The University of Houston hosted a vibrant networking event on August 21, 2025, bringing together energy professionals, students, and staff of the university’s CCUS program to discuss the market dynamics of CCUS and the changing landscape. The evening served both as a capstone to the most recent CCUS cohort and as an opportunity for current and past participants to connect. Discussion and registration for the upcoming cohort for a new group of professionals to become part of a growing network of CCUS changemakers ended the night.
Conversations throughout the night focused on the role of CCUS to promote business cases driven by the desire to make our energy system more resilient, more reliable, and more affordable. The business case will be paramount to successful projects and directly impact the transformation we anticipate through growth and global demand.
A highlight of the evening was a Q&A led by Chuck McConnell, Director of the Center for Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) at UH. McConnell emphasized that CCUS science is critical to decarbonizing energy systems without sacrificing energy security.
“It is important to look at the utilization of CO2 and hydrocarbons toward energy security, reliability and affordability — not just in the U.S., but globally,” McConnell said. He went on to note, “We have reached a philosophical bend in the road. It is a critical time to drive CCUS’s role in the marketplace.”
The discussion highlighted several benefits of CCUS, including:
- Large-scale decarbonization to meet customer demands in industrial and power sectors.
- Growth of existing energy and new infrastructure, ensuring reliable and affordable power.
- Innovation opportunities, including CO₂ utilization for fuels, products, and enhanced oil recovery.
- Positioning the U.S. as a global leader in energy technologies.
McConnell also previewed the upcoming symposium, “The Future of Natural Gas,” scheduled for October 9, 2025, at the University of Houston. The event has already secured top speakers, and registration is now open.
Attendees left with fresh insights and valuable new connections, underscoring the University of Houston’s role as a hub for thought leadership and collaboration in the energy sector. By fostering dialogue between industry, academia, and the community, UH Energy continues to lead conversations shaping the future of the energy transformation landscape.