13 August 2009

Stimulus money for new U.S. power grid

The goal is to move electromechanical switchgear out of the powerhouse and have solid-state electronics run the nation’s electricity distribution system. Its reaction time is 200 times faster.

Electrical engineering researchers at the University of Arkansas and the University of South Carolina will receive federal economic stimulus funds via the National Science Foundation (NSF) to continue and strengthen their efforts to modernize the national power grid. The award will establish an NSF center of excellence, known as an Industry/University Cooperative Research Center.

The center will focus on grid-connected, advanced-power electronic systems, and will operate under both universities. It reinforces a major research thrust—grid-connected power electronics—of the university’s existing National Center for Reliable Electric Power Transmission (NCREPT).

“These funds will help us develop the knowledge, tools, hardware, software, and personnel to flood the 21st century power grid with power electronics,” said Alan Mantooth, professor of electrical engineering and executive director of the new center and the NCREPT.

“The nature of this grant will enable us to expand NCREPT’s work with utility companies, defense contractors, equipment manufacturers, component suppliers, and others to bring to market the technologies that will be needed to realize a robust and more reliable power grid.”

The award, funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, becomes effective 1 September and lasts for five years.

The researchers work with purely electronic—referred to as “solid-state”—systems, which they are designing to replace or augment the grid’s existing electromechanical switchgear.

The latter sometimes do not function as quickly as needed and thus lead to unreliable service.

For related information, go to www.isa.org/link/power.