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. All talks may be viewed on our
Webviewing at UC Davis: 1007 Kemper Hall
Webviewing at UC Merced: SE1 100
Webviewing at UC Santa Cruz: SOE E2 Building, Room 506
Abstract:
The National Academy of Engineering hailed the electric power grid as the 20th century’s engineering innovation most beneficial to our civilization. A 21st century electric system is essential to America’s ability to lead the world and create jobs in the clean-energy economy of the future. Specifically, California is embarking on an effort to further modernize its electric grid, often referred to as developing a Smart Grid, in order to support many of California’s overall energy and sustainability policies, including Governor Brown’s goal to install 12,000 MW of renewable distributed generation by 2020. The California electric investor-owned utilities (IOUs) have recently developed Smart Grid Deployment Plans, which outline their grid modernization visions. At the national level, there is notable ongoing work related to interoperability and other Smart Grid standards, such as by the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) and the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
By linking information technologies with the electric power grid, the Smart Grid promises many benefits, including increased energy efficiency, reduced carbon emissions, and improved power reliability. Yet there are also many technical challenges to be overcome, particularly in the areas of electric reliability and resiliency, power quality, and workforce and public safety. There is an urgent need and a strong demand for adequately trained electric power and energy engineers in both traditional power engineering and information technology. There is also an opportunity for the University of California to fulfill an important role to provide a holistic systems engineering vision to solve industry challenges and to cost-effectively build California’s 21st century electric power grid.