UH Energy’s Texas Industrial Energy Efficiency Program (TIEEP) concluded a successful two‑day Introduction to Pinch Analysis Workshop on March 5 and 6 at the University of Houston Technology Bridge. The workshop was an in‑depth exploration of process optimization and industrial sustainability, and was attended by operating and design engineers from the hydrocarbon processing industry. The State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) provided scholarships up to 100% for qualified participants to support continuous education in energy efficiency technology.
Alan Rossiter, President of Rossiter & Associates and a longtime leader in industrial energy efficiency education, led the workshop. Rossiter, who previously served as UH Energy’s Executive Director of External Relations & Educational Program Development, guided participants through the principles, capabilities, and practical uses of pinch analysis—a methodology widely used to improve energy efficiency in continuous plant operations.
By participating in lectures, interactive discussions, and hands‑on software demonstrations, attendees learned how pinch analysis supports heat integration, distillation system design, debottlenecking, waste minimization, and mass‑transfer improvements. The workshop also included problem‑solving exercises and real‑world case studies, giving participants a chance to apply pinch analysis tools and techniques directly.
Following the workshop on March 5, TIEEP also hosted the 2026 Water Forum. This year’s forum spotlighted the growing intersection of water scarcity in Texas and the rapid expansion of data centers, which require substantial water resources for cooling and reliability.
Speakers at the forum included:
- Dr. Hanadi Rifai (University of Houston)
- Luis Suarez (FLUOR)
- Shiladitya Basu (Stantec)
Bringing the Water Forum to a close was the STS‑AIChE Dinner Meeting. The event featured a keynote by Dr. Carlos Gamarra of the Houston Advanced Research Center. He presented material from the article "Thirsty Data and the Lone Star State: The Impact of Data Center Growth on Texas’ Water Supply," which he co-wrote with Margaret Cook.
Together, the workshop and forum highlighted TIEEP’s continued commitment to advancing practical solutions and fostering informed dialogue around industrial efficiency and water conservation.