NSF Workshop on

Power and Energy Education

Breakout Group 2

Reporters: Brian Johnson, University of IdahoDagmar Niebur, Drexel University

Integration of Renewables

Challenges of large-scale integration of renewables on the equipment side or HV side:

voltage fluctuation, frequency issues, wind forecasting

Risk and policy issues: Educational modules related to integration for various levels and audiences, as for example investment bankers versus power engineers

Microgrid Resiliency

Attracts interest of DOE and DOD Economic incentives for utilities are less clear

Policies may require utilities to buy back intermittent power

In the extreme, utilities serve as backup power only Curriculum aspects include

Control including distributed and hybrid control

Market and pricing models

Forecasting of intermittent resources

Storage

Cyber Security

Idaho National Labs – GridGame competition with microgrids operated by EE/CS student teams responding to hacking by a team of by CS students to be conducted at the IEEE International Symposium on Resilient Control Systems, August 2014=> Develop similar labs or organize summer schools

Collaborative Modules

Integration of CPS Aspects in the Power and Energy Curriculum

Control Center SCADA Hardware Labs for integration of cyber data and physical data

Team-teaching CS and EE students should mentor each other

(NCSU terminology “each one mentor one.”) Develop communities of learners (also outside

the class room)

Curriculum using MOOCs or otherOn-line Education

Key issues: Content Ideas – Discussed on remaining slides Format – Majority favored modules Delivery methods – Need to involve

Instructional support

Education specialists Delivery methods – Requires

Institutional support

Recognition of effort Archiving and maintenance

Need of educational module clearing house

Need of long-term commitment to maintain and update course modules

Other R&E Issues

Green Power Management of Data Centers Electrification of Transportation Synergy of Petroleum Engineering and Electric

Power and Energy Public Education in Energy Efficiency and

Demand Response

Development of new degrees or minors in smart grids, potentially as a BS of Arts instead of Science

Other General Issues

Need for leveling the NSF “playing field” by including smaller universities

Scalability of NSF Programs

Equal partnering of smaller and bigger schools

Challenges of multi-disciplinary teamsTribal languages of disciplines, PE, CS, Econ etc.

Engineering cultures

Opportunities of multi-disciplinary teamsCommunities of learners

Cross-disciplinary mentoring

General Issues - Industry Need for engaging industry more systematically

and more closely in curricular matterEx.: Australian Power Institute (API)

industry survey outlines requirements

4 week long modules, courses and labs

Developed by some universities, deployed by others,

Funded by the Commonwealth Accreditation Structural Reform Program at a level of ca 4$M/year and matched by industry contributions to API (see objectives next slide).

API offers bursaries, laboratory, partial faculty support.

The Australian Power Institute -A Model for Advancing Power Engineering Careers

Key objectives:

Students view power engineering as an exciting whole of working life career choice University undergraduate teaching and learning

provides sustainable industry skills Continuing professional development programs

and coordinated, concerted research are value adding to industry

API is positioned as a vibrant, nationally respected organization by industry, universities and government