UConn and Eversource are pleased to announce that the Clean Energy Sustainability Innovation Program is being offered again in Spring 2024.
We welcome all students across the university to pitch their “grant ideas” to explore local sustainability challenges that matter to them.
Through this summer program, students will get to workshop their ideas in both an academic and industry setting and develop the skills to apply critical thinking to their clean energy sustainability ideas. Teams will present their projects at a university-wide Sustainable Clean Energy summit in September and be eligible to receive additional funding and support to extend their research and development throughout the 2024-2025 academic year.
Through this program, students will:
- Develop their interpersonal communication and critical-thinking skills
- Receive a summer stipend to work with UConn faculty and Eversource managers to get your team’s idea in development
- Learn about the ins and outs of research development and problem-solving
- Access opportunities for research and internship with Eversource
- Contribute to the decarbonizing efforts of UConn and long-term sustainability goals of Connecticut towns and municipalities
About The Challenge
Connecticut has committed to getting all its energy from zero carbon sources by 2040 and reducing statewide emissions by 45% by 2030 and 80% by 2050. At the same time, the state has an ambitious Economic Development Plan to attract and retain a growing population, while supporting and generating inclusive economic opportunity within innovative and specialized industries. Both goals require a modernized electric power grid to integrate new renewable energy sources, meet the increasing electric demand and maintain reliability in the face of climate change.
A comprehensive solution to this challenge would address each of the following questions:
- What transmission and distribution infrastructure upgrades, and new sources of generation, are needed to meet both the clean energy and economic development goals? What benefits can generation and power grid enhancements provide to communities?
- How can Connecticut towns achieve their clean energy and economic development goals while ensuring that the benefits of the transition are shared equitably? How can vulnerable or disadvantaged populations in Conn. towns benefit from clean energy technologies and infrastructure development?
- How can these goals be accomplished while also ensuring environmental and community impacts are minimized, and community benefits are prioritized? Who should influence how and when decisions are made at the local level?
Areas of research that could also support local objectives cover, but are not limited to, economic modeling and analysis, legislative and policy changes, financial evaluation of costs to customers and/or developers, rate of growth of renewables and electric load and impact to the transmission and/or distribution electrical grid, integration of new energy technologies to meet anticipated load growth, other approaches to reduce emissions, etc. Teams are encouraged to work with local governments and/or organizations as part of their project. UConn and Eversource can assist teams in connecting with local decision makers.
Application Materials
Interested students must submit a project application to engr-cleanearth@uconn.edu by May 17, 2024 which includes the following:
- One application in a PDF file per team that lists the names, majors, programs and expected graduation dates of each team member, as well as personal statement from each team member that includes their activities on campus and their motivation for applying (how this program can support their study and/or career, not to exceed 250 words);
- A one-page scope of work outlining the proposed solution for further study, including a possible location, town or city;
- A list of deliverables (reports, presentations, building dataset, generating maps, etc.,) the team plans to produce during the program; and
- An approximate inventory of data available as well as datasets they would need to acquire from UConn, Eversource, or other sources.
We highly encourage using data from Sustainable CT (https://sustainablect.org/) to supplement any data you may be missing. By completing this process with the town or city of the student team's choice, both parties have a clear understanding of what is expected from each other during the program for successful project completion.
Team Requirements
Teams must be two or three students (undergraduate and/or graduate) from a minimum of two different disciplines.
Program Timeline
- Teams will need to submit proposals by May 17, 2024.
- Teams will be selected by Eversource and UConn committee by May 31, 2024.
- Students of the selected teams will receive a fellowship ($2,500 lump sum) to work on their “grant idea” in the period of June 01 – August 23,
- Teams will be supported by two mentors: a UConn faculty and Eversource staff.
- Team members will have the opportunity to spend time at Eversource during the summer.
- Each team is expected to present their “grant idea” and summer work at the 2024 Sustainable Clean Energy summit on September 23, 2024.
- The winning team(s) to be selected at the 2024 summit will receive a continuation grant to further develop their “grant idea” throughout the academic year in close collaboration with an Eversource department.
Mentor Selection
- Students may suggest their UConn faculty mentor or allow the committee to assign their team to a respective UConn faculty.
- The committee will match the student projects with select Eversource personnel and departments after their selection.
Additional Resources:
- https://www.eversource.com/content/residential/about/transmission-distribution/electric-transmission
- https://www.iso-ne.com/
- https://sustainablect.org/