Electricity demand in the United States is accelerating at the fastest pace in decades as new manufacturing and data centers drive rapid load growth. Yet the country lacks the critical infrastructure and technologies needed to meet the demand. Many of the nation’s transformers are more than 40 years old, and the U.S. increasingly relies on China for core grid hardware, creating significant vulnerabilities for national energy security.
The NSF Grid Modernization Engine in the Carolinas, led by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, is rapidly accelerating grid technologies to meet the nation's need for modernized, reliable, and secure grid transmission and energy generation.
While grid modernization efforts are underway across the country, the Carolinas are uniquely positioned to lead. With significant industry investment from partners like Duke Energy and Siemens, the NSF Grid Modernization Engine is leveraging the region’s advanced manufacturing base and world-class testbeds to create co-development pathways that cut time to market and speed the deployment of critical grid infrastructure. Combined with new training programs and career pathways, these efforts are strengthening U.S. energy security and driving economic growth across the region.
