2018 grided summary report · transfer workshop for affiliate universities was conducted in denver,...
TRANSCRIPT
2018 GridEd Summary Report
In 2013, the Department of Energy (DOE), through its Solar Energy Office (SETO) (formerly the SunShot Initiative), awarded to EPRI a project known as Grid Engineering for Accelerated Renewable Energy Deployment (GEARED). In response EPRI created what is known as GridEd—The Center for Grid Engineering Education. In 2016 the DOE granted EPRI and expansion for a formal program in the western U.S. known as STEP—Solar Training and Education for Professionals. The two grants resulted in a U.S. wide initiative. GridEd is comprised of EPRI, our seven (7) partner universities (Arizona State University, Clarkson University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Portland State University, University of California—Riverside, University North Carolina—Charlotte, and University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez), and participating utility sponsors.
Leveraging the Electric Industry
Over five-years, GridEd committed $8.5 million dollars into power engineering education and workforce development including a DOE investment of $5.2M along with cost-share commitments from 25 sponsoring utilities and 7 university partners. GridEd’s objective is to empower new and continuing education students not only to become competent and well-informed engineers but also to participate and influence major technological, social, and policy decisions that address critical global challenges. Additionally, GridEd connects its utilities, universities, and students with the larger U. S. GEARED network. The national network includes an additional 12 universities, 8 utilities, 13 industry representatives, and 2 national labs. Collaboration within the GEARED network
consists of shared student conferences, innovation boards, and networking events. This report concludes the GEARED activities of GridEd as efforts shift to the new Grid-Ready Energy Analytics Training (GREAT) with Data initiative (more information provided below).
Affiliate Universities The electric utility industry has a historical practice of hiring employees from local and/or regional universities. The GridEd approach is to improve the quality of future employees and create a partnership between the utility and its area and regional universities. As such, one of the most exciting aspects of GridEd is the establishment of an Affiliate university program through our utility sponsors as an extension of the university network. Affiliate universities have many opportunities to engage the GridEd program through shared course materials, Student Innovation Boards, discounts to GridEd short courses (sometimes at no cost), and GEARED student conferences. Through 2018, GridEd has also sponsored 22 undergraduate design projects in power engineering at Affiliate universities.
2018 Affiliate Universities GridEd-East GridEd-West
Buffalo State University Colorado School of Mines
Case Western Reserve University Colorado State University
Clemson University New Mexico State University
Louisiana State University Oregon Institute of Technology
North Carolina State University Oregon State University
Rensselear Polytechnic Institute South Dakota State University
State University of NY, New Paltz University of California, Irvine
Syracuse University University of California, Los Angeles
University of Akron University of Colorado, Denver
University of Alabama-Birmingham Washington State University, Pullman
University of Louisville Washington State University, Vancouver
University of Nebraska West Texas A&M University
University of New Orleans Western Washington University
University of Memphis
University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
University of Texas - San Antonio
University of the Incarnate Word
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
2018 Utility Advisors GridEd-West GridEd-East
Arizona Public Service Central Hudson
Bonneville Power Administration CPS Energy
Portland General Electric Consolidated Edison
Salt River Project Duke Energy
Snohomish PUD Entergy
Southern California Edison FirstEnergy
Tri-State G& T LG&E and KU
Western Area Power Authority Lincoln Electric System
Xcel Energy New York Power Authority
Southern Company
Tennessee Valley Authority
Curriculum Sharing with University Network To date, the 7 GridEd partner universities have developed ten (10) new courses and nineteen (19) modified courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, impacting a total of 2,763 students. The 29 different course topics range from basic undergraduate courses in power systems analysis, power electronics, and electrical energy systems to more advanced graduate level courses including IoT for Grid Modernization, Market Operation of Power Systems, and Power Quality. Course materials such as power point slides, lecture notes, homework assignments, and exams have been uploaded to GridEd’s SharePoint repository for access by Affiliate and Partner universities. Further, a technology transfer workshop for Affiliate universities was conducted in Denver, Colorado in April, 2018 where university professors assembled to share GridEd products developed to date.
Student Engagement Attracting and preparing students for the electric power industry is at the core of GridEd’s mission. In 2018, GridEd engaged the next generation of power engineers through a variety of mechanisms.
• GridEd’s Student Innovation Board grew to 27 members in 2018. SIB members participated in meetings, workshops and conferences.
• Forty-seven student posters were designed for the GEARED Poster Session at DistribuTECH 2019 (January) in San Antonio, TX. Students were able to present their work, explore the conference exhibit hall, attend a tour as well as network with human resource connections.
• GridEd provided alerts for internships.
Professional Short Course Program GridEd continued to expand course development and offerings of its short course program to address the educational needs of practicing engineers. The GridEd short course library expanded to include new courses such as Electric Transportation, Big Data Analytics in the Electric Power Distribution Systems, and Bulk System Integration of Variable Generation. GridEd continued to survey utility sponsors to determine gaps in utility industry needs for employee training. Based on the gap assessment, new courses were developed, and existing courses were offered again. Through 2018, 942 attendees received a total of 10,000 professional development hours via the GridEd Short Course Program. Visit http://grided.epri.com/courses.html for more short course information.
What’s Next? GridEd Launches the GREAT with Data Initiative The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) along with electric utility
partners and universities have been selected by U.S. DOE--SETO to receive
a $6.5M award to launch the Grid-Ready Energy Analytics Training (GREAT)
with Data initiative to educate a workforce issues at the intersection of
power systems and digital systems.
For More Information: Thomas Reddoch – [email protected] Steven Coley – [email protected] Amy Feser – [email protected]
Feedback from Short Course Evaluations
• “I attended the Electric Transportation class taught by an
awesome expert. I learned and energized my enthusiasm
while attending this class. Keep up the great work!”
• “The instructors have a broad knowledge of the inverter
industry and research efforts.”
• “The course is very timely about topics currently facing
us.”
Map of GridEd participants from 2013 through 2018