Day 1 >> R&D Showcase
The Future Grid 26 R&D Showcase highlights industry leading research, infrastructure, and academic partnerships powering the next generation of grid innovation. Participants will gain direct exposure to the region's premier energy research facilities, see demonstrations of emerging technologies, and identify pathways for translating academic breakthroughs into scalable solutions for FGN partners.
Part 1 - UNC Charlotte's EPIC
Location:
UNC Charlotte's Energy Production & Infrastructure Center
8700 Phillips Road, Charlotte, NC 28205
Date:
January 21, 2026
Time:
11:00AM - 1:15PM
Capacity:
60
About:
Lab to Market: Testbeds and Adoption at Scale showcases how UNC Charlotte’s Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC) helps bridge the gap between research, validation, and real-world deployment. This session highlights how university testbeds and industry partnerships accelerate time to market while strengthening collaboration with corporate and utility partners committed to modernizing the grid.
10:30
Charter bus departs Uptown Charlotte
11:00
Arrive at EPIC - Welcome & Introductions
Dr. Rob Cox, Executive Director, UNC Charlotte Energy Production and Infrastructure Center
11:15
Tour of the EPIC Facility
11:55
Lunch in the High Bay
12:05
Connecting Research, Development, and Workforce
Dr. Deb Wojcik, Partnerships & Impact Advisor, Joules Accelerator
12:10
Student Spotlight
Tyler Ratcliffe, Senior Undergraduate Student in Economics, Energy, and the Environment, Duke University
12:20
Energy R&D Pitch: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Dr. Noah Kittner, Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, UNC
12:30
Energy R&D Pitch: North Carolina State University
Ken Dulaney, Director of Industry and Innovation, FREEDM Systems Center
12:40
Energy R&D Pitch: Duke University
Dr. Dalia Patiño-Echeverri, Associate Professor, Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment
12:50
R&D Translation Case Study: Scenergy
1:00
Introduction: Carolinas Engine for Grid Modernization
Dr. John Daniels, Vice Chancellor for Research, UNC Charlotte
1:15
Depart for Mt. Holly
Part 2 - Duke Energy's Mt. Holly Microgrid
Location:
Duke Energy Mt. Holly Training Center
1900 North Main Street, Mt. Holly, NC 28120
Date:
January 21, 2026
Time:
2:00PM - 4:00PM
Capacity:
60
About:
Innovating at the Edge of the Grid: Utility Scale Demonstration of Novel Grid Tech offers a firsthand look at Duke Energy’s Mt. Holly Microgrid facility and its advanced capabilities for testing, validating, and accelerating emerging technologies. This session highlights how utility-scale demonstration environments shorten deployment cycles and enable innovators to bring resilient, scalable solutions to the grid faster.
2:00
Arrive & Check In
2:15
Welcome & Introductions
2:30
Tour of Mt. Holly Microgrid
3:15
Pilot Case Study
3:35
4:45
Return to Uptown Charlotte