Eversource Energy Center researcher Peng Zhang, Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, has received $800,000 from the National Science Foundation to research microgrids. This award comes on the heels of the Center’s revamping research to increase resilience of the present and future grid, and recognizes Prof. Peng and his team’s work as a trusted source of information for utility customers and communities. This technology could lead to more autonomous and flexible energy networks through smart programmable microgrids (SPM). SPM’s are scaled versions of regular power grids but serve much smaller communities by integrating local sources of renewable energy that would not be sufficient to power a larger distributed energy resources grid. Because power is produced and stored locally, it can be distributed to critical service centers in the event of a disaster and is more energy efficient. Professor’s Zhang SPM software includes security features that would enhance resilience to power grid cyber-attacks. The full story of Professor Zhang’s NSF awards is posted here.
Published: October 4, 2018
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