The Energy Institute, UT Austin

Directions Website

The Energy Institute, UT Austin A professional voice on all things energy at The University of Texas at Austin.

The Energy Institute fosters interdisciplinary interactions among colleges and schools across campus, while serving as a portal for external audiences interested in learning more about energy research carried out at The University of Texas at Austin. The Institute leverages the expertise of faculty to study critical energy policy questions, and is dedicated to broadening the educational experience of students by creating a community of scholars around energy issues of importance to Texas, the nation and the world. The activities of the Energy Institute are organized around four pillars:
• Policy
• Education
• Research
• Commercialization

In consultation with its Advisory Board, which includes deans from seven colleges and schools on The University of Texas at Austin campus, as well as energy industry leaders, the Energy Institute has developed a strategic plan that embodies its mission and core areas of focus.

Thank you to everyone who attended our Global Solar Power + Energy Solar Forum, Hydrogen Day, and Campus Energy Tour! We...
10/23/2026

Thank you to everyone who attended our Global Solar Power + Energy Solar Forum, Hydrogen Day, and Campus Energy Tour! We are grateful to our sponsors, everyone who came to speak, present their posters, and learn all about the current energy landscape through the UT Energy Institute.

The latest Between Two Cacti episode is now available to stream! Brian Korgel sat down with Phases and Stages host Andy ...
10/22/2026

The latest Between Two Cacti episode is now available to stream!

Brian Korgel sat down with Phases and Stages host Andy Uhler for a conversation about Texas energy innovation and telling the story of the changing energy landscape across the state.

Andy Uhler is a seasoned reporter covering Texas energy and sustainability and is Energy Reporter in Residence at the Energy Institute. Through Phases and Stages, he explores the stories of our changing energy system from the perspective of the Texans living through it, visiting communities across Texas to better understand the state’s evolving energy landscape.

Stream the conversation now on your favorite podcast app to hear more about the people, ideas, and experiences shaping Texas energy.

“The cool thing about this project is going to the communities and literally asking them: what questions are you not being told to ask?” – Andy Uhler

How are local governments managing the rapid growth of data centers in their communities? Next week at the UT Energy Sym...
10/21/2026

How are local governments managing the rapid growth of data centers in their communities?

Next week at the UT Energy Symposium, Robert Paterson, Associate Professor in the Graduate Program in Community and Regional Planning at the UT Austin School of Architecture, will explore the gap between the pace of data-center development and local governments’ ability to manage its impacts.

Drawing on two surveys of local zoning practices across the United States, Paterson will examine how different communities regulate data centers and where existing policies may fall short.

From cooling water demand to air pollution and electricity consumption, the discussion will investigate the challenges local governments face in balancing data-center development with community and environmental needs.

Join us to learn how local policies can evolve to better address the environmental and community impacts of data-center growth.

https://energy.utexas.edu/events/zoning-ai-and-cloud-data-center-boom-how-local-governments-are-regulating-data-centers

"Command, Corrupt, Coordinate: Adversarial and Market-Driven Threats to Grid Security" will be the theme of UT Harringto...
10/15/2026

"Command, Corrupt, Coordinate: Adversarial and Market-Driven Threats to Grid Security" will be the theme of UT Harrington Fellow Charalambos (Harrys) Konstantinou's talk on Friday, Oct. 16, at 10am for UT ECE's PEPS Seminar. Don't miss it!

Texas is still known for oil and gas, but the energy story here is getting more complicated. Over the first season of Ph...
10/14/2026

Texas is still known for oil and gas, but the energy story here is getting more complicated.

Over the first season of Phases & Stages, Energy Institute fellow Andy Uhler traveled the state to hear from Texans living through that change and to ask who stands to benefit. Yesterday, Andy joined Standard to talk about what surprised him along the way and to give a first look at season two.

Hear the conversation: https://texasstandard.org/stories/today-on-texas-standard-october-13-2026/

Then join us Thursday, October 15th, for Between Two Cacti x Phases & Stages, moderated by Andy: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/between-two-cacti-x-phases-and-stages-live-at-kut-austin-tickets-2003087912869?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Next week at the UT Energy Symposium, we welcome Tom Murphy, Emeritus Professor of Physics, Astronomy and Astrophysics a...
10/14/2026

Next week at the UT Energy Symposium, we welcome Tom Murphy, Emeritus Professor of Physics, Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of California, San Diego, for a talk titled "Questioning Modernity: What Does Energy Do?"

Dr. Murphy will trace the personal and scientific journey that led a dedicated scientist to realize that the project of modernity faces fundamental constraints that cannot be engineered away, calling into question the very foundation of modern civilization. The presentation will highlight the key intellectual shocks and unexpected detours along the way, showing how rigorous inquiry forced a radical rethink of civilization’s long-term trajectory.

Event details: https://energy.utexas.edu/events/questioning-modernity-what-does-energy-do

Between Two Cacti made a special appearance at EnergizeUT 2026! 🌵⚡ In this special edition of the conversation series, E...
10/12/2026

Between Two Cacti made a special appearance at EnergizeUT 2026! 🌵⚡

In this special edition of the conversation series, EnergyX Chief of Staff Milda Saenz joined Brian Korgel to discuss her journey from being the company’s 10th employee five years ago to helping lead its growth today.

Saenz shared insights into lithium extraction in North America and along the Gulf Coast, the history of lithium mining, and how EnergyX is exploring new approaches to lithium extraction from the Smackover Formation, a U.S. geological unit containing some of North America’s highest‑grade lithium brine resources. She also discussed the differences between startups and technology transfer and what it takes to move an idea from invention to patenting to ex*****on.

“For startups, it’s not the idea that makes the difference, it’s the ex*****on.” -- Milda Saenz

Find Milda’s talk and other great conversations with energy leaders here: https://energy.utexas.edu/between-two-cacti

RSVP to join us for the next live Between Two Cacti talk, Oct. 15 at K*T Studios in Austin: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/between-two-cacti-x-phases-and-stages-live-at-kut-austin-tickets-2003087912869?aff=oddtdtcreator

Join us Thursday, Oct. 15, for a special Between Two Cacti x Phases and Stages collaboration! In this live recording, Be...
10/09/2026

Join us Thursday, Oct. 15, for a special Between Two Cacti x Phases and Stages collaboration!

In this live recording, Between Two Cacti host Brian Korgel sits down with Phases and Stages host Andy Uhler to discuss insights and experiences exploring the frontier of Texas energy innovation.

Andy Uhler is a seasoned reporter covering energy and sustainability in Texas and beyond. Through his podcast, Phases and Stages, he reports the stories of our changing energy system from the perspective of Texans living through it. In Season 1, Andy visited a different Texas location each episode to explore the changing energy landscape across the state.

Come hear the conversation live and preview Season 2, which will focus on innovation and the future of energy production, distribution, and decarbonization in Texas.

RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/between-two-cacti-x-phases-and-stages-live-at-kut-austin-tickets-2003087912869?aff=oddtdtcreator

We wrapped up the main events of Hydrogen Day 2026 this afternoon! Today’s programming highlighted the rapid evolution o...
10/09/2026

We wrapped up the main events of Hydrogen Day 2026 this afternoon!

Today’s programming highlighted the rapid evolution of hydrogen technologies across UT Austin and beyond with technical talks, industry perspectives, and research presentations. Sessions ranged from geologic hydrogen potential and methane pyrolysis to grid‑scale hydrogen integration and international strategy discussions.

Special congratulations to the poster competition winners! Your work is advancing energy innovation and building a sustainable future. Your contributions reflect UT Austin’s commitment to advancing energy innovation and building a sustainable future.

Thank you to all the speakers, attendees, partners, and students who made today's event impactful. The conversations and connections formed here will continue shaping the future of hydrogen innovation.

And Hydrogen Day isn’t over yet! Join us tomorrow at Pickle Research Campus for tours featuring UT Austin’s hydrogen research and facilities.

Stay tuned for more opportunities to gather, collaborate, and advance solutions for a future of abundant, secure clean energy.

Address

Flawn Academic Center, FAC 344, 2304 Whitis Avenue
Austin, TX
78712

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Energy Institute, UT Austin posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category