Tag: PR Newswire

FREMONT, Calif., Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Power Knot, the market leader in onsite organic waste management solutions, announced the successful installation of a fully integrated food waste processing system at a catering facility at one of the world’s busiest airports. The system includes the SBT-140 bin tipper, BCG-315 grinder, FSC-500 screw conveyor, and an LFC-2000 biodigester. This new system enables efficient handling of the facility’s high volume of food waste.

The catering facility is one of the world’s largest catering operations and serves hundreds of thousands of meals daily, generating significant quantities of organic waste from the preparation of all these meals. To address this challenge, Power Knot deployed a comprehensive system that automates and accelerates food waste handling from end to end.

At the center of the installation is the high-capacity LFC-2000 biodigester, capable of digesting thousands of kilograms of food waste per day. The SBT-140 bin tipper safely tips the waste into the BCG-315 grinder. The grinder chops up the waste which is then sent 5 m through the FSC-500 to the digester.

“This project highlights Power Knot’s ability to deliver integrated solutions for major food service operations,” said Iain Milnes, President of Power Knot. “With our technologies, catering facilities can process food waste more sustainably while at the same time reducing costs and improving operations.”

Since its installation last month, the customer typically deposits 80 bin loads a day and the machine is digesting an average of 3000 kg per day. The integrated food waste management system supports long-term environmental goals by reducing the volume of waste sent to landfills and lowering greenhouse gas emissions associated with conventional disposal methods.

About Power Knot

Power Knot LLC designs, develops, and manufactures innovative on-site waste management solutions that help organizations reduce their environmental impact. With a focus on sustainability, Power Knot’s products are used globally across various industries, including hospitality, food service, and industrial sectors. Our technologies, including nine biodigester models processing from 10 kg (25 lb) to 6000 kg (13,200 lb) of food waste daily, are reliable, proven, and offer a payback period typically under two years. All products are designed and manufactured in Silicon Valley, California.

For more information, visit powerknot.com.

CONTACT: Cecillia Wong, Power Knot, 4088898433, cecillia.wong@powerknot.biz

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/power-knot-installs-integrated-food-waste-management-system-at-airport-catering-facility-302664799.html

SOURCE Power Knot LLC

ATLANTA, Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Captain Planet Foundation today announced the launch of the 2026 Green Heart STEM Challenge, welcoming its largest cohort to date with nearly 5,000 students, 132 educators, and 71 schools across 11 states participating.

The Green Heart STEM Challenge is delivered through a hybrid model, with in-person programming in metro Atlanta, Houston, and Miami, alongside virtual participation that enables schools in additional states to engage fully. This structure supports deep, place-based learning in core communities while expanding national access.

Designed for students in grades 6–9, the Challenge blends STEM learning with real-world problem solving, guiding students to identify environmental challenges in their communities and develop practical, implementable solutions. It follows a rotating, four-year cycle focused on EARTH, WIND, FIRE, and WATER, ensuring students explore a broad range of environmental systems and solutions over time.

The 2026 Challenge features EARTH, with students exploring issues such as soil health, tree canopy, composting, and food waste. Educators onboard students to the Challenge platform, where teams form, research, and begin building solutions rooted in local needs.

“What sets this Challenge apart is that students are mentored and funded to implement their winning ideas!” said Leesa Carter-Jones, President and CEO of Captain Planet Foundation. “They’re not just learning about environmental challenges; they’re designing solutions and being held accountable for real outcomes.”

Since its launch, the Challenge has shown growing, measurable impact. In recent cycles, hundreds of student teams have progressed from ideas to formal project plans, with an increasing percentage advancing to implementation. Past winners have secured additional funding, expanded beyond their schools, and built long-term community partnerships, including teams in Atlanta and Houston continuing work well beyond the Challenge timeline. Across cohorts, student-led projects have tackled composting and food waste, erosion control and reforestation, water quality, repair-and-reuse systems, and circularity efforts reducing fast fashion and single-use waste.

The Challenge is supported by Accenture, Amazon, Delta Air Lines, Georgia Natural Gas, Green Mountain Energy, and Susan J. Klein, among others. Accenture employees also serve as volunteer mentors and project managers, helping student teams refine ideas, develop budgets, and prepare for implementation through the Challenge’s Idea Incubator.

Entering its fourth year, the Green Heart STEM Challenge continues to show what’s possible when students are trusted with real responsibility and supported to turn ideas into action.

About Captain Planet Foundation
Captain Planet Foundation is an award-winning U.S.-based nonprofit that empowers young people to be problem-solvers for the planet. Over the past 35 years, more than 1.7 million children have directly participated in CPF programs, supporting more than 3,700 projects and impacting 11.4 million young people worldwide. Founded in 1991 by Ted Turner and Barbara Pyle, CPF advances environmental education through programs including Project Learning Garden, Planeteer Alliance, and the Green Heart STEM Challenge. Learn more at www.captainplanetfoundation.org.

Media Contact
Laura Henson
HVM Communications
917-539-7812
407861@email4pr.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/green-heart-stem-challenge-launches-2026-program-engaging-nearly-5-000-students-in-community-driven-climate-solutions-302664471.html

SOURCE Captain Planet Foundation

Bitty & Beau’s Coffee is celebrating 10 years of employing hundreds of people with disabilities

WILMINGTON, N.C., Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Bitty & Beau’s Coffee, a nationally recognized coffee company built on the belief that everyone belongs, will celebrate its 10-year anniversary on Sunday, January 25, marking a decade of influence on how people with disabilities are seen and employed in the workplace.

Founded in 2016 by Amy and Ben Wright in honor of their two youngest children, Bitty and Beau, who have Down syndrome, Bitty & Beau’s Coffee was created to place people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in highly visible, customer-facing roles. What began as a single coffee shop has grown into a national brand with locations across the United States, employing hundreds of individuals and challenging long-held assumptions about disability and work.

The mission was shaped by a stark reality: nearly 80% of people with disabilities in the United States are unemployed. Rather than operating as a charity or program, Bitty & Beau’s Coffee functions as a for-profit, customer-facing business where people with disabilities are employed in visible, everyday roles.

Over the past decade, Bitty & Beau’s Coffee has received national recognition for advancing inclusive employment and shifting public perception around disability in the workplace.

To commemorate the anniversary, Bitty & Beau’s will host a 10 Year Celebration from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at its flagship Wilmington location, 4949 New Centre Drive. The event will feature live music and a DJ, a dance floor, complimentary coffee, and opportunities to meet the team members who bring the brand’s mission to life.

“Ten years ago, we were simply trying to build a place our kids could belong,” said co-founder Amy Wright. “We didn’t know what it would become. This anniversary reminds me that when people are trusted with real work and visible roles, it doesn’t just change a business—it changes how people see one another.”

Over the past decade, Bitty & Beau’s Coffee has become a reference point in national conversations about employment, dignity, and the future of work. While the January 25 celebration will take place in Wilmington, the milestone reflects a growing national movement. Supporters can support the business online at www.bittyandbeauscoffee.com.

Event Details 

What: Bitty & Beau’s Coffee 10-Year Anniversary Celebration
When: Sunday, January 25, 2026 | 1:00–4:00 p.m.
Where: 4949 New Centre Drive, Wilmington, NC
Details: Live DJ and dance floor, complimentary coffee, meet the team

Media Contact: Amy Wright, pressinquiry@bandbco.com, (910) 232-5376

About Bitty & Beau’s Coffee

Bitty & Beau’s Coffee is a specialty coffee company with locations across the United States. Founded in 2016 by Amy and Ben Wright, the company employs hundreds of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and operates as a for-profit business. Bitty & Beau’s Coffee is headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina.

For more information, visit www.bittyandbeauscoffee.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bitty–beaus-coffee-celebrates-10-year-anniversary-advancing-disability-inclusion-in-the-workplace-302664121.html

SOURCE Bitty & Beau’s Coffee

Bitty & Beau’s Coffee is celebrating 10 years of employing hundreds of people with disabilities

WILMINGTON, N.C., Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Bitty & Beau’s Coffee, a nationally recognized coffee company built on the belief that everyone belongs, will celebrate its 10-year anniversary on Sunday, January 25, marking a decade of influence on how people with disabilities are seen and employed in the workplace.

Founded in 2016 by Amy and Ben Wright in honor of their two youngest children, Bitty and Beau, who have Down syndrome, Bitty & Beau’s Coffee was created to place people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in highly visible, customer-facing roles. What began as a single coffee shop has grown into a national brand with locations across the United States, employing hundreds of individuals and challenging long-held assumptions about disability and work.

The mission was shaped by a stark reality: nearly 80% of people with disabilities in the United States are unemployed. Rather than operating as a charity or program, Bitty & Beau’s Coffee functions as a for-profit, customer-facing business where people with disabilities are employed in visible, everyday roles.

Over the past decade, Bitty & Beau’s Coffee has received national recognition for advancing inclusive employment and shifting public perception around disability in the workplace.

To commemorate the anniversary, Bitty & Beau’s will host a 10 Year Celebration from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at its flagship Wilmington location, 4949 New Centre Drive. The event will feature live music and a DJ, a dance floor, complimentary coffee, and opportunities to meet the team members who bring the brand’s mission to life.

“Ten years ago, we were simply trying to build a place our kids could belong,” said co-founder Amy Wright. “We didn’t know what it would become. This anniversary reminds me that when people are trusted with real work and visible roles, it doesn’t just change a business—it changes how people see one another.”

Over the past decade, Bitty & Beau’s Coffee has become a reference point in national conversations about employment, dignity, and the future of work. While the January 25 celebration will take place in Wilmington, the milestone reflects a growing national movement. Supporters can support the business online at www.bittyandbeauscoffee.com.

Event Details 

What: Bitty & Beau’s Coffee 10-Year Anniversary Celebration
When: Sunday, January 25, 2026 | 1:00–4:00 p.m.
Where: 4949 New Centre Drive, Wilmington, NC
Details: Live DJ and dance floor, complimentary coffee, meet the team

Media Contact: Amy Wright, pressinquiry@bandbco.com, (910) 232-5376

About Bitty & Beau’s Coffee

Bitty & Beau’s Coffee is a specialty coffee company with locations across the United States. Founded in 2016 by Amy and Ben Wright, the company employs hundreds of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and operates as a for-profit business. Bitty & Beau’s Coffee is headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina.

For more information, visit www.bittyandbeauscoffee.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bitty–beaus-coffee-celebrates-10-year-anniversary-advancing-disability-inclusion-in-the-workplace-302664121.html

SOURCE Bitty & Beau’s Coffee

Bitty & Beau’s Coffee is celebrating 10 years of employing hundreds of people with disabilities

WILMINGTON, N.C., Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Bitty & Beau’s Coffee, a nationally recognized coffee company built on the belief that everyone belongs, will celebrate its 10-year anniversary on Sunday, January 25, marking a decade of influence on how people with disabilities are seen and employed in the workplace.

Founded in 2016 by Amy and Ben Wright in honor of their two youngest children, Bitty and Beau, who have Down syndrome, Bitty & Beau’s Coffee was created to place people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in highly visible, customer-facing roles. What began as a single coffee shop has grown into a national brand with locations across the United States, employing hundreds of individuals and challenging long-held assumptions about disability and work.

The mission was shaped by a stark reality: nearly 80% of people with disabilities in the United States are unemployed. Rather than operating as a charity or program, Bitty & Beau’s Coffee functions as a for-profit, customer-facing business where people with disabilities are employed in visible, everyday roles.

Over the past decade, Bitty & Beau’s Coffee has received national recognition for advancing inclusive employment and shifting public perception around disability in the workplace.

To commemorate the anniversary, Bitty & Beau’s will host a 10 Year Celebration from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at its flagship Wilmington location, 4949 New Centre Drive. The event will feature live music and a DJ, a dance floor, complimentary coffee, and opportunities to meet the team members who bring the brand’s mission to life.

“Ten years ago, we were simply trying to build a place our kids could belong,” said co-founder Amy Wright. “We didn’t know what it would become. This anniversary reminds me that when people are trusted with real work and visible roles, it doesn’t just change a business—it changes how people see one another.”

Over the past decade, Bitty & Beau’s Coffee has become a reference point in national conversations about employment, dignity, and the future of work. While the January 25 celebration will take place in Wilmington, the milestone reflects a growing national movement. Supporters can support the business online at www.bittyandbeauscoffee.com.

Event Details 

What: Bitty & Beau’s Coffee 10-Year Anniversary Celebration
When: Sunday, January 25, 2026 | 1:00–4:00 p.m.
Where: 4949 New Centre Drive, Wilmington, NC
Details: Live DJ and dance floor, complimentary coffee, meet the team

Media Contact: Amy Wright, pressinquiry@bandbco.com, (910) 232-5376

About Bitty & Beau’s Coffee

Bitty & Beau’s Coffee is a specialty coffee company with locations across the United States. Founded in 2016 by Amy and Ben Wright, the company employs hundreds of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and operates as a for-profit business. Bitty & Beau’s Coffee is headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina.

For more information, visit www.bittyandbeauscoffee.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bitty–beaus-coffee-celebrates-10-year-anniversary-advancing-disability-inclusion-in-the-workplace-302664121.html

SOURCE Bitty & Beau’s Coffee

BRENTWOOD, Tenn., Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Brookdale Senior Living, the nation’s largest operator of senior living communities, announces that it raised more than $1.2 million in 2025 in support of the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s®. This year’s total brings Brookdale’s 18-year fundraising impact to more than $24 million in the fight to end Alzheimer’s disease.

Brookdale business partners, associates, residents, and families across the country participated in Walk to End Alzheimer’s events, reinforcing Brookdale’s longstanding commitment to raising awareness, supporting research, and advancing care for those affected by Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Funds were also raised through company-wide initiatives, community events, resident-led efforts, and the annual Golf to End Alzheimer’s fundraiser.

“We are incredibly proud of what our Brookdale business partners, residents, associates, and families have accomplished in the fight against Alzheimer’s,” Brookdale Chief Executive Officer Nick Stengle said. “Every dollar raised represents hope for continued research, greater awareness, and a future where Alzheimer’s no longer defines so many lives.”

Brookdale’s ongoing support of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s aligns with its focus on dementia care innovation, education, and advocacy. The company provides quality, person-centered memory care programs to support residents living with Alzheimer’s and dementia, while also providing resources and education for families navigating the disease.

In 2014, Brookdale became the first corporate team to generate $1 million in a single calendar year to support the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. This feat earned the organization the prestigious Diamond National Team status.

For more information about Brookdale, visit www.brookdale.com.

For more information on the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s®, visit www.alz.org/walk.

Contact: Brookdale Media Relations, media.relations@brookdale.com, 615-564-8666

Brookdale Senior Living Inc. is the nation’s premier operator of senior living communities. With 584 communities across 41 states and the ability to serve approximately 51,000 residents as of December 31, 2025, Brookdale is committed to its mission of enriching the lives of seniors through compassionate care, clinical expertise, and exceptional service. The Company, through its affiliates, operates independent living, assisted living, memory care, and continuing care retirement communities, offering tailored solutions that help empower seniors to live with dignity, connection, and purpose. Leveraging deep expertise in healthcare, hospitality, and real estate, Brookdale creates opportunities for wellness, personal growth, and meaningful relationships in settings that feel like home. Guided by its four cornerstones of passion, courage, partnership, and trust, Brookdale is committed to delivering exceptional value and redefining senior living for a brighter, healthier future. For more information, visit brookdale.com or connect with Brookdale on Facebook or YouTube.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/brookdale-raises-1-2-million-for-the-alzheimers-association-walk-to-end-alzheimers-surpassing-24-million-since-2008–302664438.html

SOURCE Brookdale Senior Living

BRENTWOOD, Tenn., Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Brookdale Senior Living, the nation’s largest operator of senior living communities, announces that it raised more than $1.2 million in 2025 in support of the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s®. This year’s total brings Brookdale’s 18-year fundraising impact to more than $24 million in the fight to end Alzheimer’s disease.

Brookdale business partners, associates, residents, and families across the country participated in Walk to End Alzheimer’s events, reinforcing Brookdale’s longstanding commitment to raising awareness, supporting research, and advancing care for those affected by Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Funds were also raised through company-wide initiatives, community events, resident-led efforts, and the annual Golf to End Alzheimer’s fundraiser.

“We are incredibly proud of what our Brookdale business partners, residents, associates, and families have accomplished in the fight against Alzheimer’s,” Brookdale Chief Executive Officer Nick Stengle said. “Every dollar raised represents hope for continued research, greater awareness, and a future where Alzheimer’s no longer defines so many lives.”

Brookdale’s ongoing support of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s aligns with its focus on dementia care innovation, education, and advocacy. The company provides quality, person-centered memory care programs to support residents living with Alzheimer’s and dementia, while also providing resources and education for families navigating the disease.

In 2014, Brookdale became the first corporate team to generate $1 million in a single calendar year to support the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. This feat earned the organization the prestigious Diamond National Team status.

For more information about Brookdale, visit www.brookdale.com.

For more information on the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s®, visit www.alz.org/walk.

Contact: Brookdale Media Relations, media.relations@brookdale.com, 615-564-8666

Brookdale Senior Living Inc. is the nation’s premier operator of senior living communities. With 584 communities across 41 states and the ability to serve approximately 51,000 residents as of December 31, 2025, Brookdale is committed to its mission of enriching the lives of seniors through compassionate care, clinical expertise, and exceptional service. The Company, through its affiliates, operates independent living, assisted living, memory care, and continuing care retirement communities, offering tailored solutions that help empower seniors to live with dignity, connection, and purpose. Leveraging deep expertise in healthcare, hospitality, and real estate, Brookdale creates opportunities for wellness, personal growth, and meaningful relationships in settings that feel like home. Guided by its four cornerstones of passion, courage, partnership, and trust, Brookdale is committed to delivering exceptional value and redefining senior living for a brighter, healthier future. For more information, visit brookdale.com or connect with Brookdale on Facebook or YouTube.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/brookdale-raises-1-2-million-for-the-alzheimers-association-walk-to-end-alzheimers-surpassing-24-million-since-2008–302664438.html

SOURCE Brookdale Senior Living

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.

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SOURCE HyveGeo