We research and develop higher-performance and lower-cost materials and devices for energy generation, storage and conversion. Our target industries are electric vehicles, microgrids, photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, wearable power devices, and more.

UC San Diego's world-renowned microgrid serves as a real-world test-bed for our work, which is rooted in thoughtful analyses of the economics of distributed energy.

At every point along the way, we train and mentor our students to become tomorrow’s workforce for green and advanced energy.

SPEC News from the Jacobs School

Thermodynamics-defying Materials Could Revolutionize EVs, Buildings and More

April 16, 2025

What expands when crushed, shrinks when heated, and could both change scientists’ fundamental understanding of materials and return old EV batteries to factory-fresh performance levels? It’s not a riddle. It’s a slate of materials discovered by battery researchers from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (UChicago PME) and visiting researchers at UC San Diego. As part of a long-term research collaboration, the team found negative-thermal expansion in metastable oxygen-redox active materials. Full Story

2025 SPEC Battery Boot Camp Applications Are Open Until April 30, 2025

April 15, 2025

Are you passionate about batteries, renewable energy, and hands-on research experience? Join us this summer for the SPEC Battery Boot Camp — an intensive 8-week training program focused on lithium-ion battery technology! Full Story

News Archive

Real-world challenges inform our fundamental research. The Sustainable Power and Energy Center works closely with industry partners.
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UC San Diego's world-renowned microgrid serves as a real-world test-bed for our work, which is rooted in thoughtful analyses of the economics of distributed energy.