March 15, 2022 - Southwest Research Institute and The University of Texas at Austin have created The Energize Program, a new opportunity to enhance greater scientific collaboration between the two institutions.
“The Energize Program will bring together the capabilities, facilities and expertise from SwRI as well as UT Austin's Energy Institute and Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering in an effort to strengthen research efforts that benefit humankind,” said SwRI Executive Vice President and COO Walt Downing. “This is a tremendous opportunity for these two institutions to work together to solve some of the most challenging energy issues we face today.”
Two funding programs are available. Energize projects will include at least one principal investigator from each institution.
The Energy Institute Program will fund up to three two-year projects in any field of energy research focused on decarbonization and climate security. The maximum total funding will be up to $60,000 from UT Austin’s Energy Institute, in partnership with the College of Natural Sciences, the Cockrell School of Engineering and the Jackson School of Geosciences, and $75,000 from SwRI per year, though proposals can also include additional outside contributions from other industry affiliates or institutions.
The Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering will fund up to two, two-year projects in any field of energy-related research, including oil and gas, renewable resources, hydrogen, carbon storage and geothermal energy. The maximum total funding will be up to $75,000 from UT Austin and $75,000 from SwRI per year.
The Energize Program will accept proposals until June 1. Awards will be announced in July, and funding will be distributed in September.
SwRI is a leader in energy research solutions that improve the efficiency, performance and safety of energy across fuel cycles and supply chains. Institute researchers are working to improve the efficiency of conventional power generation and aid the integration of renewable resources. SwRI’s work in battery chemistries and electric vehicles has developed new and improved grid-scale energy storage systems. The Institute’s San Antonio campus is home to the Supercritical Transformational Electric Power (STEP) Pilot Plant, a 10-megawatt supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) facility designed to demonstrate the next generation of higher-efficiency, lower-cost electric power technology.
For more information, ontact Joanna Quintanilla, +1 210 522 2073, Communications Department, Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Road, San Antonio, TX 78238-5166.