The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded the Grid Modernization Engine in the Carolinas in July 2026. Joules Accelerator is one of the grant partners.

Collaboration has always been essential to solving complex energy challenges. We're honored to be part of the Carolinas Grid Engine alongside the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and an outstanding group of regional partners, including South Carolina Research Authority, Clemson University, E4 Carolinas, and York Technical College.

This is one of NSF's flagship Regional Innovation Engines, and may award up to $160 million over 10 years to make North and South Carolina a hub for modernizing America's electric grid. Out of 300+ teams nationwide, the Carolinas Engine made it to the final 12, and then to an award.

Joules is co-lead on technology translation — running the work that's been our mission from day one: getting real grid technology out of the lab and into the field. We'll scale our Adoption Readiness Level framework, direct voucher funding to startups, and build the place-based projects that turn promising ideas into deployed infrastructure.

Years of relationship-building, collaboration, and trust made this possible. To our partners at utilities, startups, manufacturers, universities, and across the industry — thank you.

We're excited to contribute our expertise as this important work begins.