The following article, announcing the prestigious ranking of NC State as an Energy Elite college by the American Energy Society, first appeared on NC State’s Energy Collaborative news site on September 24th. Drs. Joe DeCarolis and Jeremiah Johnson from our CCEE department helped launch the Energy Collaborative in 2017. The center was initiated to help the NC State community collaborate, develop, share, and communicate energy-related research across campus and beyond.  The Energy Collaborative includes faculty and staff across multiple colleges within NC State.  October 19-23 has been designated Energy Week and the Energy Collaborative has planned a series of energy-related events.

NC State University has been named among 10 “Energy Elite” colleges and universities by the American Energy Society (AES).

The report, Top Energy Universities 2020, cited NC State as “the most accomplished and least recognized program in the country.”

AES reviewed 187 U.S.-based research colleges and universities with energy programs and selected ten top-performing institutions.

“There are a number of great programs in this survey, but the ten elites stand apart,” said Eric J. Vettel, president of AES. “They all have a breadth of excellent science and engineering programs, and they often integrate policymaking and the humanities into their technical disciplines. They take a systems approach to energy that balances key issues such as sustainability and decarbonization. They benefit from visionary, effective and egalitarian leadership, and this may be their most defining attribute.”

NC State has numerous energy-related degree programs and a strong energy research portfolio, including centers and institutes such as the FREEDM Systems Center. The university’s Energy Collaborative brings together energy-related teaching and research from across NC State’s academic colleges. The NC Clean Energy Technology Center works with government, businesses, and citizens to propel the development and adoption of clean energy technologies, helping to extend the impact of the University’s efforts into the broader community.

The university’s energy impact will be showcased as part of the inaugural NC State Energy Week on Oct. 19-23.  This series of virtual events will increase the visibility of the university’s energy use, research and opportunity to shape a clean energy future.