The next generation of energy researchers and policymakers are embracing next generation energy work. Victoria Farella and Carlisle Shore, both juniors at Carolina, work as interns at the North Carolina Collaboratory.
Farella and Shore presented at a recent Sustainability Coalition meeting, where environmentally focused student organizations and staff share updates.
In 2023, the North Carolina General Assembly allocated $15 million in state funding to the Collaboratory to be used for next-generation energy and research development. This funding allowed the group to continue building capacity for the energy transition and spur economic development across the state in the energy and industrial sectors.
As interns, Farella and Shore spend time on energy research and policy projects. The work directly relates to their current interests and career goals.
“There’s a lot that must be done before you can break ground on energy projects,” said Shore. “I’ve been able to look at what goes into drafting environmental policy and understanding how funding is allocated.”
Driving Innovative Decision Making
The next-gen energy funding aims to identify and execute research and take advantage of economic development opportunities. In alignment with this, Farella and Shore shared the Collaboratory’s five next-gen focus areas: Battery value chain and next generation storage, grid resilience, machine learning algorithms, nuclear energy and the UNC Cogeneration Plant.
North Carolina is especially key in the electric vehicle battery value chain. That’s because in the western part of the state, a 25-mile-long ore belt is rich in lithium, a major component of EV car batteries. The Collaboratory supports work by Drew Coleman, chair of the UNC Environment, Energy and Ecology Program (E3P). Watch the lightning talk he gave at our 2023 Sustainability Research Symposium.
But the research isn’t just taking place at Carolina. Farella and Shore have worked with researchers at North Carolina State University and UNC Greensboro.
“The research conducted by academic professionals extends beyond academia,” said Farella. “They are delivering real-world applications for communities, private sector stakeholders and lawmakers. This sets the Collaboratory apart from others.”
Working with Outreach Director Steve Wall, the interns are also identifying areas for future research, like clean hydrogen energy research and alternative fuel sources. And because the Collaboratory also receives funding to develop innovative technologies and infrastructure solutions, as well as public health and medical research, there’s never a dull moment at the Collaboratory.
“One of my most memorable experiences so far was getting to sit in on a discussion just days after Hurricane Helene made landfall,” said Farella. “I saw a plan of action come together among researchers, grid modelers and stakeholders in just 30 minutes.”