At the Department of Energy's 2023 Marine Energy Collegiate Competition (MECC), part of the esteemed Waterpower Week 2023 in Washington, D.C., the UNC Charlotte Team, guided by Dr. Saffeer Khan of CLEANcarolinas, demonstrated their expertise in marine energy. This national competition, aligning with the goals of achieving a carbon-free electricity sector by 2035 and a net-zero emissions economy by 2050, focuses on harnessing the power of hydropower and marine energy. Recognized for their predictable and consistent nature, these energy resources are critical for balancing an increasingly renewable-reliant electricity grid.

Selected as one of only 20 teams across the nation, the UNC Charlotte Team, led by sophomore Jacob Silknitter from the Mechanical Engineering department, participated in the competition's kick-off at the UMERC Annual Conference in Durham, NH, on October 3, 2023. Tasked with challenges in business plan development, detailed technical design, construction and testing, and community engagement, their participation exemplifies the DOE’s initiative to prepare a new generation of skilled professionals in these critical energy sectors. UNC Charlotte's involvement in the MECC underscores the university's commitment to advancing marine energy technologies and contributing to the clean energy transition, nurturing the future workforce of the clean energy industry.