As Houston takes steps to position itself as a hub for clean energy research and development, one of its most prominent accelerators has a new cohort of startups aiming to improve strategies such as carbon capture and hydrogen production.
Rice University named 15 startups to its third cohort of the Rice Alliance Clean Energy Accelerator on June 20. The companies will begin the 10-week program on July 25 before wrapping up with a Sept. 21 demo day alongside the Rice Alliance Energy Tech Venture Forum.
The 15 startups have already raised $23.3 million in funding, Rice said. Here's a description of each company:
- Ayrton Energy is working with hydrogen storage technology to improve transporting hydrogen.
- Carbix uses technology it developed to convert carbon dioxide emissions into building materials.
- CryoDesalination is developing a freezing process that aims to reduce the carbon footprint and cost of desalinating water.
- Digital Carbon Bank offers carbon credits in exchange for offset projects.
- EarthEn is working on storage for excess solar and wind generation coupled with artificial intelligence to help grid operators improve efficiency.
- H Quest Vanguard offers green hydrogen at lower prices for the decarbonization of industrial heat caused by natural gas production.
- Highwoods Emissions Management is developing a platform that allows oil and gas companies to understand the emissions they generate and create plans to reduce them.
- Icarus RT is developing a method of converting solar systems to hybrid energy generation and storage systems.
- Khepra developed a chemical manufacturing platform for the low-cost production of agricultural chemicals.
- Natrion has developed an electrolyte that can be quickly implemented in existing batteries.
- Oceanways is creating underwater “virtual pipelines” — which take the form of submarines — to energy customers.
- Relyion Energy’s technology gives used batteries a second life as potential grid storage options.
- Triton Anchor developed a floating platform for offshore wind systems.
- Troes offers a simulation technology that allows operators to evaluate the performance of battery energy storage systems.
- Tycho Solutions has developed a platform that provides location data for clean power project developers to help them find their next sites.
The startups will be guided through the accelerator by Rice Alliance directors Kerri Smith and Matthew Peña as well as six executives-in-residence, who will provide industry expertise to the companies. The executives-in-residence are Nathan Ball, Fatimah Bello, Michael Egan, Michael Evans, Stephen Sims and Deanna Zhang.
Clean tech startups continue to flow to Houston accelerators and incubators as the city attempts to position itself as a leader in the energy transition movement. Midtown incubator Greentown Labs recently confirmed another seven Houston-based startups joined its membership ranks in the second quarter of 2023.
Earlier in 2023, Greentown Labs also announced its first cohort of Advancing Climatetech and Clean Energy Leaders, or ACCEL, an accelerator aimed at increasing diversity in the clean tech space. Greentown partnered with Boston nonprofit Browning the Green Space to launch ACCEL.
Accelerators are just one piece of the puzzle if Houston is to grow as a clean energy hub, local industry leaders have said. A more established investor presence is needed, and the city needs to broadcast that it is a welcoming place for clean power talent, according to Amy Henry, CEO and co-founder of Eunike Ventures.
“We have failed to tell the story. It is again, perception. Perceptions matter,” she previously told the Houston Business Journal. “That’s also important for energy companies. What is your value proposition for entrepreneurs to work with you? Because you’re going to have to have something to attract them because they have choices.”
