Modern Power Grid Needs Advanced Controls

Modern Power Grid

In the 1990s, the U.S. built out the broadband networks that laid the foundation for today’s high-speed Internet and resulting technologies. And now, the nation needs to put that same kind of attention into upgrading its power grid.

Keyue Smedley, an IEEE Fellow and professor of electrical engineering and computer science at University of California Irvine, said the current grid was designed for predictable loads and centralized control. That means when there’s system instability or a blackout, it cascades to other parts of the power grid. And new types of uses—such as electric-vehicle charging stations—are intermittent and difficult to prepare for, as are renewable sources of energy, such as solar or wind. Continue reading “Modern Power Grid Needs Advanced Controls”

Record Attendance for IGESC 2015

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CSULB electrical engineering professor Henry Yeh,conference chair since 2009, opens IGESC to record attendance Monday.

The IEEE Green Energy and Systems Conference (IGESC) returned to California State University Long Beach for the sixth year on Monday, celebrating record attendance as interest in sustainability increases. This year’s theme was renewable technology for green buildings and energy efficiency.

“I believe there are still a lot of challenges to overcome and many opportunities for research and development projects,” said electrical engineering professor Henry Yeh, who founded the IEEE Systems Council Chapter in 2009 and has served as the conference chair since 2010. Continue reading “Record Attendance for IGESC 2015”