Pickering Energy Partners (PEP) created the new role of director of technical resources to support the company and its investment clients in research and scientific analysis, according to a company press release on Oct. 25.

Through the new role, PEP hopes to more thoroughly determine the commercial viability and potential returns on its clients' energy transition-related endeavors, pairing the scientific analysis with its established strategic and financial services. 

Dr. Nathan Welch has been appointed the first director and will work across all PEP's businesses to help guide clients through the technical considerations of the energy transition.

"Our goal is to provide clients with the most comprehensive energy investment advice possible," chief investment officer Dan Pickering commented in the release. “Adding a technical expert in carbon capture and subsurface permeability like Dr. Welch to our team not only supports the PEP mission, but also highlights the importance of future proofing deals through more scientific methods."

Prior to joining PEP, Welch was part of an international team of scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where he helped develop climate change mitigation solutions and improve U.S. energy security. His findings have been published in peer-reviewed journals.

Welch also worked in the Qatar Carbonates and Carbon Storage Research Center at Imperial College London, where he also earned his Ph.D. in chemical engineering.

In addition to the introduction of the new technical director role, PEP will also be hosting its first Hydrogen Mini Conference on Nov. 9-10. During the conference, clients and key constituents can learn about ways that hydrogen can help investors and the energy industry decarbonize multiple sectors and reach their net-zero targets.

Center for Houston's Future CEO Brett Perlman will give the keynote address and discuss the center's proposed hydrogen hub, which would have the potential to aid the abatement of 220 megatons of global CO2 emissions.

“By bringing investors, industry and technical expertise together via our Hydrogen Mini Conference, PEP delivers in depth industry insights to our clients. Hydrogen is one of several areas we believe needs to be closely looked at and understood in the future of energy,” PEP president Walker Moody said.