Congratulations. You have reached the website of the Smart and ZerO-Carbon Energy Analytics and Research (SOAR) Lab at the University of Houston. This Lab is directed by Dr. Jian (Jason) Shi at the University of Houston. SOAR was founded in 2018.

SOAR is dedicated to developing innovative optimization and machine learning algorithms that enhance energy security and affordability, ensuring reliable access to energy while supporting a sustainable energy transition.

"The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has confirmed that 2024 is the warmest year on record, with the past ten years 2015-2024 are the ten warmest years on record. The global average surface temperature was 1.55 °C (with a margin of uncertainty of ± 0.13 °C) above the 1850-1900 average (i.e., pre-industrial level)." [Source: WMO]

"Energy Transition is Not the Rival of Energy Security" - Fatih Birol, the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA)

Fossil fuels are NOT going away at any time soon: Fossil fuels currently meet around 80% of the world's primary energy use. Many developing countries are dependent on consuming fossil fuels, where security of supply and stable prices are critical for rising populations and increased prosperity.

However, by strategically investing in renewable energy sources and innovative technologies, it is possible to achieve a balanced approach that ensures a reliable and cost-effective energy supply while progressing toward net-zero emissions.

"The transition to net zero will not be linear." — Shell's Energy Transition Strategy 2024

• Climate ambition must be reconciled with energy equity: While high-income nations focus on rapid decarbonization, many lower-income and energy-insecure regions still struggle to meet basic energy needs. Overly rigid emissions controls risk entrenching global disparities unless frameworks incorporate development-stage differentiation and support mechanisms for distributed, low-carbon access.

• Affordability shocks can destabilize clean energy momentum: Transition pathways that rely heavily on electrification, carbon pricing, and rapid infrastructure turnover can drive up short-term energy costs, disproportionately affecting vulnerable households and politically fragile economies. Without deliberate policy design—such as cross-subsidies, social tariffs, or demand-side flexibility—rising costs can erode public support and delay investment.

• System resilience and emissions reduction must be co-optimized: Reducing emissions without simultaneously ensuring grid readiness, flexible capacity, and reliable storage can compromise energy security, particularly in regions facing volatile demand or weather-driven intermittency. Engineers and planners must adopt adaptive strategies that account for regional load growth, infrastructure lag, and the dynamic coupling between climate resilience and energy system stability.

Houston: The Present and Future Energy Capital of the World

At the center of the global energy landscape, Houston is where the most influential leaders, investors, technologists, and policymakers of the world’s energy industry come together to figure out energy challenges and solutions. 

UH and SOAR lab are strategically positioned to play a crucial role in fulfilling the mission of becoming the nation's "ENERGY UNIVERSITY".  

"The Lone Star State is showing the world how to power a clean tomorrow...Energy transition breakthroughs will come from the Silicon Valley of energy, Houston" — Bill Gates, CeraWeek 2024.

If you are passionate about what we do - contact us via: jshi14 [at] uh.edu or jshi23 [dot] uh [at] gmail.com (preferable).

YOU can make a difference in our climate!