Research

The Eagle Ford Shale project explores the intersection of energy, water, and economic development in one of the most significant oil and gas reserves in the continental U.S. As San Antonio transitions toward cleaner energy sources, such as natural gas, wind, and solar, this initiative emphasizes the importance of developing a long-term strategy to manage increasing water demands and reduce emissions. By addressing the complex challenges and opportunities presented by the Eagle Ford Shale, the project seeks to position San Antonio as a national leader in resilience energy development and regional planning. 

This project aims to support CPS Energy’s long-term carbon reduction strategy by identifying and evaluating innovative technologies for carbon capture, storage, sequestration, and re-utilization. UTSA’s Carbon Team conducted a comprehensive literature review and developed the Integrated Carbon Solutions Index Library to assess current industry solutions. The resulting report outlines leading technologies and company profiles in the carbon sector. These findings will inform a strategic roadmap for validating and implementing technology within the CPS Energy service area. Ultimately, the project aims to establish a system-wide carbon budget and optimize the management of air pollutant emissions.  

Collaborators: University of Siena, Dr. Juan Gomez, Texas Energy Institute 

This project aims to support CPS Energy’s long-term carbon reduction strategy by identifying and evaluating innovative technologies for carbon capture, storage, sequestration, and re-utilization. UTSA’s Carbon Team conducted a comprehensive literature review and developed the Integrated Carbon Solutions Index Library to assess current industry solutions. The resulting report outlines leading technologies and company profiles in the carbon sector. These findings will inform a strategic roadmap for validating and implementing technology within the CPS Energy service area. Ultimately, the project aims to establish a system-wide carbon budget and optimize the management of air pollutant emissions. 

Collaborators: University of Siena, Dr. Juan Gomez, Texas Energy Institute 

The Eagle Ford Shale project explores the intersection of energy, water, and economic development in one of the most significant oil and gas reserves in the continental U.S. As San Antonio transitions toward cleaner energy sources, such as natural gas, wind, and solar, this initiative emphasizes the importance of developing a long-term strategy to manage increasing water demands and reduce emissions. By addressing the complex challenges and opportunities presented by the Eagle Ford Shale, the project seeks to position San Antonio as a national leader in resilience energy development and regional planning. 

This project aims to facilitate the widespread adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles in San Antonio, thereby reducing air pollutants and enhancing air quality. Key research areas include identifying early adopters, setting charging technology standards, designing utility tariffs, and establishing public infrastructure guidelines. The team also examines municipal policies and incentive structures to promote the use of electric vehicles. Following a 2011 workshop, 11 EV charging stations were installed across UTSA campuses, leading to the development of a research roadmap and action plan for pilot and demonstration projects. 

This project utilizes online tools and storytelling to connect San Antonio residents with energy-saving strategies informed by local research and personal experiences. The Texas Energy Institute shares data-driven content, such as the 2014 blog “Winter Energy Bill Woes: Do You Know WATTs Up?” to explain how weather impacts energy bills and offer practical tips for reducing consumption, like adjusting thermostat settings and using high-efficiency bulbs. This initiative supports the Texas Energy Institute’s mission to increase energy literacy and promote behavior change through accessible, engaging digital content. 

The Texas Energy Institute's Nexus Lab explores the critical interdependence between energy and water systems in South Central Texas. With rising water demands from power generation and oil exploration, the project brings together stakeholders to develop resilient, data-driven strategies that ensure long-term resource resilience and regional prosperity. 

This research evaluates key areas of solar energy integration within the CPS Energy service area, focusing on performance evaluations, demand response design to address intermittency, and reliability analysis for the Blue Wing Solar farm. The project also examines energy storage technologies and economics, as well as innovative forecasting methodologies to support the deployment of large-scale photovoltaics. 

Collaborators: 
Mo Jamshidi, Ph.D., Brian Kelley, Ph.D., Ram Krishnan, Ph.D., Hariharan Krishnaswami, Ph.D., Rolando Vega, Ph.D., P.E. (UTSA & Texas Energy Institute) 

A collaboration among the Texas Energy Institute, the UTSA College of Engineering, the Southwest Research Institute, and VI Design Group, this project installed a 313 kW distributed solar energy system across UTSA's 1604 and downtown campuses. The system includes 1228 solar panels, 21 inverters, and 18 smart combiner boxes, with real-time monitoring available via an online platform. The goal is to produce 242 MWh of energy annually, saving UTSA an estimated $65,000 per year.  

Collaborators: 
State Energy Conservation Office, VI Design Group, Brian Kelley, Ph.D., Hariharan Krishnaswami, Ph.D., Mo Jamshidi, Ph.D., Juan Gomez, Ph.D., P.E., Gerardo Trevino, Rolando Vega, Ph.D., P.E. 

At UTSA, we are dedicated to harnessing solar energy for a brighter future. One of the challenges with solar power is accurately predicting solar irradiance, which impacts both power generation and demand. To address this, we are developing advanced forecasting tools to predict solar energy availability with high temporal and spatial resolution. 

Our tools are designed to enhance solar plant operations and maintenance (O&M), making solar power a more reliable and dispatchable resource. By improving forecasting accuracy, we aim to enhance the value of solar energy for electric utilities, enabling them to better manage load demands. 

Key Initiatives: 

• Day-Ahead Forecasting Product 
• Intra-hour Forecasting Product 
• Sky Imaging Forecasting Technology Product 

 We are working with CPS Energy, the largest municipally owned utility in the U.S., on one of the nation’s largest solar forecasting projects. UTSA is committed to advancing solar energy research, ensuring it delivers the highest return on investment for San Antonio, Texas, and beyond. 

Collaborators: 
Rolando Vega, Ph.D., P.E., Hariharan Krishnaswami, Ph.D., Mo Jamshidi, Ph.D., Sos Agaian, Ph.D., Yashar Sahraei-Manjili, Jaro Nummikoski, Alejandro Camargo, Johanna Hansen, Robert A. Onufrei (Texas Energy Institute, UTSA) 

Overview: 
Buildings contribute 20% of global gas emissions, and building-integrated photovoltaic (PV) systems can meet a building's energy needs. Adding a solar tracker can boost PV efficiency by up to 40%. The development of an autonomous soft-robotic solar tracking system for building-integrated PV aims to enhance energy efficiency while adapting to occupant preferences. 

Why a Soft Robotic Solar Tracker? 

• Lightweight with a higher power-to-weight ratio 
• Muscle-like actuation for flexibility 
• Easy and cost-effective fabrication  

Collaborators: 

• Wei Gao (PI) – Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering (Mechanical Design and Materials) 
• Pranav A. Bhounsule (Co-PI) – Assistant Professor of Electrical & Computer and Mechanical Engineering (Control and Robotics) 

UTSA leads in wind energy research, with over 300 publications, 12 textbooks, and more than 25 grants. Our multidisciplinary approach enhances the lifecycle and operations of wind farms, creating value for the industry. We apply cutting-edge research in systems of systems, artificial intelligence, reliability, fatigue and fracture, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and cloud computing to optimize the real-time operations of dynamic wind energy systems. 

Core Competencies: 

• Real-Time CFD through Cloud Computing 
• Wind Turbine Simulation with Aero-Servo-Elastic Codes 
• Accelerated Life Testing & Material Degradation 
• Fatigue & Fracture Techniques from Aerospace 
• Prognostics & Prediction of Drive-train Failures 
• Statistical Optimization of Systems 
• Self-Learning Systems via AI & Smart Controls 

Our integrated approach ensures a comprehensive and dynamic solution for the lifecycle and operations of wind farms. 

Collaborators: 
Rolando Vega, Ph.D., Harry Millwater, Ph.D., Kiran Bhaganagar, Ph.D., Victor Maldonado, Ph.D., Arturo Montoya, Ph.D., Bing Dong, Ph.D., Mo Jamshidi, Ph.D., David Han, Ph.D. (UTSA) 

Summary: 
Supercritical Carbon Dioxide (sCO2) cycles offer several advantages for renewable energy generation: 

• Higher Efficiency: Up to 50% 
• Smaller Mechanical Components: 30% reduction 
• Lower Cost of Electricity: 20-30% reduction 
• Ideal for Renewable Energy: Reduces air pollutant emissions 

UTSA’s multidisciplinary team is well-equipped to advance sCO2 technology, offering CPS Energy a chance to lead in this next-generation renewable energy field.  

Collaborators: 

• Christopher Combs & Kiran Bhaganagar – Department of Mechanical Engineering, UTSA 
• Karan Bhanot – Department of Finance, UTSA 
• Sara Ahmed – Department of Electrical Engineering, UTSA 
• Jacob Delimont – Propulsion and Energy Section, SwRI 

This project develops a mobile Augmented Reality (AR) program to teach energy conservation in secondary and public schools. By integrating AR technology into real-world environments, students engage with energy concepts more dynamically than traditional methods, such as lectures or textbooks. The application offers a playful and interactive platform for visualizing abstract concepts, motivating students to engage in problem-solving. 

The focus is on mechanical cooling systems, renewable energy, and the energy-water nexus—topics that meet both regional and national educational needs. An innovative tool for simulating passive solar dynamics is also available for download. 

Collaborators: 
Afamia Elnakat, Ph.D., Carmen Fies, Ph.D. (Texas Energy Institute & UTSA) 

The UTSA SmartLiving campus focuses on eliminating energy waste and enhancing energy efficiency through advanced technology and active control systems. Serving as a national model, it integrates innovative solutions to research the intersection of behavioral sciences and technology across six of UTSA’s seven colleges. 

Key Features: 

• Multisite Solar-Farm: Three solar installations across the 1604 and downtown campuses, featuring 1228 panels, 21 inverters, 18 smart combiner boxes, and a real-time monitoring website for research on solar power and energy variability. 
• Electric Vehicle Charging: 11 Level III EV charging stations from Coulomb Technologies are available at both campuses. 
• Energy Monitoring: Real-time monitoring tracks energy consumption across the downtown campus, with a focus on HVAC, lighting, and plug loads. 

Upcoming Goals: 

• LED Lighting in downtown campus buildings for energy savings. 
• Carbon Monitoring Sensors in classrooms for optimal cooling. 
• Thermal Camera Sensors to study heating and cooling patterns in the downtown cafeteria. 

Collaborators: 
Michael Cation, SmarteBuilding, Juan Gomez, Ph.D., P.E., Rolando Vega, Ph.D., P.E., Texas Energy Institute 

Summary: 
 Supercritical Carbon Dioxide (sCO2) cycles offer several advantages for renewable energy generation: 

• Higher Efficiency: Up to 50% 
• Smaller Mechanical Components: 30% reduction 
• Lower Cost of Electricity: 20-30% reduction 
• Ideal for Renewable Energy: Reduces air pollutant emissions 

UTSA’s multidisciplinary team is well-equipped to advance sCO2 technology, presenting CPS Energy with the opportunity to lead in this next-generation renewable energy field.  

Collaborators: 

• Christopher Combs & Kiran Bhaganagar – Department of Mechanical Engineering, UTSA 
• Karan Bhanot – Department of Finance, UTSA 
• Sara Ahmed – Department of Electrical Engineering, UTSA 
• Jacob Delimont – Propulsion and Energy Section, SwRI