Virginia’s energy economy is changing rapidly. Growing electricity demand, grid modernization, reliability requirements, and long lead times for critical equipment are creating new challenges—and new economic opportunities.
SCALE, the Strategic Cluster Advancement for Leading Energy initiative, will identify where GO Virginia Regions 4 and 5 can compete, collaborate, and grow within advanced energy supply chains. By connecting Greater Richmond, the Tri-Cities, and Hampton Roads, SCALE will help transform regional assets and industry insight into coordinated economic development action.
The long-term goal is to grow a cross-regional energy cluster centered on the manufacturing, deployment, and advancement of electrical power systems and grid technologies.
SCALE will help the regions:
SCALE’s first phase includes four connected workstreams designed to turn regional research and industry knowledge into actionable opportunities.
Identify priority market segments, energy supply-chain needs, competitive gaps, market trends, and opportunities to attract or grow suppliers in Virginia.
Create an interactive picture of the region’s energy ecosystem by mapping companies, suppliers, research capabilities, infrastructure, industrial sites, and other assets across Regions 4 and 5.
Bring together utilities, economic developers, investors, innovators, suppliers, researchers, and industry leaders to share market insight, identify needs, and guide future implementation.
Establish an Energy Soft Landing Site at DEIC in Region 4 and support a complementary site at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center’s Secure Energy Future Center in Region 5. These sites will help energy companies explore opportunities, make regional connections, and establish or expand operations in Virginia.
SCALE is led by the Dominion Energy Innovation Center and supported by a cross-regional coalition of organizations helping shape Virginia’s energy economy.
SCALE is designed to identify and advance opportunities within Virginia’s energy supply chain. The project will provide market intelligence, map regional assets, strengthen collaboration, and create pathways for energy companies interested in locating or expanding in Virginia.
SCALE connects GO Virginia Regions 4 and 5, including Greater Richmond, the Tri-Cities, and Hampton Roads.
The study will examine opportunity areas related to advanced electrical power systems and grid technologies. Potential areas include transformers and switchgear, cabling and advanced conductors, grid analytics, energy-storage technologies, thermal and cryogenic systems, and medium- and high-voltage power electronics.
The final priority areas will be informed by research and industry input.
SCALE is an initial research, coordination, and capacity-building phase. It will determine where the regions have the strongest opportunities and build the relationships, information, and support infrastructure needed for future cluster growth.
An Energy Soft Landing Site helps companies explore and enter a new market. Through SCALE, companies will be able to access regional connections, innovation resources, workspace, and guidance as they evaluate establishing or expanding operations in Virginia.
SCALE welcomes participation from utilities, energy companies, manufacturers, suppliers, startups, economic developers, investors, researchers, and other organizations with knowledge of Virginia’s energy ecosystem.
Organizations can:
For more information, contact Braden Croy at braden@dominnovation.com.
SCALE received $154,391 in GO Virginia funding as part of an approximately $234,000 initial project, including matching support. The project is supported through GO Virginia Regions 4 and 5.
This project was funded in part by GO Virginia, a state-funded initiative administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.
SCALE is supported through GO Virginia Regions 4 and 5, bringing together partners from Greater Richmond, the Tri-Cities, and Hampton Roads to advance shared economic development opportunities.
GO Virginia is a statewide economic development initiative that encourages collaboration among businesses, educational institutions, government, and community partners. The program invests in projects that strengthen regional economies, support industry growth, and create higher-paying private-sector jobs.
GROW Capital Jobs Foundation is the support organization for GO Virginia Region 4, which includes Greater Richmond, the Tri-Cities, and surrounding communities. It supports regional projects that encourage innovation, grow targeted industries, attract investment, and expand private-sector employment.
Hampton Roads Executive Roundtable is the support organization for GO Virginia Region 5, encompassing Hampton Roads and the Eastern Shore. It brings regional leaders together to strengthen priority industries, diversify the economy, attract business investment, and create new opportunities throughout the region.
Ashland, VA – The Dominion Energy Innovation Center (DEIC) today announced the Hampton Roads Alliance (the Alliance) as a key new organizational supporter, establishing a broader partnership to advance energy innovation, technology commercialization, and economic development across Central and Eastern Virginia.
Ashland, VA – The Dominion Energy Innovation Center (DEIC) has been awarded $154,391 in GO Virginia funding to study and catalyze advanced energy supply chains through a new project, Strategic Cluster Advancement for Leading Energy, or SCALE. The project is designed to build toward a focused hub for advanced electrical power systems and grid technologies in GO Virginia Regions 4 and 5, which cover much of eastern Virginia, including the Greater Richmond region, the Tri-Cities, and Hampton Roads.