Future Energy Needs in Texas guide research and planning

UT Energy Week 2026 brought researchers, industry leaders, policymakers and students together for five days of panels on nuclear education, geothermal power, AI data centers and system-level planning tools. Presenters described growing nuclear programs, geothermal work for on-site generation, and the COMPASS Consortium's framework for coordinating power, water and land use.

UT Energy Week 2026 convened five days of panels, keynotes and competitions focused on the state’s future energy needs. The event was co-hosted by The University of Texas at Austin’s Energy Institute and the Kay Bailey Hutchison Energy Center and brought together researchers, industry, policymakers and students. Topics included nuclear research and education, geothermal options for large power users, artificial intelligence infrastructure and critical minerals. Presenters highlighted research and partnerships aimed at informing how Texas meets rising energy demand. Key points: - The weeklong program addressed multiple themes, including nuclear power, geothermal energy, AI/data center infrastructure and critical minerals. - Derek Haas said nuclear education at UT has expanded rapidly, from classes that once struggled to meet minimum enrollment to waitlisted courses and cross-disciplinary partnerships. - Ning Lin described the COMPASS Consortium and its system-of-systems framework for aligning power, water, land and community factors when planning large-load growth such as data centers. - Ken Wisian discussed recent geothermal advances and noted geothermal’s potential for on-site power generation at data centers, citing research on viability and subsurface energy harvesting. - President Jim Davis and alumnus Rudy Garza discussed the need for diversified systems to support reliability, while energy reporter Andy Uhler shared community reporting from rural areas about new energy developments. Summary: Presentations showcased expanding education programs and research that participants reported could inform planning for Texas’s growing energy needs. Speakers described ongoing studies on nuclear training, geothermal development for on-site generation, and system-level tools for siting and resilience, and they reported continued collaboration between university, industry and government partners as a next step.