University of Houston joins Texas push to become a nuclear energy powerhouse

The University of Houston is joining a statewide campaign to turn Texas into a hub for next-generation nuclear power as electricity demand from data centers, manufacturing and population growth strains the grid.

Why it matters: Houston built its energy dominance around oil and gas, but UH's entry into the Texas Nuclear Alliance could help the region compete for research funding, the school announced Monday.

• It could also help the area compete for high-skilled jobs and advanced manufacturing expected to accompany a state-backed nuclear expansion.

State of play: UH will contribute to the alliance nuclear and fusion research, advanced manufacturing expertise, workforce training and technology commercialization.

• The university says the partnership will draw on UH Energy, the Texas Center for Superconductivity and the Advanced Manufacturing Institute.
• UH also leads the Texas Consortium for Fusion Energy, which connects universities, national laboratories and businesses working to develop a domestic fusion supply chain.

Context: The Texas Nuclear Alliance is an industry advocacy association founded in 2022 after the deadly Texas winter storm of 2021.

• The group describes itself as Texas' only industry association devoted exclusively to nuclear technology.
• It advocates for policy changes, educates the public and recruits industry, academic and government partners around its goal of making Texas the "Nuclear Capital of the World."

Zoom in: UH says researchers from across the university will work to move nuclear technologies out of laboratories and into commercial use.

Zoom out: Texas has already created a state office and a $350 million development fund to encourage advanced-reactor projects, nuclear supply-chain manufacturing and workforce development.

• The Electric Reliability Council of Texas has warned that electricity demand is accelerating as data centers and other large industrial users seek connections to the grid.
• Its planning forecast has projected that summer peak demand could surpass 150 gigawatts by 2030, including roughly 50 gigawatts associated with large-load growth.

What they're saying: "The University of Houston is uniquely positioned to contribute through world-class research and deep industry partnerships that help transform breakthrough discoveries into (real-world) solutions," Ramanan Krishnamoorti, UH's vice president of energy and innovation, said in a statement.