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South Carolina, known for its Southern charm and scenic landscapes, is a can’t miss study abroad destination. With a lower cost of living and many good universities, the state draws many students from all over the world. From 2022 to 2023, 6,173 international students were enrolled in South Carolina colleges and universities.
For those interested in engineering, the University of South Carolina’s Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing is a top choice. With a legacy of over 200 years, the R1 university (very high research activity) is well-known for its academic and research excellence. For over 150 years, the university has taught engineering — with the college celebrating its 100th year anniversary in 2009 and growing stronger.
Last October, the Nexus for Advanced Resilient Energy (SC Nexus), designated USC as a Regional Technology and Innovation Hub. USC is one of seven core members of SC Nexus, a public-private consortium led by the state Department of Commerce.
There are only 31 such hubs in the country. USC, together with other universities, state agencies, the Savannah River National Laboratory, economic development alliances, community organisations, non-profits and private companies, will expand his work on Advanced Energy Resiliency, the consortium’s selected technology focus. SC Nexus is also eligible to apply for the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDAs) Phase 2 funding available through the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, which authorised US$10 billion over five years for the Tech Hubs effort.
“Receiving the federal Tech Hubs designation signals to the world that South Carolina has the necessary assets and infrastructure to create a real impact in the advanced energy resiliency sector,” said Gov. Henry McMaster. “Collaboration has long been a key component to our success, and we’re confident SC Nexus’ concerted efforts will align our state as a leader in advanced energy technology development, contributing to our national security by bolstering energy independence.”
USC’s broad academic portfolio includes over 60 nationally ranked programmes and over 300 offerings across 16 colleges and schools. Source: University of California
Building on the region’s manufacturing base, research, and public-private partnerships, SC Nexus will boost opportunities for testing, developing, and deploying exportable electricity technologies across the region. By providing the necessary infrastructure to support these advancements, including battery energy storage systems (BESS), the tech hub is set to remove barriers and accelerate the commercialisation of grid resilience technologies.
“USC is proud to work alongside SC Commerce in this statewide effort and to have a leadership role in developing a new community of researchers, entrepreneurs and startups. Achieving recognition at a national level demonstrates our ability as a state to innovate and to bring new ideas to the market,” says USC President Michael Amiridis.
USC’s achievements in securing patents and managing complex grants are key factors contributing to its Carnegie R1 classification as a top research institution. Source: University of South California
Companies specialising in battery development and electric vehicles have made significant investments in South Carolina, totalling approximately US$11 billion. Part of a broader effort to enhance the region’s capabilities in energy storage and electric vehicle production, they have made South Carolina a key player in the future of sustainable energy.
Building on this momentum, the University of South Carolina has secured US$10.2 million in funding from the U.S. EDA to further its battery research initiatives. The money will support the establishment of the Carolina Institute for Battery Innovation, led by William Mustain, professor and the college’s associate dean for research.
“In the past few years, USC has managed about US$15 million in externally funded battery research, with a nice combination of support from industry and the federal government,” says Mustain. “Companies tell me this all the time — if you want to learn more about battery chemistry, battery assembly and battery safety, you come to the University of South Carolina.”
They’re right. The university has more than a dozen faculty members and scores of graduate and undergraduate students engaged in battery and battery-related research. And their numbers are increasing.
When Mustain joined the university in 2017, he felt like he was joining a big collaborative team. With a growing list of clients that include General Motors, Duracell, Nant Energy and the U.S. Army, that team is only getting bigger.
Recently, the university teamed up with Pomega Energy Storage Technologies, which plans to build a battery manufacturing facility in Colleton County. This facility will focus on energy systems for homes and the power grid, supporting the state’s push for energy innovation. Several faculty members from USC’s chemical engineering and chemistry departments were engaged in anode and cathode research and battery modelling for Pomega, further solidifying the university’s role as a leader in the energy sector.
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