Research

sun rising over earth seen from space

Forging Innovative Connections and Discoveries in Energy Research

The expertise of over 350 energy-related faculty and researchers and over 30 energy centers and programs at UT facilitates an integrated, systems-oriented approach to meeting the energy challenges of today and the future. This diverse research footprint, which we call Energy@UT, is pioneering novel ways to enable energy sustainability – from state-of-the art technology for mitigating methane emissions to next generation anode materials for battery storage to radically smarter management of water resources in energy production.

Fueling a Sustainable Energy Transition

Over the next several years, the Energy Institute (EI) is funding a series of interdisciplinary projects to support the most promising global energy transition research at UT. 

The projects funded so far include 53 faculty members and researchers from nine schools across the university — from the Moody College of Communication and the Jackson School of Geosciences to the School of Architecture and the Cockrell School of Engineering. Interdisciplinary collaboration was a key criterion for award of EI funding, and the selected teams reflect different approaches from departments and disciplines throughout the university. 

From developing the next generation of battery packs and new solar-powered water purification systems to designing and optimizing techniques for carbon capture, these EI-funded projects attack a broad range of key issues that are critical to a sustainable energy transition.

UT Energy Research Centers

School of Architecture

Center for Sustainable Design

Austin Technology Incubator

ATI Clean Energy Incubator

McCombs School of Business | School of Law

The Kay Bailey Hutchison Energy Center for Business, Law, and Policy (KBH Center)

Environmental Science Institute

Environmental Science Institute

Texas Advanced Computing Center

Texas Advanced Computing Center

Cockrell School of Engineering

Center for Electromechanics

Center for Energy and Environmental Resources

Center for a Solar Powered Future

Center for Subsurface Energy and the Environment

LBJ School of Public Affairs

Center for International Energy and Environmental Policy (joint with Jackson School of Geosciences)

Jackson School of Geosciences

Advanced Energy Consortium

Bureau of Economic Geology

Center for Energy Economics

Center for International Energy and Environmental Policy (joint with LBJ School of Public Affairs)

College of Natural Sciences

Center for Electrochemistry

Prof Sheila Olmstead speaking as part of a panel discussion at UT Energy Week 2015

UT Energy Experts Guide

Many of the world’s top energy researchers call The University of Texas at Austin home, with more than 300 energy experts at work in schools, colleges and research centers dispersed across the UT campus.