Energy Summit Scheduled at Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering will be host for a Virginia Energy Summit Jan. 31, bringing together Virginia-based energy companies and related government agencies to identify industry opportunities.

Summit leader Shashank Priya (right) says the meeting will pave the way for partnerships that could spur high-paying jobs in the burgeoning energy harvesting sector. “We anticipate this meeting to play a vital role in bringing together small and large businesses towards development of energy generation and distribution technologies,” says Priya, associate professor of mechanical engineering and materials science and engineering.

“Energy harvesting is growing rapidly across the world, covering vital sectors of the economy such as defense, health care, infrastructure, construction, mining, and consumer electronics. Commercial transitions from laboratory to market are continuously happening, and in past few years many new companies have been formed to capture this growing industry.”

Priya said the summit will be led by Virginia Tech’s Center for Energy Harvesting Materials and Systems, which Priya directs, and could help the commonwealth form a leadership role in development of the U.S. energy harvesting market. “Virginia is uniquely positioned to be a dominant player in this market, creating new economy and high-paying jobs here,” he says. “The research conducted at our Center for Energy Harvesting Materials and Systems, and its partnering industries, is continuously paving the way for new opportunities.” Registration deadline is Jan. 20.