Generation Sector Student Internship: Low Carbon Resources

Location:Charlotte, NC, Palo Alto, CA

Job Summary and Description:

EPRI’s Generation Sector focuses on a wide spectrum of research and development (R&D) across all thermal and renewables sources of power generation. The research supports EPRI’s mission of delivering independent, objective thought leadership and industry expertise to help the energy sector identify issues, technology gaps, and broader needs that can be addressed for the benefit of society. Research may include materials science, water technologies, digitalization, cyber security, turbomachinery, wind, solar, or hydro power (renewables), non-battery energy storage (chemical, mechanical, and thermal), carbon capture and sequestration, hydrogen economies and technologies at-scale, environmental sciences, etc.

Students working in the summer semester will typically work either at the EPRI Charlotte or Palo Alto locations, with some positions specific to a laboratory setting.  Students will take part in the Generation Sector’s summer student internship program experience.

The summer internship experience provides a technical mentor, training, and social and professional networking opportunities in addition to guided project-focused research work. This unique setting will provide students with rare, but essential practical insight to industry problems and issues and improve links to academic coursework. Other development and social activities in prior years have included:

• Lunch and learns with past interns, current EPRI employees

• Team building activities, for example a trip to the National Whitewater Center

• Tours of local power generation facilities

• EPRI lab tours

• Final presentations by summer student internship employees to their peers, mentors and other EPRI technical staff

Students may be hired into one of many research programs in the Generation Sector to work over the timeframe of May to August. Students who demonstrate exemplary skillsets and learning over this ~12-week period may be asked to work part time after the summer period and/or be invited in subsequent years to extend their exposure to the Energy Sector.

The Low-Carbon Resources Initiative (LCRI) at EPRI is seeking interns for multiple positions. Descriptions of each opportunity are listed below:

• Low-Carbon Workforce Analytics: This opportunity will focus on assessing the approach and outcomes of EPRI’s workforce development initiatives, such as GridEd and H2EDGE, and create dashboards and visualization tools to extract insights, enhance stakeholder engagement, and broaden impacts.

• Hydrogen Blending Demonstration Analytics: This opportunity would directly support one of EPRI’s Low-Carbon Resources Initiative demonstration projects. This demonstration entails the blending of hydrogen into a model municipal natural gas distribution system, and the combustion of the blended fuel in an experimental “tiny home” containing typical consumer gas-fueled appliances (e.g., stove, dryer, generator, etc.). An objective of this demonstration is to determine and quantify, where possible, any differences that the gas provider’s customers may experience when using blended hydrogen-natural gas, such as time to heat water, time to dry clothes, appearance/irradiance of the stove’s flame, and any emergent safety considerations. This summer internship will focus on the development and execution of such test plans which attempt to predict issues related to the customer experience when using domestic appliances fueled by blended hydrogen-natural gas. The intern will develop test plans in concert with an EPRI/LCRI subject matter expert, the host utility company, and others as appropriate. Then, the intern will assist with execution of testing on-site, analysis/processing of data, and reporting of results in various formats.

• Datacenter Decarbonization Data Analytics: This project aims to develop a decision framework and tool to help utilities, and their customers evaluate low carbon backup generation power options for datacenters. It will consider factors like GHG emissions, grid impact, technology choices, deployment strategies, and community benefits. The goal is to prepare for the resiliency and decarbonization needs of growing datacenters. The project will use data from utilities and interested datacenters to create a standard framework for designing and optimizing low emission backup power systems. This project would need optimization for cost, GHG and geographical proximity to derive to specific decisions.

• Low-Carbon Fuel Back-up Power Demonstration Data Analytics: This project aims to integrate a low-carbon fuel power (LCFP) system (such as a fuel cell) into a concrete recycling facility, demonstrating the operational efficacy of low-carbon fuels and integrating advanced energy management technologies. The project will focus on assessing the technical, economic, and environmental benefits of LCFP integration, with a particular emphasis on enhancing energy resilience, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and improving operational efficiency for a hard to abate sector.

• Low-carbon Fuels Database and Demonstration Project Support: This opportunity will support the advancement of renewable fuels research within EPRI’s Low-Carbon Resources Initiative through two major projects: 1.) the Low-Carbon Fuels Property Database and 2.) electrofuels (eFuels) laboratory development. In this role, supporting the construction and deployment of a new Low-Carbon Fuels Property Database will be a priority.

This effort will include developing and compiling key information related to the environmental attributes, physicochemical properties, and market viability of various renewable fuels for power generation applications. This will primarily be achieved through literature review, test suite development, and market research of low-carbon fuels such as renewable diesel, methanol, ethanol, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Additionally, the candidate will assist in the development of EPRI’s eFuels laboratory capabilities and its associated lab-scale production. With ongoing efforts across the portfolio related to demonstrating the production of eFuels at the lab scale, key responsibilities in this role include operational support and associated data analysis, assistance in the procurement of lab equipment, and overall development of internal capabilities to enhance both on-site and mobile laboratories.

• Industrial Process Decarbonization: This role would support a screening analysis to characterize decarbonization pathways – with a focus on carbon capture and hydrogen – for major industrial subsectors, such as iron & steel, cement, and petrochemicals. Develop visual aids such as process flow diagrams to outline industrial processes, fuels, and feedstocks for incumbent and decarbonized operations. Conduct literature reviews to characterize relative techno-economic feasibility of industrial decarbonization pathways and estimate scale of hydrogen demand and CO2 capture potential for representative industrial facilities.

Candidates:

EPRI is looking for exceptionally talented science and engineering students wishing to gain additional experience in the power industry. Typical majors could include, but are not limited to the following:

• Engineering / Science – Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace / Aeronautical, Materials, Welding, Chemical / Chemistry, Computer, Environmental, or similar fields

• Information Technology / Cyber Security

• Data Science: Experience with data analysis and visualization with python or R

Typical activities and responsibilities include the following:

• Conduct literature surveys and clear documentation of results in written and visual form

• Review documentation and interview stakeholders involved in EPRI’s relevant areas of research.

• Document insights and results in written form, interactive databases, and data visualization tools.

• Work with technical mentors to gain experience in addressing real-world challenges, drivers, and priorities that impact the energy workforce.

• Conduct research and assigned tasks independently, but still be willing to interface with other peers and a technical mentor on a regular basis.

An Ideal Candidate will typically have the following qualifications. Exceptions have been made for students with exemplary background and interviews:

• Be at least starting their junior year (3rd year) in Fall, while some projects will prefer M.S. or PhD graduate-level students graduating in next 1-2 years.

• Working knowledge of core degree areas.

• Willingness to take on new challenges.

• Worked on group projects as part of classes.

• Willingness to work and network with peer student interns at EPRI.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

The hourly rate range for Student positions are:

• Undergraduate: $16-29 per hour
• Masters: $25-31 per hour
• Ph.D: $27-34 per hour

These ranges are an estimate, and the actual hourly rate may vary based on various factors, including without limitation applicant’s education, experience, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data. The hourly rate may also be adjusted based on applicant’s geographic location.

As an EPRI Student, you will not participate in EPRI’s Benefit Programs which includes health insurance, retirement benefits, vacation, sick leave (except as set required by law) and holiday pay. However, as a Student employee you are eligible for the benefits of Social Security, State Disability Insurance, and Workers’ Compensation Insurance.

For Student positions which require one to relocate to an EPRI office.  Relocation assistance is not provided and the student will be responsible for covering all relocation costs/expenses.

EPRI participates in E-Verify, an online system operated jointly by the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration (SSA). EPRI uses the system to check the work status of new hires by comparing information from the employee’s I-9 form against SSA and Department of Homeland Security databases.

EPRI is an equal opportunity employer. EEO/AA/M/F/VETS/Disabled

Together . . . Shaping the Future of Energy.

www.epri.com