UH Energy and the Center for Carbon Management in Energy (CCME) undertook research in June 2022 to evaluate pathways and solutions to make Texas carbon neutral by 2050. The research examined the technical feasibility and the economic and financial consequences of different scenarios to achieve this carbon-neutral goal.

The work carried out by twenty-six UH students was supported by the Cullen Trust for Higher Education and mentored by UH faculty and staff with energy and carbon management expertise.

The multidisciplinary research addressed the energy trilemma of affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy for all; preserving and improving the quality of life for Texans as demographics change rapidly; and maintaining and strengthening the state’s global leadership in the energy industry. The work addressed key drivers, challenges, and opportunities in five focus areas:

• Carbon capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS)
• Electric Grid
• Financial Incentives
• Transportation
• Workforce Development

Building on the findings of this work, future research will focus on the implications for Houston’s energy future.

Links to research output and other related projects:

1. Net Zero Texas By 2050 2022 – 2023 Energy Symposium Series | Critical Issues in Energy
2. Net Zero Texas by 2050
3. Net Zero in Texas: The Role of Workforce Development
4. Net Zero in Texas: The Role of Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Sequestration
5. Net Zero in Texas: The Role of the Electric Grid
6. Net Zero in Texas: The Role of Transportation
7. Climate Resilience in Houston: Implications of the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report for Houston’s Climate Action Plan

More Funded and Ongoing Projects

• Assessing Social Impact of Clean Energy Technologies and Microgrids in Houston
• Houston Hydrogen Transportation Project
• A Comprehensive Roadmap for ROICE (Repurposing Offshore Infrastructure for Clean Energy) Projects in the Gulf of Mexico
• Social Life Cycle Analysis for Carbon Capture