A new microgrid control laboratory in the UCF 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.
麻豆精品 S淭his new facility is exactly the kind of strategic partnership that makes UCF a premiere choice for students with future-focused career goals. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright
麻豆精品 S淭his new facility is exactly the kind of strategic partnership that makes UCF 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, 麻豆精品 S� says UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S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. 麻豆精品 S�
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.
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Opoku was originally drawn to UCF after becoming aware of the RISES (Resilient, Intelligent and Sustainable Energy Systems) faculty cluster. The collaboration brings together UCF researchers from multiple colleges who are working to develop sustainable and resilient energy systems and storage.
Opoku 麻豆精品 S檚 area of research is power system protection and specifically finding new ways to detect faults in microgrids and renewables. He 麻豆精品 S檚 looking forward to using the lab 麻豆精品 S檚 testbed and hardware-in-the-loop simulation.
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Max Carroll 麻豆精品 S�21 completed his bachelor 麻豆精品 S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.
麻豆精品 S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, 麻豆精品 S� says Carroll. 麻豆精品 S淚 said to myself, 麻豆精品 S楬ow do these things actually work? 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S�
Now a graduate student studying electrical engineering at UCF, Carroll is planning on spending a lot of time in the new space.
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Currently, more than 1,400 undergraduate and graduate students at UCF are studying electrical or computer engineering 麻豆精品 S� disciplines that support energy systems and electricity grids. Another 500-plus UCF students have indicated they plan to pursue an electrical or computer engineering major once prerequisite coursework is completed.
UCF 麻豆精品 S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.
麻豆精品 S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, 麻豆精品 S� says Jim Walsh, general manager of GE Digital 麻豆精品 S檚 Grid Software Solutions. 麻豆精品 S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. 麻豆精品 S�
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 UCF 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 UCF alumni in their workforces.
