On April 29 to 30, 2025, the State Energy Conference of North Carolina will return to the McKimmon Center at NC State University. The annual conference attracts hundreds of energy professionals from across the state to convene on matters of technical innovation, industry opportunities, and resources that contribute to North Carolina’s regional energy economy.

The State Energy Conference is open to individuals who are part of various groups or organizations. Those employed at small businesses, colleges and universities, government and state agencies, innovation firms, and non-profit organizations often attend for the chance to build valuable relationships that could lead to numerous business and professional opportunities.

There has been an increased focus on strengthening domestic energy independence and resiliency, making this a crucial time to discuss the progress of current programs while planning for future success. According to Deloitte’s 2025 Renewable Energy Industry Outlook, cleantech manufacturing, AI, and carbon industries may provide significant advantages in the coming years. The State Energy Conference allows for targeted discussions surrounding North Carolina’s energy future, supporting collaborative efforts to create new and innovative solutions, policies and technologies.

Prior to the conference on April 28, 2025, attendees will have a chance to tour three facilities on NC State University’s campus free of charge. Individuals can choose to tour the Centennial Central Utility Plant, Fitts Woolard Solar PV + Battery Storage, or FREEDM Systems Center. Each tour is capped at 20 attendees, so be sure to register soon. NCCETC will also be hosting a workshop titled “Building Grid Resilience to Serve Communities” on April 28 with support from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA). In this workshop, developing resilient microgrids, planning for resilience, and policies and programs will be discussed. To sign up for the workshop, complete this google form. 

Event information for the conference is added to the live agenda as it becomes available. See the schedule so far here. During the two-day event, attendees can visit 36 concurrent sessions across six different tracks and also have the opportunity to hear from four keynote plenaries. View the agenda at-a-glance below to see the wide range of topics that the tracks cover.

The conference planning committee has been working diligently to plan informative sessions and invite expert speakers to share their knowledge regarding best practices, successful case studies and more with attendees. Graham Lewis, Program Manager at Schneider Electric and Track Manager of the Government & Institutional Building track, says, “I’ve found that the State Energy Conference is the best place each year for me to learn about industry trends, hear about innovative projects taking place across the state, and connect with fellow professionals in the space!”

Professional continuing education credits will also be available for engineers, architects, energy managers, energy auditors, and other self-reporting professional organizations. To ensure the accuracy of final certificates, attendees must choose to receive a certificate of completion during registration and sign in to each session they attend. The expected continuing education credits for this year’s conference include:

• American Institute of Architects (AIA) LU|HSWs,
• Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) CE credits, 
• NC State Bar Continuing Legal Education CLE credits, 
• NC Professional Engineers (NCBELS) PHDs, 
• Certified Public Accountants (CPA),
• Associate of Energy Engineers (AEE) members, and 
• Other self-reporting professionals.

The conference offers various sponsorship levels that each provide promotional opportunities for organizations, attendance at all conference events, and an exhibit space inside the exhibit hall. Learn more about becoming a Leadership, Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Bronze Sponsor at https://www.ncenergyconference.com/sponsor.

Stand-alone exhibitor opportunities are also available and provide one 8 ft. x 8 ft. exhibit hall booth, one complimentary full conference registration, and lead generation opportunities on the conference app. Visit https://www.ncenergyconference.com/exhibitors to see the exhibit hall layout and register as an Exhibitor.

The NC Clean Energy Technology Center looks forward to organizing the State Energy Conference of North Carolina each year to provide a collaborative space for energy industry leaders and professionals. “This year, in a time of uncertainty, the State Energy Conference provides a crucial platform to explore emerging solutions and build the partnerships necessary for a resilient and sustainable energy future. Now more than ever, staying informed and connected is essential to shaping the future of energy in North Carolina”, says Steve Kalland, Executive Director, NC Clean Energy Technology Center.

Visit ncenergyconference.com to register for the event and learn more about the annual conference.