Total Energies Joins UT Energy Institute as Newest Industry Partner

Total Energies, a global leader in providing affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy, is joining the advisory board of The University of Texas at Austin’s Energy Institute. The company will help guide the university’s energy research, innovation, and education efforts across campus. Using its real-world experience, TotalEnergies will support early-stage research through the Strategic Energy Seed Grant Program, which funds projects and encourages collaboration among UT’s energy researchers.

Total Energies, a global leader in multi-energy solutions, has joined The University of Texas at Austin as its newest industry partner. This collaboration marks a significant step in advancing energy research, innovation, and education, aligning with both organizations' commitment to sustainable and reliable energy solutions.​

As part of this partnership, TotalEnergies will serve on the Energy Institute's advisory board, contributing its real-world expertise to guide UT's strategic initiatives in energy research. The company will also play a pivotal role in the Strategic Energy Seed Grant Program, a funding opportunity designed to catalyze collaborations across UT’s extensive energy research ecosystem. This program aims to surface innovative ideas from faculty, staff, and students, accelerating the translation of research into practical applications that benefit society.​

Brian Korgel, director of the Energy Institute and Rashid Engineering Regents Chair Professor in the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, emphasized the importance of such collaborations:

"We work with our industry partners to help surface the most vibrant and innovative ideas from our faculty, staff, and students doing cutting-edge research in energy, helping to speed translation of these ideas to real-world applications that benefit society as rapidly as possible."

Total Energies' partnership with UT Austin reflects its growing presence in the United States and its dedication to multi-energy solutions, including renewables, carbon storage, hydrogen, and liquefied natural gas (LNG). The company's commitment to adapting its portfolio to address climate change while maintaining energy reliability and affordability aligns with the Energy Institute's mission.​

Lotfi Hedhli, CEO & President at TotalEnergies EP Research & Technology USA, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration:

"Collaborating with the Energy Institute at UT Austin allows us to tap into a unique community of world-class researchers and forward-looking students. We are excited to contribute to and benefit from the Energy Institute’s bold, interdisciplinary approach to energy systems research, and their strong focus on projects related to low-carbon power, electrification, and computational science."

The Energy Institute at UT Austin serves as a convener of expertise, bringing together over 450 faculty and staff researchers to address pressing energy challenges. It fosters collaborations with government agencies, startups, and industry leaders to drive innovation in energy systems. The Institute's initiatives, such as UT Energy Week and the UT Energy Symposium, provide platforms for knowledge exchange and engagement with the broader energy community.​

This partnership with TotalEnergies adds to the Energy Institute's growing list of industry collaborators, including Chevron, Shell, ExxonMobil, and ConocoPhillips. These partnerships enhance the Institute's capacity to support high-impact research and education programs that combine technical excellence with real-world relevance.

Through this collaboration, TotalEnergies and the Energy Institute aim to drive advancements in sustainable energy solutions, contributing to the global effort to address climate change and ensure energy security.​

For more information about the Energy Institute’s partnership opportunities, The partnership provides funding that supports advanced research, new educational programs, and community outreach efforts. These resources help UT lead the way in developing solutions to the world’s biggest energy and climate challenges. As the global energy landscape shifts—with governments and businesses working to deliver clean, affordable, secure, and reliable energy—UT is positioning itself at the center of this transformation. In the coming years, the university will work closely with industry leaders to drive innovation, inspire important conversations, prepare future leaders, and conduct impactful research across all areas of energy.

visit: https://energy.utexas.edu/partnership