Powering the future
K-State engineering secure energy systems
By Grant Guggisberg
Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026
Meeting the booming energy needs of society has never been more complicated or difficult as it is today.
With energy demands projected to continue increasing in the coming decades, no single production source has the capacity to meet society’s needs. Instead, utilizing a growing mix of energy sources, including renewables and nuclear, has the best chance at satiating the world’s hunger for reliable, affordable energy.
The energy landscape is more dynamic than ever and demands engineers who can innovate across the spectrum of power systems that generate and deliver today’s energy. Each of the college’s eight academic departments are meeting this challenge head on, training the next generation of global technological leaders and conducting cutting-edge research that is redefining how Kansans power their lives, both now and into the future.
The challenge of energy production
Demand for energy is at an all-time high and is expected to increase by 50 to 80% by 2050. During this period, fossil fuel-based energy products are expected to decrease while nuclear and renewable energy production will grow. Managing the complexities of interconnected systems and disparate production systems to maintain cost and distribution certainty for both consumers and producers is a huge societal
challenge, one that engineers will be required to solve.
It will necessitate the designing and building of nextgeneration power plants that will allow for innovation in the production, distribution, protection, storage and transmission of energy through the deployment of smart-grid technologies and other systems management. Fortunately, these needs build on the existing strengths of K-State engineering.
One of the college’s most distinctive strengths is its longstanding commitment to the discipline of nuclear engineering. K-State is home to the only nuclear reactor facility on a college campus in Kansas, an asset that transforms theoretical knowledge into practical, hands-on expertise. Students pursuing degrees in the field gain foundational understanding in reactor design, radiation shielding and nuclear regulations, equipping them to lead an emerging workforce devoted to safe, steady energy generation.
“The college is in a unique position to lead the way in the state of Kansas in nuclear engineering education, both now and in the years to come,” said Amir Bahadori, nuclear engineering program director and Hal and Mary Siegele professor in engineering. “The education we’re providing will go a long way toward enriching the lives and careers of those who study nuclear engineering with us, while also providing benefits to society as these professionals lead the charge in deploying new technology in this discipline.”
This commitment to nuclear engineering has also resulted in additional opportunities for students in the college, specifically those receiving fellowships from the U.S. Department of Energy’s University Nuclear Leadership Program. A pair of graduate students recently earned $175,000, three-year fellowships from the program.
As new reactors come online and the technology behind small, modular reactors becomes more viable, this technology has the opportunity to transform lives in rural populations as well as those in cities. Just as the introduction of electricity changed the lives of rural Kansans nearly a century ago, creating resilient power grids through the addition of new power generating technology will provide the stability needed to improve the lives of everyone across Kansas.
But nuclear power is just one piece of the energy puzzle. Finding practical solutions to society’s problems, but specifically those related to energy, continues to be a priority for the college, which has woven sustainability into its core mission and research plans.
Pioneering sustainable and secure solutions
Whether it’s creating new technology specifically designed to turn wastewater into renewable energy, useful chemicals and usable water, or protecting the technology already developed and in use by energy producers, K-State engineers are working diligently to make renewable energy sources more relevant.
“When we talk about renewable energy, people have a tendency to envision wind turbines and solar panels, and those are important pieces, but what we’re doing is so much more than that,” said Stacy Hutchinson, associate dean for engineering research and graduate programs. “Those renewable power sources are already in the implementation phase."
"We’re working on next-generation technologies, making them deployable and scalable for a society looking for cost-effective, sustainable solutions. We are also ensuring these technologies and benefits reach every corner of the state.”
Chemical engineers are developing new technology through several projects dealing with advanced materials that can be used in the production or storage of electricity. One recent study focused on enhancing the design and production of perovskite oxides, which have unique properties for energy
use and are often used in energy-related applications such as fuel cells, electrolyzers, catalysis and electrochemical reactors.
Strengthening and optimizing the grid
A crucial strength of the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering lies in its intense focus on power delivery systems and modernizing the nation’s often-aging power grid infrastructure. As renewable energy sources proliferate the landscape, the need for a smart, resilient and adaptable grid has never been more urgent.
One collaborative project aimed to bring together a large swath of researchers from across the state of Kansas in an effort to make infrastructure systems more resilient after natural disasters or other disruptions, but in a way that is more equitable socially.
“Researchers in our department are invested in not only building out a resilient power grid that is ready to power the future, but also protecting our nation’s infrastructure,” said Samee Khan, George J. and Alice D. Fiedler distinguished chair, and professor and head of the Mike Wiegers Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “Access to secure energy is a pillar of modern society, and disruptions to those interconnected systems, whether through natural disasters, cyber attacks or other threats, is devastating.”
But it’s not just about refining the technology. The college is also interested in taking this technology places it might not otherwise go, in this case, to tribal communities. Another project aimed to increase tribal energy sovereignty by building innovative renewable energy and microgrid technologies.
Additionally, faculty within the college have secured funding for projects that create cyber-physical security measures, including hardware security protocols and formal verification for embedded systems, to protect the grid from increasingly sophisticated attacks.
Beyond the grid itself, the college’s research also focuses on making every component more efficient. Experts in mechanical and industrial engineering are driving the advanced manufacturing of sustainable energy components, using operations research to optimize power supply chains and ensure the thermal efficiency of power generation equipment to eliminate waste.
By fostering innovation in nuclear research, pioneering sustainable technologies and building out a modern, robust power grid, the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering is not just a participant in the energy sector, it is a powerful force, actively engineering a safer, more sustainable and more secure energy future for the world.
All-in on energy
The Carl R. Ice College of Engineering at Kansas State University, with its eight academic departments, collectively provides a broad and interdisciplinary approach to addressing the global need for sustainable energy solutions. Below are some of the ways each department contributes to the college’s mission as it relates to energy.
- Architectural engineers and construction science managers work together to increase efficiency and reduce energy waste, optimizing every building component from HVAC systems to lighting.
- Biological and agricultural engineers focus on bio-based fuels that can turn waste into energy, along with other useful materials.
- Chemical engineers develop alternative fuels and advanced materials, many of which can produce electricity as a byproduct of a chemical reaction.
- Civil engineers help design and build the physical systems that produce, deliver and conserve energy, ensuring they are resilient and capable of delivering power both now and in the future.
- Computer scientists are key in managing the integration of new technology into existing physical utilities and creating cyber-physical security systems to protect the energy grid from attacks that grow more sophisticated by the day. Additionally, AI modeling supports many of the projects being done in other departments and disciplines.
- Electrical and computer engineers are tasked with developing the power grids of tomorrow while keeping existing energy systems stable and resilient. As a primary discipline concerned with energy, they are on the front lines in developing and refining clean and renewable energy sources, finding solutions for bridging the gap between the legacy power of today and the sustainable sources of
the future. - Industrial and manufacturing systems engineers focus on advanced manufacturing and materials, optimizing integrated systems and supply chains that are crucial in enabling the wide adoption of secure energy sources while making them more affordable and efficient.
- Mechanical and nuclear engineers optimize thermal systems that support the reduction of energy waste
through conventional power generation processes while also leading the charge in the development and innovation of nuclear energy sources.