As the year draws to a close, the University of Houston marked a significant milestone in its partnership with Chevron, celebrating a prolific year of collaboration in research and innovation. This partnership exemplifies the synergy between industry leaders and academic institutions working together to tackle some of the world’s most pressing energy challenges.
Chevron, a global leader in energy, has long been at the forefront of advancing technologies to address energy transition demands. Collaborating with UH, an institution known for its innovative research, earning its name as “The Energy University,” the partnership has set benchmarks in sustainable energy solutions, workforce development, and scientific exploration.
Familiar faces gathered to be recognized as the top innovation projects pitched at the 3rd Annual Chevron Energy Innovation Competition. These projects span areas such as carbon capture, renewable energy integration, and the development of new materials to improve energy efficiency.
Earning special recognition, Amps UP a team consisting of engineering doctoral student Chirag Goel, mechanical engineering doctoral student Harshit Singh and finance student Emily Unzer was among the top five innovation teams.
“We never expected this to happen,” said mechanical engineering doctoral student Harshit Singh. “One of the opportunities that Chevron has given us is they have a venture group, and we are currently in talks with them for a pilot project with Chevron where we can further derisk the technology.”
First place winners, team Enhanced Battery Systems consisting of PhD student in Mechanical Engineering JiAn Chen and Mechanical Engineering student Tico Thomas Hannon were also honored with a 25,000 award from Chevron that will help continue their work toward commercializing their research on the ability to use low frequency stress waves to monitor lithium ion batteries in real time using inexpensive components that can provide a greater accurate state of charge instead of health estimate than what is currently available with the present electrical product.
A special award was also presented to Chevron Strategic Relationship Manager, Hariprasad J. Subramani who has played an integral role in the partnership between UH Energy and Chevron, helping to make this competition a continuous success year after year.
The other UH teams who placed in the competition include:
Repurposing Wind turbine blades- Consisting of civil engineering doctoral student Nagesh Ramaswamy and Ishan Mishra and supervised by Professor Gangbing Song and Larry Yi-Lung Mo. Their project proposed systematic repurposing of DWTBs for civil infrastructure is an innovative upcycling approach to the end-of-life management and environmental challenges associated with DWTBs.
Energy Resource Size calculator- Consisting of electrical engineering Ph. D students, Ann Mary Toms, Jin Lu and Hassan Zahid Butt and supervised by Professor Xingpeng Li. This team offered comprehensive services from precision microgrid design, including optimal sizing of energy resources, to seamless short-term energy management operations.
Li extraction using microorganisms- Consisting of UH alumni Mo Hossein, environmental engineering doctoral student Siddhartha Paul and entrepreneurship master's student Jenil Monpara. This team is revolutionizing the extraction of critical metals from electronic waste, such as end-of-life lithium-ion batteries, through an innovative process with net-zero carbon emissions.
This research not only aligns with Chevron’s sustainability goals but also reinforces UH’s role as a key player in global energy innovation.
Chevron and UH also emphasized the importance of preparing the next generation of energy professionals. Through internships, scholarships, and collaborative educational initiatives, the partnership has created pathways for students to engage with real-world challenges, equipping them with the skills needed to lead in the evolving energy sector.
“One of the key reasons that we as Chevron are so keen and thankful for the partnership with the University of Houston is that we have access to your minds as well,” said Chevron Strategic Relationships Manager, Vesna Mirkovic.
The celebration was not just a reflection of the achievements but also an opportunity to set future goals. Both Chevron and UH reaffirmed their commitment to advancing energy innovation, focusing on sustainability and resilience as they navigate the complexities of the energy transition.
“We try to provide lots of opportunities, but you’ve got to go and reach out,” said Ramanan Krishnamoorti, vice president for energy and innovation. “How you communicate, how you engage, how you collaborate- those soft skills are so important.”
As Chevron and the University of Houston continue their collaboration, their efforts promise to pave the way for transformative advancements in the energy sector.