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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
Arizona State University
PO Box 878606
Tempe, Arizona, 85287-8606
United States
University of California at Berkeley
Industrial Engineering & Operations Research
Etcheverry Hall, IEOR Dept.
Berkeley, California, 94720
United States
510-642-1836
Cornell University
School of Electrical & Computer Engineering
384 Frank H.T. Rhodes Hall
Ithaca, New York, 14853
United States
607-255-3900
Georgia Institute of Technology
Electrical & Computer Engineering
777 Atlantic Drive NW
Atlanta, Georgia, 30332-0250
United States
404-894-2926
Howard University
College of Engineering, Architecture & Computer Sciences
2300 6th Street NW
Washington, District of Columbia, 20059
United States
202-806-5350
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
College of Engineering
306 Engineering Hall
Urbana, Illinois, 61801
United States
217-333-0394
Iowa State University
Electrical & Computer Engineering
2210 Coover Hall
Ames, Iowa, 50011
United States
515-294-7687
Texas A&M University
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
3128 New Main Drive
College Station, Texas, 77843-3128
United States
979-845-7509
Washington State University
College of Engineering &
PO Box 642714
Pullman, Washington, 99164-2714
United States
509-335-1147
Wichita State University
Electrical & Computer Engineering
300 Wallace Hall
Wichita, Kansas, 67260-0044
United States
316-978-6340
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Electrical & Computing Engineering
1415 Engineering Drive
Madison, Wisconsin, 53706
United States
608-262-5546