Avangrid Extends Strategic Partnership with Yale University to Accelerate Energy Innovation and Grid Resilience
Avangrid, Inc., a leading U.S. energy company and a member of the Iberdrola Group, has announced the extension of its strategic partnership with Yale University, reinforcing a shared commitment to advancing energy innovation, sustainability, and grid resilience. The renewed collaboration was formalized during a signing ceremony held on Yale’s campus on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, underscoring the long-term nature of the relationship between academia and industry in shaping the future of energy.
Avangrid Chief Executive Officer Jose Antonio Miranda attended the ceremony and reaffirmed the company’s dedication to supporting Yale’s research initiatives, which focus on developing smarter, cleaner, and more adaptive energy systems. The partnership represents a continued alignment between Avangrid’s operational expertise and Yale’s world-class academic research capabilities.
“Partnering with Yale allows us to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the energy sector,” said Miranda. “By combining rigorous academic research with real-world industry experience, we are accelerating solutions that enhance energy reliability, flexibility, and adaptability in an increasingly complex and dynamic energy landscape.”
The collaboration, which began in 2019, has evolved into a multifaceted platform supporting applied research, executive education, workforce development, and policy analysis. Together, Avangrid and Yale have focused on tackling some of the most pressing challenges facing the energy industry, including decarbonization, electrification, grid modernization, and equitable access to clean energy technologies.
As a Connecticut-based company, Avangrid has emphasized the importance of strengthening local partnerships that benefit both the regional economy and the broader energy ecosystem. United Illuminating (UI), Avangrid’s electric utility serving customers in Connecticut, has played a key role in translating academic insights into practical solutions that support grid resilience and customer reliability.
“As a Connecticut-based company, we are fortunate to have access to world-class research capabilities and a pipeline of exceptional talent right here in our backyard,” said Frank Reynolds, Chief Executive Officer of United Illuminating. “This partnership has allowed us to build meaningful relationships with the local community while accelerating progress toward a more resilient and reliable electric grid.”
Yale University leaders highlighted the collaboration as a model for how academic institutions and private-sector companies can work together to drive meaningful change. The Yale School of the Environment, in particular, has been a central contributor to the partnership, bringing together interdisciplinary expertise in climate science, energy systems, economics, and public policy.
“This partnership brings Yale School of the Environment’s top scholars and students together with leaders from a forward-thinking company committed to innovation and sustainability,” said Indy Burke, Carl W. Knobloch, Jr. Dean of the Yale School of the Environment. “There is immense potential in this collaboration to help chart a new energy future, and I am deeply grateful for Avangrid and Iberdrola’s continued investment in this important work.”
Over the past several years, the Avangrid–Yale partnership has supported a wide range of research initiatives with tangible real-world applications. Recent focus areas include heat pump adoption and electrification strategies, energy storage deployment, and energy policy frameworks that support the transition to cleaner and more resilient energy systems.
Among the partnership’s notable achievements are studies assessing the feasibility of solar power integration in Connecticut, analyses of network benefits related to grid interconnections, and research exploring how distributed energy resources can be more effectively integrated into existing infrastructure. These projects have provided actionable insights for utilities, regulators, and policymakers, helping to inform investment decisions and long-term planning.
In addition to technical research, the collaboration has also produced a customized leadership development program for Avangrid executives. Designed in partnership with Yale faculty, the program equips senior leaders with a deeper understanding of energy system transformation, climate risk, and innovation management—ensuring that strategic decisions are informed by the latest research and global best practices.
Beyond research and executive education, the partnership plays a critical role in strengthening Avangrid’s talent pipeline. Through internships, applied research projects, and experiential learning opportunities, Yale students are given direct exposure to real-world energy challenges. These experiences allow students to apply their academic training in fields such as data analytics, engineering, environmental science, and public policy, while gaining practical insight into the operations of a major energy company.
For Avangrid, these student engagements help cultivate the next generation of energy professionals and innovators. For Yale students, the collaboration offers a pathway to hands-on experience in an industry undergoing rapid transformation, providing valuable skills that extend well beyond the classroom.
The partnership also reflects Avangrid’s broader strategy of collaborating with leading academic institutions to foster innovation, accelerate the energy transition, and deliver tangible benefits to customers and communities. By leveraging academic research, Avangrid aims to develop scalable solutions that enhance system reliability, support decarbonization goals, and improve affordability for consumers.
This renewed agreement with Yale complements Avangrid’s long-standing collaborations with more than 30 colleges, universities, and research associations across the United States and internationally. These partnerships span advanced research, workforce development, and policy engagement, reinforcing Avangrid’s position as a company that views innovation as a cornerstone of its long-term growth and sustainability strategy.
As the energy sector continues to evolve amid increasing electrification, climate pressures, and technological change, partnerships like the one between Avangrid and Yale University are expected to play an increasingly vital role. By bridging academic insight and operational expertise, the collaboration aims to deliver solutions that are not only innovative, but also practical, scalable, and aligned with the needs of communities across the country.
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