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Voices from the University of Texas labs
January 30th, 2020
These are some of the projects taking shape in the labs of the University of Texas at Austin, where a select group of students is working on potential energy solutions of tomorrow.
The students, more formally known as University of Texas Energy Institute Emerging Technology Fellows, are supported by ExxonMobil and are looking to solve big energy challenges, including how to provide more energy with fewer emissions.
The fellows program provides research funding and an external industrial perspective through the involvement of mentors, many of whom work in ExxonMobil’s R&D labs.
After they graduate, fellows pass the baton to the next generation of aspiring energy scientists, ensuring a continuous supply of fresh thinking.
Here are five fellows who are leading the next generation of university research.
A new class of researchers
Meet the UT Energy Institute Emerging Technology Fellows. These graduate students each have a hand in progressing the world's energy transition with the support of ExxonMobil. Listen to five current and former fellows explain how their work is transforming our energy future.
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Palash Acharya, Mechanical engineering, Ph. D.CO2 hydrates: Palash is working on freezing CO2 by trapping carbon dioxide in blocks of ice-like structures, called hydrates, for long-term storage. His research focuses on creating hydrates that freeze more quickly and efficiently than ever while capturing CO2. This technology could one day be a part of the carbon capture portfolio.
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Emily Beckham, Science and geology, MASubsurface CO2 capture: Emily, a recent UT graduate, identified reservoirs that are suitable for CO2 storage. After identifying those reservoirs, she developed pathways to efficiently flow carbon dioxide into them.
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Sam Johnson, Mechanical engineering, Ph. D.Grid instability: Focusing on the Texas energy grid, Sam explores the effect renewables have on grid stability. He's expanding knowledge of energy infrastructure by working with both researchers and grid operators to support a reliable transition to lower-emission power.
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Prasanna Krishnamurthy, Petroleum engineering, Ph. D.Modeling CO2: Prasanna's research explores large- and small-scale carbon capture and storage. Specifically, he builds physical reservoir models that use 3D printed rocks to mimic the movement of CO2 inside the earth. He works with other engineers and geologists to apply his findings to actual sites.
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Jenny Ryu, Petroleum engineering, MAInjecting CO2: Jenny is a recent UT grad. As a fellow, she developed geomechanical models to answer questions like how much carbon dioxide reservoirs can hold and how best to inject CO2.
Explore more
What an energy efficient grid could look like
Two years ago, ExxonMobil and the U.S. Department of Energy’s national laboratories – including the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) and National Energy Technology Lab (NETL) – expanded their work together to research advanced technologies with the potential to help societies achieve a lower-carbon future. Within the partnership’s purview is a project on how to optimize the energy grid to meet future energy demands while lowering emissions with the most cost-effective approach.Research partners Energy Factor
Researching a sustainable energy solution with metal-organic frameworks
A new family of materials could help transform how the world reduces emissions.Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, and ExxonMobil have developed a new material called metal-organic frameworks, or MOFs.
Carbon capture Energy Factor
Collaborating with leading universities to meet global energy demand
ExxonMobil has worked with dozens of leading universities and academic research institutions around the world as part of our commitment to finding meaningful and scalable solutions to meet global energy demand and reduce emissions.Research partners Article
ExxonMobil expands agreement with Global Thermostat, sees promise in direct air capture technology
IRVING, Texas – ExxonMobil and Global Thermostat have expanded their joint development agreement following 12 months of technical evaluation to determine the feasibility and potential scalability of Global Thermostat’s technology that captures carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from the air.News News releases
A medical school's safe return
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of schools around the world, medical student Deep Patel wanted certainty that he and his classmates could return to the classroom and clinical environments for their final year at Rowan University in Camden, New Jersey. He knew that they’d need essential personal protective equipment (PPE) to make this possible.Research partners Energy Factor
Across the world, building our energy future
Rooted in science, innovation at ExxonMobil is sparked by thousands of engineers and scientists – including 2,500 PhDs – working to scale promising ideas into viable, industrial-grade products. That dedication influences the entire business, from catalysts that help make refineries more energy efficient to longer-term research that scales up low-emission technologies.Research partners Energy Factor
ExxonMobil, Georgia Tech and Imperial College London publish joint research on potential breakthrough in membrane technology
IRVING, Texas – Scientists from ExxonMobil, the Georgia Institute of Technology and Imperial College of London have published joint research on potential breakthroughs in a new membrane technology that could reduce emissions and energy intensity associated with refining crude oil. Laboratory tests indicate the patent-pending membrane could be used to replace some heat-intensive distillation at refineries in the years ahead.News News releases
Working together on tomorrow's energy
ExxonMobil and researchers from Georgia Tech and Imperial College London are working together on membrane technology research that could reduce carbon dioxide emissions and lower the energy required during the process of refining crude oil.Energy efficiency Energy Factor
Onsite with the energy innovators
ExxonMobil is partnering with scientists and engineers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Laboratories to research affordable, scalable, energy solutions with fewer emissions.Research partners Energy Factor
Advancing Science: Partnering with the Department of Energy’s National Labs
ExxonMobil will work with the Department of Energy’s National Labs to bring lower emission technologies to commercial scale. This work includes collaborative research in areas such as biofuels, carbon capture and storage, and lifecycle analysis.Research partners Article
Energy goes back to school
For most college students it’s easy to measure success – it’s a high GPA, a great score on a midterm or securing a job after graduation.Research partners Energy Factor
Partnering for efficiency
When it comes to carbon capture and storage (CCS) research, scientists focus on a key word: efficiency.Carbon capture Energy Factor
ExxonMobil, FuelCell Energy expand agreement for carbon capture technology
IRVING, Texas and DANBURY, Connecticut – ExxonMobil and FuelCell Energy, Inc. said today they have signed a new, two-year expanded joint-development agreement to further enhance carbonate fuel cell technology for the purpose of capturing carbon dioxide from industrial facilities.News News releases
India: Innovating in one of the world's largest energy markets
Driven by expanding populations and improving living standards, India and China will account for about half of the world’s energy demand in 2040.Research partners Energy Factor
ExxonMobil and Mosaic Materials to explore new carbon capture technology
IRVING, Texas – ExxonMobil and Mosaic Materials said today that they have entered into an agreement to explore the advancement of breakthrough technology that can remove carbon dioxide from emissions sources.News News releases
ExxonMobil is scouting for a few good startups
The number of world-changing ideas out there is staggering. Corralling the ones that can spark new forms of energy is equally challenging.Energy tech centers Energy Factor
Partnering with outside minds to transform energy
To meet the world’s ever-growing energy demand and reduce the risk of climate change, ExxonMobil is forging research partnerships across industries and academia. Two areas of focus include the development of low-emission biofuels and of cost-effective carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology.Research partners Energy Factor
A partnership for scaling lower-emission innovations
Finding new energy solutions requires the skills and input from many scientists and engineers. That’s why ExxonMobil, in its search to develop lower-emission technologies, has created a new partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).Research partners Energy Factor
ExxonMobil to invest up to $100 million on lower-emissions R&D with U.S. National Labs
IRVING, Texas – ExxonMobil said today it will invest up to $100 million over 10 years to research and develop advanced lower-emissions technologies with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory and National Energy Technology Laboratory.News News releases
ExxonMobil to join Oil and Gas Climate Initiative
IRVING, Texas — ExxonMobil today said it will join the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI), a voluntary initiative representing 13 of the world’s largest oil and gas producers working collaboratively toward solutions to mitigate the risks of climate change.News News releases
ExxonMobil invests $1 billion per year in energy research, emerging technologies
ExxonMobil believes human ingenuity and innovation are critical to supplying the fuels and products that consumers need in a manner that is safe for our employees, communities and the environment.Research partners Article
Keeping up the pressure
ExxonMobil and the University of Texas team up to research a clean energy source deep under the sea.Energy tech centers Energy Factor
ExxonMobil and MagnaBond to collaborate on new well integrity evaluation technologies
SPRING, Texas — ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company announced today that it has signed a three-year joint development agreement with MagnaBond, LLC to develop new technologies that could enhance cost-effective evaluation of well cementing, casing and tubing.News News releases
ExxonMobil partners with Singapore universities to focus on energy innovation and lower-emissions technologies
SINGAPORE — ExxonMobil announced today that it is partnering with two Singapore universities to open a Singapore Energy Center in 2019 to focus on new discoveries and significant improvements to technologies that could improve energy production, and enhance energy efficiency and other efforts to mitigate the risk of climate change.News News releases