November 25, 2024

Photo Essay: Energy Week at Duke Drives Dialogue About Clean Energy Future

On November 11-14, hundreds of Duke community members—along with Triangle-area professionals and students from far-flung universities—learned and networked during the ninth annual Energy Week at Duke. Dozens of undergraduate and graduate students from diverse degree programs organized this year’s events to drive campus dialogue about accelerating the energy transition.

Power Trip: Kempower Site Visit and Panel Discussion

Energy Week at Duke co-chair Tyler Ratcliffe (right) smiles with Duke students wearing orange vests and helmets attending a site visit and panel discussion at Kempower, an electric vehicles charging solutions company.

The Southeast's influence on the nation's clean energy transition is growing as employers move into the region, creating jobs and contributing to the economy. To see this growth firsthand, nearly forty Duke students kicked off Energy Week with a site visit and panel discussion at Kempower, a global company that recently opened a state-of-the-art EV charger manufacturing facility in Durham.

Opportunities and Challenges of Small Modular Nuclear Reactor (SMR) Development

Jack Sweeter (GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy), Chris Vlahoplus (DOE Loans Program Office), Rounette Nader (Duke Energy), Alireza Haghighat (Virginia Tech), and Chris Wedding (Entrepreneurs for Impact) sitting in chairs for a panel discussion on small modular nuclear reactors.During a panel discussion on the development of small modular nuclear reactors, experts analyzed opportunities and challenges the industry faces.

During a panel discussion on the development of small modular nuclear reactors, experts analyzed opportunities and challenges the industry faces. From left to right: Jack Sweeter (GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy), Chris Vlahoplus (DOE Loans Program Office), Rounette Nader (Duke Energy), Alireza Haghighat (Virginia Tech), Chris Wedding (Entrepreneurs for Impact and Fuqua School of Business).

“We’ve got to get started yesterday. This is really urgent—32% of North Carolina’s energy comes from four reactors... 90% of clean energy generated in Virginia is nuclear. Nobody knows this, and that is a problem. If you depend on this technology, you look at it differently. No other energy technology is regulated this much.”

Alireza Haghighat, director of nuclear engineering at Virginia Tech, on the need for small modular nuclear reactor development

Several dozen attendees seated at Opportunities and Challenges of Small Modular Nuclear Reactor (SMR) Development discussion

“I appreciated the diversity of guest speakers on the panel. Each one approached the topic of small modular reactors from a different perspective, and it was very interesting to see how the pieces fit together, especially since I am a law student.”

Ryan Perez, who is pursuing a juris doctorate and master of law degree in international and comparative law at Duke Law School

Community Dinner: Fueling Dialogue on the Southeast’s Energy Future

At a community dinner, a panel of experts kicked off a discussion of the Southeast’s energy future, which continued in conversations among students and special guests at individual tables. Panelists included Eric Fins (Grove Climate Group), Brian Murray (Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability), Jennifer Weiss (North Carolina Clean Energy Fund), and Matt Abele (North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association).

“Clean energy itself is not necessarily a left or right issue—it’s a practical issue and it’s an affordability issue. Nowhere was that more evident to me than when I had a chance to go out to western North Carolina about a month ago to help some of our partners in disaster recovery efforts.”

Matt Abele, executive director, North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association

Attendees lined up to get food at the Community Dinner

“Events like this help inspire me and remind me of why I’m interested in the clean energy transition in the first place by hearing from experts who are working in this field every day.”

Eva Brungard, who is pursuing a master’s degree in public policy with an environment and energy concentration at the Sanford School of Public Policy

Energy in Emerging Markets Case Competition

Case Competition winning team holding large check for $10,000.

At the twelfth annual Energy in Emerging Markets Case Competition, graduate student teams from around the world proposed innovative business-based solutions to a real problem faced by 2024 partner Zembo, a Ugandan e-mobility company. Teams vied for $15,000 in prizes sponsored by the James E. Rogers Energy Access Project at Duke.

“On the final day, it hit us that we were competing against 70 teams from 35 schools across 10 countries. Reaching the top five teams in the finals was an unforgettable achievement. At Duke, I had the incredible opportunity to meet talented peers, learn about their diverse journeys, and hear from faculty and organizers. It was a truly enriching experience to exchange ideas and perspectives with people from around the world.”

First place team member Aakanksha Maheshwari, who is pursuing a master of science degree in business analytics at Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management (via LinkedIn)

Energizing Tomorrow: Innovation Showcase at Energy Week

Attendees discuss a project with presenters at the Innovation Showcase

More than one hundred students, cleantech professionals, and investors attended the Innovation Showcase, where seven companies, five Design Climate teams, and four other Duke student groups highlighted cleantech products and projects. Pictured: Members of a Design Climate team (left to right: Mason Ibrahim, Rongyan Song, Ainsley Pollock) explain their project.

“We’re training entrepreneurs and building businesses that are profitable and good for people and the planet.”

Judy Ledlee, executive director of Duke’s Design Climate incubator

Duke University Energy Conference: Moving from Vision to Action Amid Uncertainty

Noël Bakhtian (Bezos Earth Fund) with conference co-chair Uzo Biosah

The 16th annual Duke University Energy Conference at the Fuqua School of Business included keynote remarks by Brian Janous (Cloverleaf Infrastructure) and Noël Bakhtian (Bezos Earth Fund), pictured above on right with conference co-chair Uzo Biosah.

“When I'm trying to tackle something, I try to reach out to as many brilliant people as I can, and ask what they think, and then pull that together… You don't go into rooms and act like you're the smartest person in the room.”

Noël Bakhtian, director of tech acceleration at Bezos Earth Fund, on the intersection of entrepreneurship, community engagement, and technical expertise

Seated attendees of the Energy Conference applaud

Organized by the Duke MBA Energy Club, the conference also included a friendly debate on hot-button energy topics, a lunchtime company exposition, and several panel discussions.

"Our conference organizing team was very intentional about making this year’s program highly interactive... Quite a few attendees told us they'd rarely been so engaged throughout a daylong event."

Conference co-chair Uzo Biosah, who is pursuing a master’s degree in business administration at the Fuqua School of Business and a master’s degree in public policy at the Sanford School of Public Policy

Collage of four images from the Energy Conference. Attendees are speaking together, two are hugging.

“One of my favorite things about Energy Week at Duke is the familiar faces. Duke alumni in energy come back year after year as speakers, exhibitors, and attendees—and they’re eager to connect with current Duke students (and often to recruit them!). ”

Katie Kross, managing director, Center for Energy, Development, and the Global Environment (EDGE) at the Fuqua School of Business (pictured at top right, hugging alumna Jenna Weiner, MEM/MBA ’19, as Alexander Szerszen, MBA ’19, looks on)

Solar Development and Challenges for Communities in North Carolina

Representatives of local nonprofits, solar development, and the state utilities commission gathered for a conversation on the challenges and opportunities for solar development in North Carolina and beyond. Pictured, left to right: Moderator Nico Johnson (SunCast Media) and panelists Matt Abele (North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association), Reginald Bynum, Jr. (Center for Energy Education), Carson Harkrader (Carolina Solar), and Jeff Hughes (North Carolina Utilities Commission).

“Doing your research is just as important as listening. And then from that point you can understand, ‘Hey, I need to come in this way.’…Every time, every place is going to be different… Because there are industries that have come into a lot of these areas that have done wrong, and people hold on to those things.”

Reginald Bynum, Jr., director of community outreach at the Center for Energy Education, on how solar developers should engage with communities

Symposium on Critical Resources, Minerals, and Materials Joint Efforts – (SCRiMMaJE)

Toddi Steelman, vice president and vice provost for climate and sustainability at Duke, introduces Jennifer Mundt, assistant secretary for clean energy workforce development at the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

This year’s Energy Week included one faculty-organized event: the Symposium Critical Resources, Minerals, and Materials Joint Efforts addressed factors involved in producing key clean energy technologies. Duke University, the National Security Innovation Network, and the US Geological Survey co-hosted the event. Pictured: Toddi Steelman, vice president and vice provost for climate and sustainability at Duke, introduces Jennifer Mundt, assistant secretary for clean energy workforce development at the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

Congratulations to the 2024 Energy Week Organizers!

Energy Week organizers happily gathered after a great week

Energy Week was the collective effort of dozens of undergraduate and graduate students (some pictured here) in degree programs at the Fuqua School of Business, Nicholas School of the Environment, Pratt School of Engineering, Sanford School of Public Policy, and Trinity College of Arts & Sciences. Sanford graduate student Madeleine Fox (top row, fifth from left) and Trinity undergraduate Tyler Ratcliffe (top row, far right) served as Energy Week co-leads.

Energy Week student organizers are advised and supported by the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability, the EDGE Center at the Fuqua School of Business, and the James E. Rogers Energy Access Project. Energy Week also receives financial support from the Office of Climate and Sustainability and Alumni Engagement and Development. The event series is aligned with the Duke Climate Commitment, which unites the university’s education, research, operations, and public service missions to address climate challenges.

“Energy Week at Duke brings together students from across the university, giving us the opportunity to learn from each other and expand our perspectives. Working together has brought the organizers closer as a team and allowed us to build friendships that will extend beyond graduation—in addition to strengthening our professional networks through interactions with speakers and attendees.”

Tyler Ratcliffe, Energy Week co-lead and a third-year undergraduate studying economics and environmental science

Are you a Duke student interested in joining the leadership team for Energy Week at Duke 2025?

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