Research & Events

TECRE collaborates with Northeastern University to conduct cutting-edge research on battery modules that supports circular energy economies, while also hosting educational events that teach youth and community members the fundamentals of renewable energy systems.



Transforming Research into Community Impact


Creating a Circular Battery Economy™ requires more than technology - it requires people. Through education, research, and community engagement, TECRE is preparing the next generation of innovators, strengthening local communities, and building the knowledge and workforce needed to create lasting change in Puerto Rico.

Confident young man in suit presenting research findings on a poster at a conference.

Research & Innovation

Advancing the science behind second-life battery technologies.

✓ Electrochemical & battery research
✓ University research partnerships
✓ Battery diagnostics & testing
✓ New battery repurposing technologies
✓ Research publications & innovation

Education & Workforce

Preparing the next generation of clean energy professionals.

✓ Student internships
✓ Workforce development
✓ Educational learning modules
✓ Technical training
✓ Symposiums & webinars

Smiling woman with glasses and dark hair in a bun, wearing a floral top, clapping beside her.

Community Impact

Turning research into real-world solutions for Puerto Rico.

✓ Community workshops
✓ Yellow Zone demonstrations
✓ G8 community partnerships
✓ Energy resilience projects
✓ Community engagement


Symposia & Milestones


Upcoming
 Designing a Circular Battery Economy for Puerto Rico
📅 Symposium Date: November 16, 17, or 18, 2026 — Exact date to be confirmed

📍 Location: Puerto Rican University Live Stream to Northeastern University

🔗 Conference Details: Symposium Overview and Agenda

2026

📅 February 5th, 2026 — Journal Publication
Article: Design for Reuse, Remanufacturing, Recovery, and Recycling in Puerto Rico
🔗 DOI: 10.65569/LAMM4453

📅 October 10th, 2025 — Energy 2025 Conference

Activity: TECRE attended the Energy 2025 Conference.

📍 Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico

🔗 Conference Website: Energy 2025 Conference

📅 Sep 2023 – ECS Interface magazine 

Publication: TECRE’s educational modules were published in the Electrochemical Society Interface magazine.

📚 Citation: ECS Interface, 2023, 32 (3), 97–98.

🔗 Publication: ECS Interface Article

📅 June 16th, 2023 – ACS Northeast Regional Meeting (ACS NERM)

Presentation: Implementation of an electrical generator kit to demonstrate electronics, magnetism, and renewable energy fundamentals at the middle- and high-school level

Poster: 498

📍 Location: Boston, Massachusetts

🔗 Conference Website: 2023 ACS Northeast Regional Meeting (ACS NERM)

May 29th, 2023 – 243rd Electrochemical Society Meeting

Presentation: Turning the Wheel Through the Ages

Poster: L01-2419

📍 Location: Boston, Massachusetts

🔗 Poster Abstract: Turning the Wheel Through the Ages

🔗 Conference Website: 243rd Electrochemical Society Meeting

📅 May 3rd, 2023 – Energy, Electronics & Education

Educational Outreach: TECRE hosted the Energy, Electronics & Education event at Northeastern University, where students from the Roxbury Youth Program participated in an experiential learning program using TECRE-developed educational modules to explore renewable energy concepts.

📍 Location: Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts


Op-Eds


Dr. Eugene S. Smotkin is a regular op-ed contributor for El Nuevo Día, Puerto Rico’s largest and most prominent newspaper.

He leverages his background as a university professor and scientist to analyze Puerto Rico's socioeconomic landscape, political status, infrastructure challenges, and culture.

Opinion pieces that are interwoven with TECRE's mission to enhance energy equity across Puerto Rico's populace through the development of a circular battery economy are linked below:

  • El 25 de julio y los caminos que debemos abrazar / July 25 and the Paths We Must Embrace (July 2026): An op-ed emphasizing that regardless of whether Puerto Rico pursues statehood, independence, or remains a commonwealth, its primary focus must remain on building a reliable electrical grid and cultivating educated professionals, scientists, and engineers. (Español | English)