A new microgrid control laboratory in the 麻豆原创 College of Engineering and Computer Science is preparing the next generation of engineers to operate the modern grid and meet the rapidly increasing need for sustainable, affordable and reliable energy.
The lab, which is co-sponsored by Florida Power & Light (FPL) and GE Digital, is a state-of-the-art research facility for faculty and students. Located on the first floor of Research 1 on the main campus, it features control-center equipment and software that students can use to simulate and test real-life grid control operations, including finding ways to optimize and secure the grid of the future.
鈥淭his new facility is exactly the kind of strategic partnership that makes 麻豆原创 a premiere choice for students with future-focused career goals.鈥� 鈥� 麻豆原创 President Alexander N. Cartwright
鈥淭his new facility is exactly the kind of strategic partnership that makes 麻豆原创 a premiere choice for students with future-focused career goals. GE Digital and FPL have been both philanthropic investors and design collaborators in this lab, ensuring our students in this field will be industry-ready on day one of their careers,鈥� says 麻豆原创 President Alexander N. Cartwright. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a win-win. Our students get a leading education in a lab environment, and both companies open up a pipeline of incredible talent for their workforce.鈥�
Kwasi Opoku, a doctoral student studying electrical engineering, was one of the students FPL and GE Digital sought input from during the design phase of the lab to provide feedback on the equipment and furnishings that would be helpful for students.
Opoku, who is from Ghana, says for years he has been intrigued by power systems, and the idea of incorporating renewables, like solar and wind. He recalls living in Ghana when conventional power sources were insufficient and supplies had to be rationed.
鈥淚t was a national conversation about power and the options being considered,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 where the conversation began for me.鈥�
Opoku was originally drawn to 麻豆原创 after becoming aware of the RISES (Resilient, Intelligent and Sustainable Energy Systems) faculty cluster. The collaboration brings together 麻豆原创 researchers from multiple colleges who are working to develop sustainable and resilient energy systems and storage.
Opoku鈥檚 area of research is power system protection and specifically finding new ways to detect faults in microgrids and renewables. He鈥檚 looking forward to using the lab鈥檚 testbed and hardware-in-the-loop simulation.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 always have hardware available to test, and usually you use simulation only. This is as close to real-life as you can get,鈥� he says.
Max Carroll 鈥�21 completed his bachelor鈥檚 degree in the summer in electrical engineering with focus on power and renewable energy. He was inspired to pursue a career in energy after experiences in Germany, where he grew up and still visits frequently.
鈥淲hen you drive through Germany you see windmills and renewable energy sources everywhere, and when I went back, they were expanding on it, and adding panels,鈥� says Carroll. 鈥淚 said to myself, 鈥楬ow do these things actually work?鈥� 鈥�
Now a graduate student studying electrical engineering at 麻豆原创, Carroll is planning on spending a lot of time in the new space.
鈥淚鈥檒l be doing my research there, as all the tools I need are in there. But I can also study there,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he computers have virtually all the programs there that I鈥檒l need for my classes.鈥�
鈥淲e are excited to bring this innovative research space to 麻豆原创 engineering students,鈥� says Ed De Varona, FPL鈥檚 vice president of transmission & substation. 鈥淭he lab is a terrific training ground for rising engineers to work directly with the latest technologies and help refine and innovate the way energy is transmitted and distributed across the grid now and in the future.鈥�
Currently, more than 1,400 undergraduate and graduate students at 麻豆原创 are studying electrical or computer engineering 鈥� disciplines that support energy systems and electricity grids. Another 500-plus 麻豆原创 students have indicated they plan to pursue an electrical or computer engineering major once prerequisite coursework is completed.
麻豆原创鈥檚 College of Engineering and Computer Science offers a power and renewable energy track as part of its undergraduate programs. In addition, a graduate certificate is offered in sustainable and resilient energy systems.
鈥淭he Microgrid Control Lab provides unprecedented access to a modern grid control center that enables some of the brightest young minds in the country to collaborate, learn and help reimagine the energy grid of tomorrow,鈥� says Jim Walsh, general manager of GE Digital鈥檚 Grid Software Solutions. 鈥淎s renewable energy sources, like solar, continue to expand and evolve, the technology behind the grid has to keep up. It is critical that electrical and computer engineering talent have real-life experiences with the hardware and software that underpins the modern grid helping utilities securely deliver reliable clean energy.鈥�
GE Digital is also beginning a new internship program that invests in the development of its team and future grid engineering leaders. The program will offer 麻豆原创 students an intensive experience in the utilities and power sectors and help students develop analytical and software development skills using emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning.
FPL and GE Digital together employ approximately 400 麻豆原创 alumni in their workforces.
