Power Systems Engineering Research Center (Phase III) (PSERC)

Arizona State University

Cornell University

Georgia Institute of Technology

Howard University

Iowa State University

Texas A&M University

University of California at Berkeley

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Washington State University

Wichita State University

Last Reviewed: (not done)

As a National Science Foundation Industry-University Cooperative Research Center, the Power Systems Engineering Research Center (PSERC) draws on university capabilities to creatively address key challenges to creating a modern electric energy infrastructure that enables a low-carbon economy that serves society. Its research focuses on power markets, power systems, and transmission and distribution technologies.

Center Mission and Rationale

PSERC's core purpose is to empower minds to engineer the future electric energy system. Under the banner of PSERC, multiple U.S. universities are working collaboratively toward:

An efficient, secure, resilient, adaptable, and economic electric power infrastructure serving society
A new generation of educated technical professionals in electric power
Knowledgeable decision-makers on critical energy policy issues
Sustained, quality university programs in electric power engineering.

The electric power industry is evolving from its historical business structure. Challenges for success in this demanding business environment are being raised by a new direction for the industry toward low-carbon technologies, new market structures and ways of doing business, new smart grid technologies, the demands of customers for customized services, strategic choices between centralized and decentralized technologies, and a graying industry that needs well-trained power engineers. Achieving high penetration of renewable generation technologies has become a major driver for change. Yet the basic function of the industry – to produce and to deliver power, safely and reliably – has not changed. The challenges call for new strategies, technologies, analytical capabilities and tools, and operating practices, along with sound public policy guidance.

The multidisciplinary expertise of PSERC’s researchers includes power systems, applied mathematics, complex systems, computing, control theory, power electronics, operations research, non-linear systems, economics, industrial organization and public policy. We partner with private and public organizations that provide integrated energy services, transmission and distribution services, power system planning, control and oversight, market management services, and public policy development.

Education Program

The undergraduate and graduate power programs at PSERC’s collaborating universities produce engineers capable of making substantive contributions in today’s complex power industry. By taking innovative research findings to the classroom and involving students in our research, PSERC faculty introduce students to the cutting edge of power system technologies, analytical techniques and industry practices. Not only does PSERC help students become technically prepared for their next job, it also assures that they will be knowledgeable about the challenges and trends transforming the industry. PSERC also facilitates efficient employment searches through industry-student interactions at industry meetings, student involvement in PSERC projects, web site postings, email announcements, and an on-line career service for students.

Research program

Power Markets

Markets research focuses on market design, analysis, and mechanisms within the context of the electric power system. Current research topics include implications of greenhouse gas policy options for power systems, coupling wind generation with controllable load and storage, demand response options for integrating renewable energy, and interactions of energy and environmental policies in a transmission constrained electric power market.

Power Systems

Systems research seeks ways to increase use, efficiency and reliability of increasingly complex and dynamic power systems. Current research topics are transmission corridors to support renewable energy resources, integration of storage devices with renewable, special protection schemes, visualization using PMU data, synchrophasor application framework, on-line security assessment, and model and data interoperability in a smart grid.

T&D Technologies

This research improves performance of transmission and distribution (T&D) systems by finding new applications for innovative technologies. Current research projects include new substation designs, communication requirements for a smart grid, PHEV’s for energy storage, smart grid implications for distribution engineering, interoperability of PMU’s and PMU-enabled intelligent electronic devices, and micro and nano dielectrics for utility applications.

Special Activities

Through monthly webinars and on-site seminars, PSERC meets continuing education needs of engineers from our industrial partners. The PSERC website, available at www.pserc.org, has tutorials, analysis tools and archived webinars along with papers, reports and presentations by our researchers.

At semi-annual meetings, industry, faculty and students dialog on research projects and education activities, discuss industry challenges, and plan future research. Presentations, tutorials and networking provide new insights and professional development.

At a summer workshop, PSERC industry members and researchers gather to share research needs and ideas, and to develop a research solicitation for new proposals.