COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Department of Commerce (S.C. Commerce) today shared continued progress in advancing South Carolina’s leadership in energy innovation through SC Nexus for Advanced Resilient Energy (SC NEXUS) and its partnership in the NSF Grid Modernization Engine in the Carolinas (Carolinas Grid Engine). Recognizing the strength of the region’s innovation ecosystem, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded the Carolinas Grid Engine up to $15 million over its first two years, with the potential for as much as $160 million over the next decade based on performance milestones.
Designed to build and scale regional innovation ecosystems across the nation, the NSF Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) program aligns with the mission of South Carolina's statewide Tech Hub, SC NEXUS. A division of S.C. Commerce, SC NEXUS accelerates the ability to develop, test and deploy new technologies that lower industry barriers through research, workforce development and public-private collaboration.
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The Carolinas Grid Engine, spanning 36 counties and led by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with support from more than 100 partners, was selected as one of only 12 new NSF Engines following the competitive national process that attracted nearly 300 letters of intent. The South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA), serving as a core partner, will lead the translation of innovation through cross-sector partnerships, engaging stakeholders to ensure alignment across the energy ecosystem. The award recognizes the complementary assets of South Carolina and North Carolina in advanced energy, research manufacturing and workforce development.
South Carolina plays a foundational role with SC NEXUS' Economic Development through Grid Emulation (EDGE) testbed, led by Clemson University, a founding partner of the Carolinas Grid Engine. Based at Clemson University's Charleston Innovation Campus, the EDGE testbed enables validation and testing of advanced grid technologies at the Dominion Energy Innovation Center (DEIC) using the Duke Energy eGrid – creating a unique environment for industry partners to evaluate next-generation energy solutions.
With support from SC NEXUS, Clemson University has expanded the EDGE testbed’s functionality with a mobile grid emulator that will double DEIC's power rating and expand real-world, on-site testing capabilities across the Southeast. The enhanced infrastructure further increases Duke Energy eGrid's ability to emulate any electrical grid from around the world – accelerating technology validation and commercialization.
The NSF award builds on South Carolina's continued investment in its advanced energy ecosystem. In 2024, SC NEXUS was designated one of 12 Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs to receive implementation funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration, positioning the state as a national leader in resilient energy technologies.
SC NEXUS and the Carolinas Grid Engine will build on this momentum and expand regional collaboration among industry, research institutions and workforce partners. Together, these organizations are accelerating innovation, strengthening domestic energy capabilities and helping move next-generation technologies from research to commercialization – creating new opportunities for investment, business growth and high-quality jobs across the Carolinas.
To learn more about SC NEXUS and connect with Tech Hub resources, email [email protected] or visit sccommerce.com/scnexus. To learn more about the NSF Grid Modernization Engine in the Carolinas, visit CarolinasGridEngine.com.
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“A reliable and resilient energy supply is critical to South Carolina’s continued success. This award will help strengthen our ability to meet future demand, support economic opportunity, and ensure the Carolinas remain leaders in innovation and job creation. We are proud to celebrate the partners who helped secure this award and grateful for the strong collaboration across the Carolinas that made it possible.”
- Gov. Henry McMaster
"The announcement of the NSF Grid Modernization Engine in the Carolinas as one of the elite NSF Regional Innovation Engines is more than a recognition of technical excellence. It is a validation of the strategic investments made by the federal government, the state of South Carolina and industry partners to strengthen our energy future. Building on the foundation established through SC NEXUS and our state's world-class energy assets, this effort positions the Carolinas as a national leader in grid modernization, energy resilience, workforce development and innovation.”
- Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III
“This award reflects what is possible when the public and private sectors and communities come together around a shared challenge and shared opportunity. The Carolinas have built the partnerships, research capability and infrastructure needed to move grid technologies from concept to deployment, and few regions are better positioned to lead that work than Charlotte, where connections across North and South Carolina create a natural gateway for collaboration and innovation. UNC Charlotte is proud to help bring those efforts together.”
- UNC Charlotte Chancellor Sharon L. Gaber
"Meeting the rising demand for reliable energy is a critical need across the country. Clemson is uniquely equipped to design and test the emerging technologies that will secure our energy future and has a long history of industry collaboration to deploy meaningful innovation.”
- Clemson University Senior Vice President for Research, Scholarship and Creative Endeavors Tanju Karanfil
“The award of the NSF Grid Modernization Engine in the Carolinas to our region will accelerate energy innovation across South Carolina, bringing together research institutions, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, economic development organizations and government partners to turn emerging technologies into economic opportunity. Working alongside the South Carolina Department of Commerce and our core partners, we will build on the state’s investments in energy infrastructure, develop the workforce needed to meet growing energy demands and help create a more resilient energy future for our country.”
- SCRA President and CEO Bill Kirkland
