Buffalo Bayou Downtown Skyline (Credit: Bryan Malloch)

Houston’s role as a leader in the global energy transition will be showcased next week during CERAWeek, the world’s premiere energy conference. The weeklong conference takes place every year in Houston, attracting leaders from around the world in the energy and technology industries, as well as government officials, policymakers and experts. 

This year’s theme, Navigating a Turbulent World: Energy, Climate and Security, “will examine how a new era of global uncertainty and change is reshaping challenges and opportunities for the energy transition.”

Several panels and activities during the conference will spotlight why the region is positioned to lead the global energy transition by exploring how it’s leveraging a diverse workforce, a thriving innovation ecosystem and existing energy infrastructure to accelerate global solutions for an energy abundant, low-carbon future. 

This year, the Partnership’s Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI) has organized HETI House at Innovation Agora, which serves as the center of technology and innovation programming at the conference. HETI House will feature some of Houston’s leading cleantech incubators, accelerators, startups and industry leaders to demonstrate the innovation and collaboration occurring across key players in the region.

Here are eight Houston-focused events to check out March 6 – 10 at Hilton Americas and the George R. Brown Convention Center. See registration details to attend CERAWeek.

March 6

Gulf Coast Hydrogen Hub 

With an existing ecosystem of infrastructure, producers, and consumers, the Gulf Coast has ambitions to become a global hydrogen hub. This panel, featuring Brett Perlman, CEO of Center for Houston’s Future, and leaders from Chevron and Ørsted, will discuss how the “Energy Capital of the World” plans to lead the low-carbon future.

March 7 

Port Hydrogen Infrastructure: A key niche?

This panel, which features Port Houston’s Chief Port Infrastructure Officer Rich Byrnes, will explore how the adoption of hydrogen will impact ports and the infrastructure necessary to fuel ships in a net-zero world. 

Global Energy Innovation Hubs: Where to grow your start-up program

Houston has quickly proven this is the city where startups choose to scale their green businesses. Since opening in 2021, Greentown Labs’ flagship location in Houston has been a catalyst for attracting cleantech startups to the area. The incubator is home to 75+ startups, with 60 of those established during Greentown’s first year in Houston. Juliana Garaizar, Chief Development and Investment Officer and Head of Greentown Labs Houston, will join Ricky Sakai, Senior VP of Investment and Business Development at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and others to discuss lessons learned and how global energy innovation hubs move forward.

March 8

Cities Leading the Energy Transition - World Energy Cities Partnership Mayors

Cities are at the forefront for tackling the climate and energy challenges. Mayor Sylvester Turner and mayors from Esbjerg, Denmark; Perth, Australia; and Calgary, Alberta, Canada will describe their visions toward more sustainable energy for their communities.

HETI Energy Ventures Pitch Competition

More than 15 startups and entrepreneurs with businesses providing cleaner and more sustainable energy while also meeting global energy needs reliably and affordably will present at the annual HETI Energy Ventures Pitch Competition at CERAWeek Innovation Agora. They will compete for non-dilutive cash prizes and awards from TEX-E/Greentown Labs, SLB, and HX Ventures. Chevron will consider all finalists for inclusion in their Chevron Technology Ventures Catalyst program.

March 9

Energy Transition Hubs: How cities are leading the charge

Houston and other municipalities are creating blueprints for a more sustainable future and transforming communities by accelerating energy transition policies and infrastructure. Perlman will join the discussion to demonstrate how Houston is transforming into an energy transition hub.

Future of Coastal Living and Energy Infrastructure

Houston’s energy infrastructure sits along the Gulf Coast, making it vulnerable to extreme weather risks. City of Houston’s Chief Resilience and Sustainability Officer Priya Zachariah will join other leaders to discuss the risks coastal communities face and how they can adapt and evolve to protect infrastructure and residents.   

March 10

Building the Innovative City of the Future

HETI Chair and Artemis Energy Partners CEO Bobby Tudor and Mayor Sylvester Turner will close out the weeklong conference discussing how Houston is building the innovative city of the future.

See Houston’s strategic blueprint for leading the energy transition and learn more about the Partnership’s efforts.