SC State research in solar-hydrogen technology gains national recognition

Faculty and students advance renewable energy solutions while preparing tomorrow's engineering workforce

ORANGEBURG, S.C. - Researchers at South Carolina State University are advancing solar-hydrogen knowledge while preparing the next generation of engineers for careers in renewable energy, work that recently earned national recognition at one of the country's leading engineering education conferences.

The research was showcased at the 2026 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition, where the university's Center for Energy and Environmental Solutions presented three peer-reviewed papers.

One paper, led by SC State researcher Dr. Seyed Majid Ghoreishian, earned second place in the Energy Conversion, Conservation & Nuclear Engineering Division's best paper competition, recognizing the university's work in solar-hydrogen education and workforce development.

Solar-hydrogen technology research is seen as a pathway to decarbonizing energy systems by producing green hydrogen, hydrogen made entirely from renewable solar energy without fossil fuel inputs.

"South Carolina has more than 200 sunny days every year," Ghoreishian said. "There was a light in my mind about what we can do with that opportunity. When we are talking about solar energy and solar projects, South Carolina is an excellent place and location.

"I found that this state has been receiving a very good investment in renewable energy. SC State can play a leading role in developing the workforce who are ready to support this investment," he said.

The title of the paper was "Advancing Undergraduate Education through Solar-Hydrogen Research: An Engineering Summer Program to Address South Carolina's Renewable Needs." Ghoreishian served as the lead researcher and primary author of the paper. Other contributing authors included Dr. H. Bryan Riley, CEES director; Dr. Masoomeh Ghasemi, SC State staff research engineer; and Dr. Nasrollah Hamidi, an SC State chemistry professor.

The award-winning paper evaluated the H₂EDGE (Hydrogen Education for a Decarbonized Global Economy) summer program that was held at SC State last year. Led by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) with U.S. Department of Energy support, the program was designed to develop and train the emerging hydrogen industry workforce through university-level instruction and professional development.

Student involvement in research

Six SC State undergraduate science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) majors participated in the summer program, which was designed to train them in photocatalytic hydrogen production via water splitting using solar energy and water to generate hydrogen fuel.

The initiative addressed regional renewable energy needs while preparing engineering students for industry innovation.

"The population of the United States is a relatively small number of the world population, yet we probably use a significant percentage of energy," Riley said. "So, as technology looks to natural resources - and the term is renewables - such as solar, wind, hydrogen and hydro, these are sources of energy that can be harnessed in such a way that we will not have to be dependent upon coal and nuclear."

The ASEE's annual conference was held June 21-24 at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C., one of the largest and most recognized events dedicated to advancing engineering education and engineering technology worldwide. The annual conference attracts more than 4,000 attendees annually, with participants representing more than 500 engineering colleges and universities.

Along with Ghoreishian's award-winning paper, the CEES team presented two additional research papers at the conference, which featured approximately 2,500 technical paper presentations.

"ASEE is very respected globally. So having three papers - with one winning second place - accepted and reviewed by your peers, you can't help but feel good because these are experts in the field," Riley said.

SC State fulfilling R2 mission

SC State has achieved designation as a Research 2 (R2) institution, meaning it spends at least $5 million on research and awards at least 20 research doctorates annually.

SC State exceeded both criteria in 2023, devoting $7.8 million to research and awarding 25 doctoral degrees. The designation qualifies the university for more grants and sponsored programs.

"All of these elements help to strengthen the fact that we are a bona fide research institution. South Carolina is the only R2 in the state," Riley said.

Ghoreishian said the H₂EDGE summer program, for example, demonstrated improved understanding of solar-hydrogen principles and technical expertise, offering a scalable model for integrating solar-hydrogen research into undergraduate education at R2 universities such as SC State.

The six undergraduate STEM students who participated in the summer program left as published co-authors in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy.

Ghoreishian said, "I don't like at the end of the program to give students only certificates. I try to involve all the students to prepare a manuscript, a scientific paper, and to publish it in a very high-ranked journal. It's very important for their futures that they include this paper in their resume to find good, high-salary jobs."

CEES developing future collaborations

"Our sister institutions across the state are very enthusiastic to work with the CEES team because of our expertise, our enthusiasm. So we do have several endeavors that are being worked through the review process. Should they land, South Carolina State will be a co-principal investigator," Riley said.

"Within the college of STEM, this (CEES) team will be the actual research team to implement and execute it. That does mean dollars coming into the university…. It's a win-win as we put opportunities in play with institutions across the state and worldwide," he said.

For more information about SC State's Center for Energy and Environmental Solutions, visit the center's website at https://www.scsu.edu/cees.