Month: January 2026

AAPG leads education and dialogue around how subsurface expertise can underpin future power generation at its recent Subsurface Energy to Power Workshop in Houston, Texas.

TULSA, Okla., Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As global power and electricity needs skyrocket due to electrification, data center growth, and the adoption of AI-driven technology, scientists are working rapidly to expand grids and meet projected demand. BP suggests global electricity consumption could rise more than 40 percent by 2035 and double by 2050. Data center demand alone could nearly double by 2030, according to S&P Global.

To help drive solutions, AAPG recently hosted the Subsurface Energy to Power Workshop in Houston, Texas. The two-day workshop was designed to lead education and dialogue around how subsurface expertise can underpin future power and electricity growth, uniting geoscientists, drilling and subsurface engineers, technologists, operators, and energy industry CEOs in insightful, cross-disciplined discussion.

Uniting Leaders from Every Geoscience Arena

The program brought together experts from nearly every geoscience application, including geothermal, hydrogen, natural gas, lithium, uranium, and more, to explore how the energy industry can ensure secure and reliable power at scale.

“As electricity and power demand grow at an unprecedented pace, the role of geoscience has never been more critical,” said AAPG Executive Director Tom Wilker. “AAPG serves as a leading voice for geoscience, ensuring that subsurface science informs the solutions needed to deliver secure, reliable energy worldwide.”

Future development and infrastructure needs for energy and power will require a cross-disciplinary approach. Workshop speakers included leaders from oil field services, academia, government, major oil, geoscience, banking and finance, geothermal and renewable energy, energy data and analytics firms, and more. Companies represented included: Amazon Web Services, Equinor, Enverus, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, GeoPrime Energy, Geothermal Gradient, Renewable Energy Institute, Rystad Energy, SLB, University of Alabama, The University of Texas at Austin, and Woodside.

Fostering Cutting-Edge Thought Leadership

Discussions and panels spanned the lifecycle of electrical grid expansion or generation projects, incorporating technical geoscience at every turn. Resources like geothermal, natural gas, hydrogen, lithium, and emerging power pathways all depend on subsurface understanding.

“This workshop focused on the applied geoscience that underpins technologies such as geothermal energy, subsurface energy storage, lithium, and uranium. Just as importantly, it provided an educational forum to share best practices, case studies, and emerging research, helping equip geoscientists and engineers with the skills needed to support power systems,” says Susan Nash, director of education, research, and innovation at AAPG.

Workshop themes included:

• Rapid conversion to electricity for natural gas, geothermal, hydrogen, and lithium energy
• Project types and development
• Resource characterization and mapping for natural gas, geothermal, lithium, hydrogen, uranium, and sand
• Business and financing of energy projects
• Technology integration for geothermal, hydrogen generation, and conversion of oil and gas wells
• Land, legal, permits, tax credits, and other considerations
• Data centers and community-scale solutions and deployment strategies
• AI, environment, and water management

Having an energy-inclusive solution with a deep regard for water and the environment is a unique approach that AAPG is well-positioned to provide. Technical highlights from the workshop included a presentation from Kirsten Marcia, president and CEO of DEEP Earth Energy Production, which featured a hybrid geothermal and natural gas solution to generate energy in Saskatchewan; talks covering small modular nuclear, to which uranium in Texas will be key; and how AI can and will be used as a means of environmental protection in the future.

AAPG’s efforts to forge and lead credible, technically grounded conversations and education at the intersection of subsurface and power are underpinned by support from some of the most influential companies in the energy sector.

Thank you to the event sponsors: GSI Environmental, Halliburton, AAPG Foundation, AAPG Divisions, AIPG-TX, Altair, Barrell Energy, Petrabytes, and Rock Flow Dynamics.

AAPG plans to host similar cross-disciplinary workshops to guide industry thought leadership and solve global challenges, including Opportunities with Legacy Assets: AAPG’s Fourth Annual Orphan, Abandoned, Idle, and Marginal Wells Conference in February, and its AI and Machine Learning in Subsurface Workshop scheduled for summer 2026.

For more information on the Subsurface to Power Workshop or to sponsor AAPG events, webinars, or workshops, contact media@aapg.org.

About AAPG

Founded in 1917, the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) is one of the world’s largest geoscience communities, committed to advancing the understanding of the Earth and supporting the professionals who apply that knowledge across energy, environment, and public benefit. AAPG’s members work across every part of the subsurface, from oil and gas to geothermal, nuclear waste storage, CCUS, groundwater, mining, major infrastructure development, and more. Through technical research, education, global events, renowned publications such as the Bulletin, and student and early-career programs, AAPG helps build and sustain the workforce that makes modern energy systems possible and ensures the world has the geoscience expertise it needs for decades to come.

Media Contact: media@aapg.org
Nicole Braley
Head of Marketing & Member Engagement
American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/electricity-consumption-to-rise-40-by-2035-aapg-unites-geoscience-disciplines-to-explore-real-world-scalable-solutions-302663969.html

SOURCE AAPG

AAPG leads education and dialogue around how subsurface expertise can underpin future power generation at its recent Subsurface Energy to Power Workshop in Houston, Texas.

TULSA, Okla., Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As global power and electricity needs skyrocket due to electrification, data center growth, and the adoption of AI-driven technology, scientists are working rapidly to expand grids and meet projected demand. BP suggests global electricity consumption could rise more than 40 percent by 2035 and double by 2050. Data center demand alone could nearly double by 2030, according to S&P Global.

To help drive solutions, AAPG recently hosted the Subsurface Energy to Power Workshop in Houston, Texas. The two-day workshop was designed to lead education and dialogue around how subsurface expertise can underpin future power and electricity growth, uniting geoscientists, drilling and subsurface engineers, technologists, operators, and energy industry CEOs in insightful, cross-disciplined discussion.

Uniting Leaders from Every Geoscience Arena

The program brought together experts from nearly every geoscience application, including geothermal, hydrogen, natural gas, lithium, uranium, and more, to explore how the energy industry can ensure secure and reliable power at scale.

“As electricity and power demand grow at an unprecedented pace, the role of geoscience has never been more critical,” said AAPG Executive Director Tom Wilker. “AAPG serves as a leading voice for geoscience, ensuring that subsurface science informs the solutions needed to deliver secure, reliable energy worldwide.”

Future development and infrastructure needs for energy and power will require a cross-disciplinary approach. Workshop speakers included leaders from oil field services, academia, government, major oil, geoscience, banking and finance, geothermal and renewable energy, energy data and analytics firms, and more. Companies represented included: Amazon Web Services, Equinor, Enverus, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, GeoPrime Energy, Geothermal Gradient, Renewable Energy Institute, Rystad Energy, SLB, University of Alabama, The University of Texas at Austin, and Woodside.

Fostering Cutting-Edge Thought Leadership

Discussions and panels spanned the lifecycle of electrical grid expansion or generation projects, incorporating technical geoscience at every turn. Resources like geothermal, natural gas, hydrogen, lithium, and emerging power pathways all depend on subsurface understanding.

“This workshop focused on the applied geoscience that underpins technologies such as geothermal energy, subsurface energy storage, lithium, and uranium. Just as importantly, it provided an educational forum to share best practices, case studies, and emerging research, helping equip geoscientists and engineers with the skills needed to support power systems,” says Susan Nash, director of education, research, and innovation at AAPG.

Workshop themes included:

• Rapid conversion to electricity for natural gas, geothermal, hydrogen, and lithium energy
• Project types and development
• Resource characterization and mapping for natural gas, geothermal, lithium, hydrogen, uranium, and sand
• Business and financing of energy projects
• Technology integration for geothermal, hydrogen generation, and conversion of oil and gas wells
• Land, legal, permits, tax credits, and other considerations
• Data centers and community-scale solutions and deployment strategies
• AI, environment, and water management

Having an energy-inclusive solution with a deep regard for water and the environment is a unique approach that AAPG is well-positioned to provide. Technical highlights from the workshop included a presentation from Kirsten Marcia, president and CEO of DEEP Earth Energy Production, which featured a hybrid geothermal and natural gas solution to generate energy in Saskatchewan; talks covering small modular nuclear, to which uranium in Texas will be key; and how AI can and will be used as a means of environmental protection in the future.

AAPG’s efforts to forge and lead credible, technically grounded conversations and education at the intersection of subsurface and power are underpinned by support from some of the most influential companies in the energy sector.

Thank you to the event sponsors: GSI Environmental, Halliburton, AAPG Foundation, AAPG Divisions, AIPG-TX, Altair, Barrell Energy, Petrabytes, and Rock Flow Dynamics.

AAPG plans to host similar cross-disciplinary workshops to guide industry thought leadership and solve global challenges, including Opportunities with Legacy Assets: AAPG’s Fourth Annual Orphan, Abandoned, Idle, and Marginal Wells Conference in February, and its AI and Machine Learning in Subsurface Workshop scheduled for summer 2026.

For more information on the Subsurface to Power Workshop or to sponsor AAPG events, webinars, or workshops, contact media@aapg.org.

About AAPG

Founded in 1917, the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) is one of the world’s largest geoscience communities, committed to advancing the understanding of the Earth and supporting the professionals who apply that knowledge across energy, environment, and public benefit. AAPG’s members work across every part of the subsurface, from oil and gas to geothermal, nuclear waste storage, CCUS, groundwater, mining, major infrastructure development, and more. Through technical research, education, global events, renowned publications such as the Bulletin, and student and early-career programs, AAPG helps build and sustain the workforce that makes modern energy systems possible and ensures the world has the geoscience expertise it needs for decades to come.

Media Contact: media@aapg.org
Nicole Braley
Head of Marketing & Member Engagement
American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/electricity-consumption-to-rise-40-by-2035-aapg-unites-geoscience-disciplines-to-explore-real-world-scalable-solutions-302663969.html

SOURCE AAPG

• HyveGeo named a winner of FoodTech Challenge, a global competition to identify and scale the world’s promising agri-tech solutions
• UAE startup one of four global winners selected from more than 1,200 entries across 113 countries, following final pitch to judges during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
• Winners share a US$2 million prize and will receive ecosystem support to develop and scale their solutions from the UAE to global markets

ABU DHABI, UAE, Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — HyveGeo, an Abu Dhabi-based startup that uses engineered biochar to convert arid desert soil into fertile farmland, has been announced as one of four winners of the FoodTech Challenge during a live finale at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. The company was selected from a pool of ten global finalists chosen from an initial 1,215 submissions across 113 countries.

The FoodTech Challenge identifies and scales the world’s most promising agri-tech solutions to boost food production and reduce food loss and waste in arid and increasingly climate-stressed environments. Now in its third edition, the competition is organized by the International Affairs Office at the UAE Presidential Court and Tamkeen, in partnership with the Gates Foundation, ne’ma (The UAE’s National Food Loss and Waste Initiative) – and Silal, a leading UAE agri-food company.

HyveGeo, founded in 2023 by a team of scientists and researchers, will share a USD 2 million prize and receive further in-kind support to develop and scale their pioneering solution from the UAE’s thriving innovation ecosystem to the world. This includes research and technical support, pilot opportunities, market access, and incubation and acceleration services.  

Former UAE winners of the FoodTech Challenge have gone on to sign commercial agreements with international brands and expand operations to new markets.

 

 

About HyveGeo:

• Challenge: Around 100 million hectares of healthy land are lost to degradation every year, impacting global crop yields and accelerating climate change
• Mission: Harness wasted resources to turn arid soil into arable land, boosting sustainable local food production while locking away carbon
• Innovative solution: Converts agricultural waste into carbon-rich biochar, supercharging it with microalgae to cut soil regeneration time from five years to one month
• Future plans: Scale across Abu Dhabi’s 20,000 farms, with the ultimate goal of restoring 10,000 hectares of land and removing 1 million tons of CO₂ from the atmosphere by 2035

Abdulaziz Bin Redha, Founder and CEO of HyveGeo, commented on the win: “Winning the FoodTech Challenge is a strong validation of our work. For us, this isn’t a finish line but a responsibility to deploy faster and contribute meaningfully to food security in arid environments and the global south. The UAE has provided the right environment to test and scale solutions designed for arid regions, and we are proud to represent that innovation journey.

“Our solution is engineered specifically for desert conditions, and it meets multiple needs at once: waste conversion, soil regeneration, water efficiency, and carbon removal, through a single integrated system. The funding and support from the FoodTech Challenge will allow us to expand our operations, strengthen our partnerships with municipalities, waste operators, land managers, and agricultural stakeholders, and accelerate the deployment of our solutions the UAE and other arid and climate-stressed regions.”

HyveGeo was named a winner of the FoodTech Challenge alongside global startups Permia Sensing, Akorn Technologies and Flybox, whose operations span Asia, Africa and South America. They follow in the footsteps of previous FoodTech Challenge winners, who have gone on to raise more than $48 million in follow-on funding, launch more than 50 pilot projects, and successfully localize their technologies for the UAE, before scaling across similar environments.

To learn more about the FoodTech Challenge and this year’s winners, visit: www.foodtechchallenge.com.

About the FoodTech Challenge (FTC)

The FoodTech Challenge (FTC) is a global competition that identifies and supports leading early-stage, tech-driven solutions poised to transform food systems in arid, hot, and increasingly challenging environments. The competition is delivered by the International Affairs Office at the Presidential Court of the UAE and Tamkeen in partnership with ne’ma, the UAE’s Food Loss and Waste Initiative; Silal, the UAE’s leading agtech company; Gates Foundation, Clinton Global Initiative, and other key partners.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCTWjFBu7ao
Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2864209/HyveGeo_1.jpg
Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2864210/HyveGeo_2.jpg

 

 

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/homegrown-startup-hyvegeo-named-winner-of-foodtech-challenge-with-pioneering-solution-to-green-the-desert-302664352.html

SOURCE HyveGeo

SÃO PAULO, Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — TAGAT Foodtech announces its official launch on January 19, 2026, consolidating a complete ecosystem of solutions for the animal protein supply chain. The new brand builds on the strategic union between EDATA and SAG, announced on June 12, 2025, and marks the start of the merge process with the launch of the new company.

The company expands beyond the traditional software model to operate as a one-stop shop that centralizes animal protein production needs—from farm to processing. The platform is designed to connect processes and data, incorporating technology layers such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and IoT to support efficiency and compliance.

This positioning is supported by a strategy of ongoing expansion and innovation. The group strengthened its customer base with the acquisition of AVECOM and established a Research & Innovation Business Unit that operates as an R&D hub to anticipate and accelerate sector demands and continuously evolve the TAGAT ecosystem.

TAGAT Foodtech brings together two long-standing industry trajectories. The business combines the expertise of SAG (26 years in agribusiness), founded by Sidiney Tartari, now CCO of TAGAT Foodtech, and EDATA (35 years in global industry).

“We moved from being providers of isolated systems to delivering an integrated ecosystem. TAGAT Foodtech offers the breadth needed to simplify the customer’s operation, ensuring data governance, traceability, and access to innovation through a single solution,” says Edgard Trevisan, founder of EDATA and CEO of TAGAT Foodtech.

The ecosystem supports poultry, swine, beef cattle, and aquaculture supply chains, with modular expansion according to each operation’s needs.

About TAGAT Foodtech

TAGAT Foodtech is an integrated solutions ecosystem that connects processes and data across the animal protein supply chain—from farm to processing. Created from the union of EDATA and SAG, the company combines modular management and innovation to deliver efficiency, traceability, and compliance.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tagat-foodtech-launches-as-a-one-stop-shop-ecosystem-for-the-animal-protein-supply-chain-302664199.html

SOURCE TAGAT Foodtech