On July 28, 2026, representatives from Sandia National Laboratories and The University of Texas at Dallas signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to advance energy storage, power electronics, and grid technologies. Under the MOU, Sandia and UT-Dallas will collaborate on topics such as battery storage systems, battery safety, power electronic devices, and other systems testing and validation for grid integration.
Catherine Jereza, assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity, attended the signing. “The United States has led in energy storage, power electronics, and innovation technologies for decades to deliver energy to the American people,” Jereza said. “The MOU signing between Sandia National Laboratories and UT Dallas exemplifies America’s leadership role in translating innovation into domestic manufacturing opportunities that transform our electricity system.”
The MOU opens the door for collaborative research to advance the state of the art in energy storage, conversion, electronics, and security for the electric grid.
“Now more than ever, our nation needs a resilient, efficient, and secure electric grid,” said Erik Webb, who directs Sandia’s Energy Security Innovation Center. “This collaboration with UT-Dallas is a particularly exciting opportunity to advance technologies, grow our workforce, and help secure the national electric grid.” The partnership combines Sandia’s testing and analysis with expanding capabilities at UT-Dallas, explains Webb. This will allow research teams to test innovations in real-world settings.
“By bringing together UT-Dallas’ strengths in advanced energy systems research and Sandia National Laboratories’ world-class expertise in energy storage, power electronics, and grid technologies, our partnership creates a powerful framework for innovation and discovery,” said Dr. Joseph J. Pancrazio, vice president for research and innovation at the University of Texas at Dallas. “With BEACONS, we are expanding opportunities for researchers, students, industry, and government partners to collaborate on solutions that will strengthen the reliability, security, and resilience of the nation’s energy future.”
The MOU taps into complementary research happening at both institutions. Studies and industry collaboration at UT-Dallas focused on battery systems integration and semiconductor components for power modules will be paired with Sandia’s electric grid security research to feed breakthroughs for national energy security and advanced science and technology. A planned test bed and the BEACONs facility will support technology validation at scale and train the next generation of grid researchers.
Feature photo: Erik Webb and Dr. Joseph J. Pancrazio sign a memorandum of understanding between Sandia National Laboratories and The University of Texas at Dallas. Credit: The University of Texas at Dallas
July 30, 2026