Secure Energy Future Center (SEFC) Phase 1 RFI: Energy Needs & Collaboration Pathways Logo

  • Secure Energy Future Center (SEFC) Phase 1 RFI: Energy Needs & Collaboration Pathways

  • Purpose

    Your participation in this Request for Information (RFI) will help evolve strategic development of the Secure Energy Future Center (SEFC) at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center (VTCRC). Your feedback will help us understand your current and future organizational needs, in addition to opportunities for collaboration. Better understanding capital investments planned, talent development and workforce needs, research and development collaboration opportunities, and infrastructure requirements are priorities for SEFC and the Hampton Roads Alliance as we work to implement the Hampton Roads Playbook.

    The Hampton Roads Playbook, released October 29, 2025, is a shared regional plan that highlights the Hampton Roads region's collective assets and outlines a unified strategy that will lead the next era of American growth and innovation. Energy is one of four regional growth engines that form the foundation of our Hampton Roads regional economy - Defense, Energy, Aerospace, and Logistics (DEAL). SEFC was launched as the flagship energy project, directly aligned with the DEAL sectors and cross-cutting drivers - workforce, innovation & technology, sites & infrastructure, and supply chain.

    Currently, SEFC has a series of initiatives and programs already underway with strategic local, regional and state partners. Energy education and training, an energy business soft landing program, entrepreneur support and accelerator programming, EnergyTech meetups and networking, along with an immersive energy system visualization display are planned to launch in the first quarter of 2026. A new energy innovation suite is under construction in partnership with W.M. Jordan, 757Collab, Dominion Energy Innovation Center, and others, at Tech Center Research Park in Newport News where SEFC is headquartered.

    A series of requests for information, including this one, are intended to position the region as a living laboratory for energy innovation and resilience. Providing feedback creates opportunities to:

    • Co-create energy literacy programs and partnerships and educational pathways for the next generation of the advanced energy systems workforce.
    • Co-develop commercialization pathways that align with future growth.
    • Better link and integrate industry, academia, national labs, and government to help develop a center of excellence for research, modeling, and analysis.
    • Help vet and shape the development of distributed energy testbeds and pilot sites located throughout Hampton Roads.
    • Identify where investment and collaboration can accelerate your mission and goals.
    • Position your organization as a critical partner in advancing Hampton Roads and the Commonwealth’s energy innovation ecosystem, and as part of the constellation of partners across the VTCRC ecosystem.

    Your insights will guide SEFC’s next phase, turning ideas into pilot projects, demonstration opportunities, and scalable solutions that benefit your organization and the broader Hampton Roads energy economy.

  • Objectives and RFI Process

    SEFC is an innovation hub for next-generation energy solutions, leveraging the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center to solve complex problems and enable strategic regional growth. SEFC is currently establishing a market-driven platform for energy innovation that positions Hampton Roads as a living laboratory for energy innovation. The goal of the RFI’s are to align energy- and energy-adjacent projects with economic development priorities, create a pipeline of investable ideas, and inform SEFC’s future programming, facilities, and funding pursuits.

  • Phase 0: HRA Land RFI – Building the Foundation

    Led by the Hampton Roads Alliance (HRA), this initial “Land RFI” developed an inventory of potential sites for energy testbeds, research facilities, and innovation hubs. This effort established a baseline understanding of available land parcels capable of supporting energy research, demonstration, and production facilities—laying the groundwork for targeted investment and development.

  • Phase 1: SEFC RFI – Energy Needs and Collaboration Pathways

    Building on the Land RFI, this Phase 1 RFI seeks feedback from organizations operating in or considering entry into the Hampton Roads region. The goal is to identify constraints, opportunities, and enablers that affect energy reliability, affordability, and resilience. Insights will define the conditions under which SEFC and VTCRC can add the most value—informing workforce programs, partnership models, and infrastructure investments that strengthen the region’s competitiveness.

  • Phase 2: SEFC RFI – Projects and Demonstrations

    Informed by findings from Phases 0 and 1, Phase 2 will translate insights into action by soliciting project concepts and demonstration opportunities that align physical sites with real-world energy challenges. These may include technologies such as microgrids, hydrogen integration, advanced modular nuclear, GETs, advanced storage, DERs, etc. alongside projects that enable cross-sector collaboration between defense, industry, utilities, and academia—advancing regional and national energy security goals.

  • Together Toward a Secure Energy Future

    Through this structured process, SEFC is not only identifying opportunities—it is activating them. By integrating physical assets, stakeholder input, and opportunities for applied research and technology demonstrations, SEFC is transforming Hampton Roads into a living laboratory for innovation and shaping a secure, sustainable, and economically vibrant energy future for Virginia and beyond.

  • Background

    Hampton Roads is home to one of the nation’s most dynamic energy and industrial ecosystems. The region combines unmatched defense and maritime assets, a growing technology sector, higher education and research institutions, and access to global markets through the Port of Virginia. Yet, the region faces energy challenges—aging generation infrastructure, geographic transmission constraints, and long-lead energy projects. To sustain growth, national security, and community resilience, innovative solutions must ensure reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy when and where it’s needed. SEFC serves as a trusted hub for organizations to articulate energy needs, identify solutions, and build partnerships. Input from this survey will directly shape the region’s energy priorities and future project development.
    • About the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center (VTCRC) 

    • About the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center

      Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, Inc. (VTCRC), in all its locations, is where education meets business. VTCRC is a place and a paradigm at work within an ever-changing landscape. VTCRC is the wholly owned for-profit subsidiary of the Virginia Tech Foundation, Inc.
    • About the Secure Energy Future Center (SEFC) 

    • About the Secure Energy Future Center

      The Secure Energy Future Center (SEFC) is a hub for next-generation energy solutions in a highly strategic coastal location, leveraging Hampton Roads’ unique assets to drive innovation, solve complex energy challenges, and enable strategic growth for the region, the Commonwealth, and beyond.
    • About Hampton Roads Alliance 

    • About Hampton Roads Alliance

      The Hampton Roads Alliance (the Alliance) is the leading regional economic development organization for the Hampton Roads region of Virginia. It is a nonprofit, public-private partnership supported and led by the region’s most influential business leaders, local governments, and top academic institutions. The Alliance is proud to represent 15 localities who, with the support of more than 100 private sector investors, govern and resource the organization and its regional economic development efforts. Those efforts focus on the following services areas: business attraction, business expansion, and business intelligence.
    • About GO Virginia 

    • About GO Virginia

      The Commonwealth’s innovative Growth and Opportunity (GO Virginia) Program is a state-funded initiative administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) that strengthens and diversifies Virginia’s economy and fosters the creation of higher wage jobs in strategic industries. Its mission is to grow and diversify the regional economies and the Commonwealth.
    • About Hampton Roads Executive Roundtable 

    • About Hampton Roads Executive Roundtable 

      The Hampton Roads Executive Roundtable brings together corporate and higher education CEOs and Presidents with the mission to enhance the region’s economic advantage and growth trajectory. The Roundtable also serves as the support organization for Region 5 of Virginia’s innovative GO (Growth &Opportunity) Virginia program.

  • Submittal Instructions

    Responses are due by 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time on December 12, 2025. Respondents may save progress, return later, and download a copy of their answers before submission. Upon submission, an automatic confirmation email will be sent. For questions or technical assistance, contact sefc@vtcrc.com. Please complete the questions relevant to your organization. Your input will help SEFC design facilities, programs, and partnerships that deliver the greatest regional impact.

  • Section 1: Organization Information and Energy Needs

    SEFC is gathering baseline information to understand how energy is used today in Hampton Roads, where organizations face constraints, and what solutions are most needed. Your responses will help identify priorities for infrastructure, programs, and partnerships that strengthen resiliency, support economic growth, and guide SEFC’s regional strategy. This section applies to all respondents. Some questions maybe more relevant for organizations currently operating in Hampton Roads.
    • 1.A Organization Basics 

    • 1.A Organization Basics

    • 1.B Current & Future Energy Profile 

    • 1.B Current & Future Energy Profile

    • 1.C Partnership Opportunities 

    • 1.C Partnership Opportunities

  • Section 2: Opportunities and Support Needs

    This section applies to all respondents, although some questions may be more relevant depending on whether you currently operate in Hampton Roads or are considering entry. In addition to understanding your energy profile, SEFC seeks input on the types of facilities, programs, and partnerships that would best support your growth in Hampton Roads. Your feedback will help SEFC prioritize investments, design programs, and build collaborations that create lasting value for organizations across the region.
    • 2.A Facilities, Assets & Partnerships 

    • 2.A Facilities, Assets & Partnerships

    • 2.B Workforce Development and Training 

    • 2.B Workforce Development and Training

      Developing a skilled energy workforce is a regional priority. SEFC is exploring ways to connect military personnel, students, and existing workers with the skills required for emerging energy fields.
    • 2.C Collaboration and Coordination 

    • 2.C Collaboration and Coordination

      Energy innovation depends on collaboration among utilities, industry, government, and research institutions. SEFC seeks input on how to best facilitate this coordination.
    • 2.D Visibility and Thought Leadership 

    • 2.D Visibility and Thought Leadership

      SEFC aims to understand how best to help partners raise visibility and engage stakeholders.
    • 2.E “Soft-Landing” Support 

    • 2.E “Soft-Landing” Support

      SEFC is developing a “soft-landing” program to help companies from outside Hampton Roads establish operations in the area. The program will provide targeted support for market entry—from regulatory guidance and customer introductions to workspace and local connections.

  • Next Steps

    Responses from this RFI will be aggregated and analyzed to inform SEFC’s regional strategy and define topics and selection criteria for the third RFI estimated for release January 2026 (Phase 2: Transformative Projects and Demonstrations in Hampton Roads).

  • Get Involved

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