Projects

Hitachi Energy, Power Grid Reliability Project

As electricity demand in the United States continues to grow, utilities and grid operators face increasing challenges in maintaining reliable power delivery and high-power quality for customers. Hitachi Energy would like to research the quality of power being delivered in regions with existing and anticipated large-load customers, such as industrial facilities and data centers, and identify factors that can impact grid stability. Students will explore how advanced transmission technologies, including Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS), are used to improve voltage regulation, power flow control, and overall system reliability. The research will also investigate and identify emerging technologies, at both distribution and rack level, that are being developed to address power quality concerns associated with large demand. By connecting technical grid challenges with real-world market trends and regulations, students will gain a deeper understanding of the evolving role of transmission infrastructure in enabling reliable electrification. Findings from this work can help inform future discussions on grid modernization and investment priorities.

Hitachi Energy, Data Center Impact Project

The unprecedented expansion of hyperscale data centers is reshaping electricity demand patterns and influencing energy infrastructure development across the United States. This research topic aims to map existing and planned data center locations, examining their relationship to existing high-voltage transmission networks, energy resources, water availability, and other key siting factors. Students will investigate why certain regions attract large-scale data center development and how these facilities interact with local energy systems. The research will also assess the impacts of data centers on surrounding communities, including effects on land use, natural resources, economic development, and electric grid planning. By studying the intersection of technology growth and energy infrastructure, students will gain insight into one of the most significant drivers of current electricity demand.

NC Clean Energy Technology Center

The Duke Energy Club has an opportunity to partner with the NC Clean Energy Technology Center and its Policy and Markets team to help develop a marketing and business development strategy for DSIRE Insight, a leading source of clean energy policy and regulatory intelligence. The project will focus on expanding the reach and use of DSIRE Insight's flagship 50 States reports, industry-specific data sheets, and customized research consulting services, all of which provide comprehensive analysis of legislative, regulatory, and utility actions across energy technologies and policies. Students will conduct market assessments and analysis, identify new customer segments, evaluate pricing and go-to-market strategies, and develop recommendations to strengthen product positioning and business growth. The team may also contribute to competitive intelligence, product research and development, and the evaluation of new service offerings that address evolving industry needs. This project provides students with hands-on consulting experience at the intersection of clean energy, public policy, and business strategy while working directly with professionals supporting one of the nation's most respected energy policy research organizations. Participants will build valuable skills in market research, strategic analysis, and stakeholder engagement while developing deliverables with real-world impact for a nationally recognized clean energy resource.

Resources for the Future

As mineral supply chain projects expand—from mining and mineral extraction to battery manufacturing—local communities often face significant challenges in understanding technical, legal, and environmental information related to these developments. Limited access to expertise can create power imbalances and hinder communities' ability to negotiate agreements, interpret environmental impacts, and advocate for their interests. This project would develop a blueprint for a university-based center that consolidates resources, expertise, and tools to support communities affected by new mineral supply chain projects. Students would assess existing models and identify the organizational, operational, and funding structures needed to establish and sustain such a center. The project would examine how the model could be adapted to different state contexts, such as Michigan and Arkansas. The resulting blueprint would be designed as a practical foundation for creating a real-world center rather than a purely theoretical exercise.

IETA

As countries begin implementing Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, information about the emerging market for internationally transferred mitigation outcomes (ITMOs) remains scattered across country reporting submissions, government announcements, and crediting program registries, making it hard to see the full picture. The International Emissions Trading Association (IETA), a non-profit representing businesses committed to well-designed carbon markets, would like students to help track these developments and contribute to its public-facing Article 6 trackers. Students will review host country reports and Article 6.2 Letters of Authorisation, gather and verify data from independent crediting program registries, and map the Article 6 pipeline from early bilateral agreements through authorization and transfer. The team will also build data visualizations to present these findings clearly. Students will gain experience in primary-source research, data management, and international climate policy while contributing to a research product used by carbon market practitioners worldwide.

Yotta Energy

Yotta Energy has created Yotta Energy Solutions (YES), a turnkey development entity that coordinates installation, arranges project financing, and provides Energy-as-a-Service solutions for multi-site commercial and industrial customers. YES combines Yotta’s rooftop-integrated solar-plus-storage technology, Yotta Block, with its Yotta Vision asset-management and virtual power plant platform. The company is pursuing both channel partnerships, such as its relationship with Trane, and direct opportunities with large portfolio owners. AutoZone is an active example of this direct strategy, as Yotta holds the customer relationship and is discussing deployments across its buildings. However, YES lacks a documented and prioritized go-to-market strategy for identifying and approaching similar direct portfolio customers. A DECC project team would help segment target markets, analyze decision-makers and procurement processes, evaluate competitors, and identify accounts resembling AutoZone. The team would also develop a prioritized target list, segment-specific value propositions, and an outbound sales playbook for direct Energy-as-a-Service agreements.