Prince Aleta, a doctoral student in environmental engineering, is advancing a groundbreaking
approach to combat climate change by developing electrochemical technology that captures
carbon dioxide directly from seawater while simultaneously producing clean hydrogen.
He is leading a DOE National Energy Technology Lab–funded project focused on modular electrochemical carbon capture from marine environments, addressing one of the most promising yet underexplored frontiers in climate mitigation. By designing and prototyping bench-scale electrochemical cells using advanced manufacturing techniques, Prince is creating scalable solutions that could transform how we approach both carbon removal and renewable energy generation.
Prince's innovative approach to seawater-based carbon capture has demonstrated exceptional commercial viability, earning his team (ECHO) $50,000 across major competitions. The technology won first place at the 2023 UH Energy-Chevron Energy Transition Innovation Challenge and the 2024 EnergyTech University Prize Bonus Prize, competing against 225 teams from 117 schools nationwide. Most recently, the team advanced to the prestigious 2025 Rice Business Plan Competition and earned top-5 finalist recognition at the 2025 TEX-E Prize pitch competition during CERAWeek, one of the energy industry's most influential gatherings.
Prince's research excellence has earned him the UH Chevron Energy Graduate Fellows Award (2024–2025), a $12,000 fellowship recognizing outstanding energy research, and the TEX-E Fellowship, where he serves as UH student liaison connecting Greentown Labs, MIT, and Texas universities. His leadership potential was further recognized through selection for the Gastech 2024 Conference Future Leaders Program, where he joined 200 global young energy pioneers to engage with industry leaders on energy transition challenges.
Beyond his research achievements, Prince actively shapes the UH energy community as Chair of Programming for the UH Energy Coalition, where he leads the planning and execution of high-impact, multidisciplinary energy events and networking activities. He is also a member of the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, inducted for ranking in the top one-fifth of his graduate class.
His impactful research and entrepreneurial leadership embody the spirit of UH Energy, driving innovation, collaboration, and a sustainable energy future through ocean-based climate solutions.