups, spark collaborations, and find your people!
Want your organization to be part of the action? Reach out to Kohl Lasell at kohl.lasell@energy.utexas.edu for more information.
American Nuclear Society
KBH Student Energy Advisory Council
Longhorn Energy Club
Switch Energy Club
Texas Energy Consulting
Texas Energy Trading
Texas Exchange for Energy & Climate Entrepreneurship (TEX-E)
Women in Energy
1:15 p.m. | Industry Leaders in Dialogue: Energy Resource Expansion Across Texas and Beyond
Liz Ramsay Dalton, Co-Founder and Partner, Mission Strategies; Board Member, Energy Institute Advisory Board
François Good, SVP Refining & Petrochemicals Americas and Country Chair USA, TotalEnergies
1:45 p.m. | Aligning Power, Water, Land, and Community To De-Risk Data Center Growth
Ning Lin, Chief Economist, Bureau of Economic Geology, Jackson School of Geoscience, UT Austin
2:10 p.m. | Geothermal Energy Resources to Sustainably Power AI & Data Centers
Ken Wisian, Associate Director, Environmental Division, Bureau of Economic Geology, Jackson School of Geoscience, UT Austin
2:30 p.m. | Networking Break
2:45 p.m. | Between Two Cacti with Gabriel Rio
Brian Korgel, Director, Energy Institute, UT Austin
Gabriel Rio, President & Chief Executive Officer, Milestone Environmental Services
Between Two Cacti is the Energy Institute’s signature conversational series, where Director Brian Korgel sits down, literally between two cacti, with leading voices in energy. Recorded during Energy Week at The University of Texas at Austin, these candid conversations explore big ideas, industry insights, and the personal stories shaping the future of energy. Expect fresh perspectives, thoughtful dialogue, and a little Texas charm along the way.
3:15 p.m. | Energy Growth and the Skills Required in an Uncertain World
Moderator: Haibin Xu, Energy Executive in Residence, Energy Institute, UT Austin
Andrejka Bernatova, Founder &. Chief Executive Officer, Dynamix Corporation
Jean-François Leleu-Eponville, HR Director, Total Talent Management, SLB
Sylvain Riba, Chief Executive Officer North America, Geostock Sandia
4:00 p.m. | Energy Without Borders: Regional Insights on Global Trends, Risk, and Opportunity
Moderator: Samuel Mercer, PhD Candidate, McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, UT Austin;
President, Longhorn Energy Club
Emmanuel Henriet, Energy Institute Senior Research Fellow, UT Austin
Hisanori Nei, President & Chief Executive Officer, Japan Underground Oil Storage; Professor Emeritus, GRIPS
Jorge Piñon, Energy Institute Senior Research Collaborator, UT Austin
4:45 p.m. | Status of Beneficial Reuse of Produced Water in the Permian Basin
Moderator: Rajendra Ghimire, Vice President of Business Development, Badwater Alchemy; Board Member, Produced Water Society
Robert Sadlier, Deputy Director, Water Quality Division, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Ted Wooten, Chief Engineer, Oil & Gas Division, Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC)
5:30 p.m. | Closing Remarks
5:30-7:00 p.m. | Networking Reception & Energy Career Mixer
Wrap up the day with great conversations, light bites, and a curated selection of beverages.
❖ Energy Career Mixer
Students can connect directly with energy companies and organizations at the career mixer, explore opportunities, build relationships, and take the next step toward your career in energy.
Companies and organizations interested in connecting with top UT talent are invited to participate. Contact Lisa Hernandez at lisa@energy.utexas.edu.
Companies & Organizations:
Thursday, April 9
- Panels, Conversations & Networking
- Interdisciplinary Case Competition
- Energy & Environment Mentorship Lunch
- UT Energy Week Networking Reception
View Full Thursday Agenda
8:00 a.m. | Registration & Morning Energy Connections
Industry & Faculty Networking Breakfast
Grab breakfast and meet UT assistant and associate professors to learn about emerging energy research and explore opportunities for collaboration at designated networking tables.
8:50 a.m. | Welcome Remarks
Brian Korgel, Director, Energy Institute, UT Austin
9:00 a.m. | Nuclear Power
Moderator: Andy Uhler, Energy Reporter in Residence, Energy Institute, UT Austin
Jason Cooper, President & Chief Executive Officer, GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy
Matthew McClellan, Cost Engineer, Aalo Atomics
Dorian Serradeil, Deputy Counselor, Nuclear Energy, Embassy of France (U.S.)
10:00 a.m. | Powering Data Centers
Moderator: Kenan Ögelman, VP, Strategic Projects and Optimization, Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA)
Doug Lewin, Energy Market Development, Texas Lead, Google
Vandana Singh, Senior Vice President Secure Power Division North America, Schneider Electric
Randa Stephenson, Chief Operating Officer, Wholesale Power, Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA)
10:45 a.m. | Networking Break
11:00 a.m. | The Critical Role of Energy Advocacy in Policymaking in Texas
Moderator: Tiffany Wu, Energy Markets and Regulatory Consultant, McAdams Energy Group
Matthew Boms, Executive Director, Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance
David Holt, President, Consumer Energy Alliance
11:45 a.m. | Networking Lunch, Energy & Environment Mentorship Lunch, and Interdisciplinary Case Competition Winner Announced
Enjoy lunch and network with fellow attendees.
❖ Energy & Environment Mentorship Lunch
Students may participate in the mentorship lunch, where they will join a small group of peers and a mentor of their choice, professionals working across energy and environmental fields. This interactive setting offers candid career insights, practical advice, and meaningful connections in a focused, small-group format.
Director-level and above energy and environmental professionals are invited to mentor and engage with top UT students through this program. Contact Lisa Hernandez at lisa@energy.utexas.edu to learn more.
Mentors include:
Javier Alarcia, VP, Corporate Development, T1 Energy
Amy Atchley, EV Equity Development Manager, Austin Energy
Audrey Bohorquez, Director of Development Operations & Process, TotalEnergies
Matt Boms, Executive Director, Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance
David Gibbs, Senior Energy Strategist, Hahn
Carlos Guzman, Principal, Development Engineering, Avangrid Renewables
Donny Holaschutz, Founder & Managing Partner, inodú
Akilah LeBlanc, General Manager Open Innovation, Shell
Doug Lewin, Energy Market Development, Google
Jeff Pitts, Director of Engineering, Noble Corporation
Mike Sloan, CEO, Synergetic
Steven Villarreal, Managing Partner, Texas Consulting & Development
Ryan Kudva, Unconventional Technology Integrator, ExxonMobil
1:15 p.m. | Keynote: U.S. Solar Panel Manufacturing
Dan Barcelo, Chairman & CEO, T1 Energy
1:45 p.m. | Energy Leaders in Dialogue
Jim Davis, President, UT Austin
Rudy Garza, Chief Executive Officer, CPS Energy
2:15 p.m. | Networking Break
2:30 p.m. | Phases & Stages: Austin, Season 1 Finale
Moderator: Brandon Mulder, Energy Journalism Fellow, Energy Institute
Caitlin Smith, Vice President, Policy & Corporate Communication, Jupiter Power
David Spence, Rex G. Baker Centennial Chair in Natural Resources Law, UT School of Law; Professor, McCombs School of Business, UT Austin
Andy Uhler, Energy Reporter in Residence, Energy Institute
The first season of “Phases and Stages: The Texas Energy Story” concludes where it started…or at least where the production team lives: Austin. Legislation passed in the state capital affects every aspect of the energy industry and that regulation (or lack of it) controls the pace and extent of any energy transition or expansion. This panel will hear from the podcast host and executive producer about lessons learned on the road. We’ll also hear from lawmakers and industry experts about how all roads, both the fast lanes and the roadblocks, lead to Austin.
3:15 p.m. | Between Two Cacti with Shawn Cumberland
Shawn Cumberland, Managing Partner, Energy Transition, Encap Investments
Brian Korgel, Director, Energy Institute, UT Austin
Between Two Cacti is the Energy Institute’s signature conversational series, where Director Brian Korgel sits down, literally between two cacti, with leading voices in energy. Recorded during Energy Week at The University of Texas at Austin, these candid conversations explore big ideas, industry insights, and the personal stories shaping the future of energy. Expect fresh perspectives, thoughtful dialogue, and a little Texas charm along the way.
3:45 p.m. | Energy Innovation in the United States and Beyond
Moderator: Sergio Castellanos, Assistant Professor, Maseeh Department of Civil Architectural and Environmental Engineering, UT Austin
Akilah LeBlanc, General Manager, Open Innovation, Shell
Alain Rouault, Chief Executive Officer North America, Watt & Well
Shigeki Uchihashi, Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Venturing, JERA America
4:30 p.m. | Keynote: Anne-Laure Chassanite, Engie
Anne-Laure Chassanite, Chief Executive Officer, Engie Resources (B2B Power Retail), ENGIE North America
5:00 p.m. | Closing Remarks
5:00-6:30 p.m. | Networking Reception
Join us as we celebrate UT Energy Week with an evening of connection and conversation. Reconnect with speakers, industry leaders, and fellow attendees as we wrap up an impactful week.
Friday, April 10
View Full Friday Agenda
8:30 a.m. | Registration
Breakfast Provided
9:00 a.m. | Welcome and Introductions
9:05 a.m. | Keynote: Building Energy for a Changing World
Brittany Kelm, Senior Policy Advisor, National Energy Dominance Council
9:45 a.m. | Delivering on US Power Needs Over the Coming Decade
Dr. Derek Haas, UT Associate Professor of Nuclear and Radiation Engineering, consultant to nuclear energy development companies and co-founder of NuWells Energy
Jaime Gualy, COO of vertically integrated U.S. solar and battery storage leader T1 Energy
Michael DeShazer, Executive Vice President – Operations, Coterra Energy
10:30 a.m. | Keynote
Omead Afshar, Former Senior Executive, Tesla
11:10 a.m. | Infrastructure Build-Out as a Foundation for the US and Texas AI Opportunity
Sam Siegel, VP of Business Development at Vistra
Michael McKissack, EVP Strategy at WTG
Therese Kerfoot, EVP of Strategy at Edgecore Digital Infrastructure
11:50 a.m. | Networking Break & Lunch
12:05 p.m. | Power Project Case Study – US Battery Storage, Facilitating the US Energy Transition
Travis Cook, Associate, Capital Markets & Project Finance, Jupiter Power
12:50 p.m. | How Will Public Policy and Grid Underpin Texas’ Bullish Economic Outlook
Morgan Johnson, Commissioner with Public Utility Commission of Texas
Katharine McAden, Head of Public Policy and External Affairs, South Region at Google
Chad Seely, SVP Regulatory Policy, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for ERCOT
1:30 p.m. | Closing Remarks
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