Two 91破解版 projects were named finalists in the $50 million Gulf Futures Challenge, highlighting 鈥檚 growing role in solving real-world challenges and creating solutions that benefit Texas and inspire coastal communities worldwide.
The prestigious competition, sponsored by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine鈥檚 Gulf Coast Research Program and Lever for Change, seeks bold solutions for critical issues facing the region. The 10 finalists were selected from 164 entries, and all share a common goal of creating safer and more resilient communities where people along the Gulf Coast can live, work and thrive.
鈥淏eing named a finalist for this highly competitive grant underscores the University of Houston鈥檚 role as a leading research institution committed to addressing the most pressing challenges facing our region. This opportunity affirms the strength of our faculty and researchers and highlights 鈥檚 capacity to deliver innovative solutions that will ensure the long-term stability and resilience of the Gulf Coast.鈥�
鈥� Claudia Neuhauser, vice president for research at
Turning Old Oil Platforms into Clean Energy and Marine Habitats
The first project, titled 鈥淩epurposing Petroleum Infrastructure for Sustainable Energy, Food and Critical Minerals,鈥� explores how unused offshore oil and gas platforms can be transformed into tools for environmental and economic benefit. 鈥檚 ROICE program (Repurposing Offshore Infrastructure for Continued Energy) is partnering with the Gulf Offshore Research Institute to demonstrate the effectiveness of repurposing these idle structures to support clean hydrogen production, open ocean aquaculture, continuous data acquisition and critical mineral harvesting.
Launched in 2022, ROICE began as a thought experiment and has grown into an incubation space for researchers to explore ways to repurpose thousands of inactive wells, pipelines and platforms in the Gulf. The goal is to bring significant environmental and economic benefits to coastal communities.
Giving Old Wind Turbine Blades New Life
The second project, 鈥淯pcycling Wind Turbine Blades: Enhancing Coastal Community Resilience and Health,鈥� is a partnership between , Tulane University, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, the city of Galveston and other organizations. The team plans to use old wind turbine blades to build coastal habitats and improve green spaces.
"Coastal communities face escalating threats from climate change 鈥� land erosion, structural corrosion, property damage and negative health impacts,鈥� said Gangbing Song, Moores Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at and the lead investigator for both projects. 鈥淟everaging the durability and anti-corrosive properties of these of decommissioned wind turbine blades, we will build coastal structures, improve green spaces and advance the resilience and health of Gulf Coast communities through integrated research, education and outreach.鈥�
What Happens Next
The finalists, representing the five Gulf Coast states 鈥� Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida 鈥� were chosen based on four key criteria: project impact, bringing knowledge to action, and whether they were innovative and comprehensive in their proposed approaches. Each entry was subject to participatory reviews and multiple rigorous evaluations by experts from science, engineering and medicine. Notably, the University of Houston was one of only a handful of institutions with more than one finalist, underscoring Energy鈥檚 leadership in sustainability and forward-thinking research.
鈥淭he Gulf Futures Challenge finalists exemplify the bold thinking and community-rooted innovation needed to navigate the complex transitions facing our environment, economy and public health,鈥� said Lauren Alexander Augustine, executive director of the Gulf Research Program. 鈥淲e are proud to support their efforts and see them continue to build their ideas into action.鈥�
Each of the finalist teams will receive a project development grant of $300,000 and technical assistance to strengthen their proposals. After submitting revised applications, two winners will be awarded $20 million each to bring their solutions to life. The remaining eight teams will be eligible for up to $875,000 in additional project development support. The winners will be announced in early 2026.
鈥淭he broad range of projects reflected in these bold proposals demonstrate the power that science, engineering and medicine can bring to drive transformative change in the Gulf,鈥� said Marcia McNutt, president of the National Academy of Sciences. 鈥淭he work of these teams will not only advance solutions but also build a more resilient and durable future for Gulf communities.鈥�