rESEArCH HIGHLIGHTS - Charlotte Research Institute - University ...

Building an Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC)preparing for the future in energy supplyThere is little doubt that the supply of national and global energy must rise dramatically during the nextdecade to meet the growing needs of an expanding economy. The fact is, energy supply is directly tiedto economic growth: without an adequate supply of energy, there can be no sustained economic growth.Adding to the current energy crisis is our nation’s aging power infrastructure in need of major upgrades.Charlotte sits prominently within oneof the fastest growing energy marketsin the world — the Southeastern U.S.The need for energy engineers in thisregion and the Southeast has neverbeen more critical. UNC Charlotteand the Charlotte region are poised tobe significant R&D leaders in energyproduction and delivery.Engineering education as well asresearch in energy production andinfrastructure are critical componentsin the creation of sustainable supportfor the energy industry.t h e c a s e f o r e p i c:• The U.S. faces energy supply shortfalls and agingpower infrastructures• Energy engineers are in short supply• The Southeast will be one of the fastest growingenergy markets• Charlotte is an energy industry hub (Duke Energy,Areva, EPRI, Shaw Group, Parsons & othersupporting construction industries)• Engineering education and research is one ofUNC Charlotte’s strengthsAn opportunity in energy educationand research is emerging with thepotential to significantly impact future energy production and delivery needs in the Charlotte region andbeyond. UNC Charlotte, in collaboration with some of Charlotte’s major energy industries, is developingan Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC) to help meet these needs.EPIC will leverage UNC Charlotte’s engineering research and education capabilities and Charlotte’s positionas an energy industry hub. Two of the major industrial sectors in the Charlotte region are the power andconstruction industries, both of which play central roles in the energy enterprise. Charlotte is home to DukeEnergy, AREVA, EPRI, Parsons, the Shaw Group and numerous construction companies. UNC Charlotte’sLee College of Engineering, one of the fastest-growing colleges within the university, is the Charlotteregion’s engineering research muscle andthe leading engineering workforce supplier.“Energy production is an issue of criticalnational importance, and UNC Charlotte andthe Charlotte region is poised to be a major leaderin energy production and delivery.”- Dr. Robert Johnson,Dean, William States Lee College of EngineeringEPIC will involve the college’s Departmentsof Electrical and Computer Engineeringand Civil and Environmental Engineering.Planning is underway for the EPIC researchbuilding on the CRI campus, and fundingfor the design work has been received fromthe State of North Carolina.Visit: http://www.coe.uncc.edu/index.php29Research Highlights 2006-2007