Overview
The Power Systems Engineering Research Center consists of industry and academic leaders addressing critical grid challenges and supporting the energy transition through cutting-edge research, collaborative problem-solving, and workforce development.
Started in 1996 as a National Science Foundation Industry-University Cooperative Research Center, the Power Systems Engineering Research Center (PSERC) draws on researchers’ ingenuity to creatively address key challenges in creating a modern electric energy infrastructure. The multidisciplinary expertise of PSERC’s researchers includes:
- Power Systems
- Applied Mathematics
- Complex Systems
- Computing
- Control Theory
- Power Electronics
- Operations Research
- Non-Linear Systems
- Economics
- Industrial Organization
- Public Policy
PSERC partners with private and public organizations that provide a range of power systems-related services. Currently, the PSERC collaboration includes 13 universities and over 20 industries.
PSERC provides:
- Efficient access to experienced university researchers in an array of relevant disciplines and geographically located across the U.S.
- Leading-edge research in cost-effective projects jointly developed by industry leaders and university experts
- High quality education of future power engineers
How PSERC’s Research Program Works
PSERC’s industry members pay an annual membership fee used to support PSERC’s research program. Industry members and university researchers collaborate to identify critical research needs and creative new ideas. After a competitive solicitation is circulated, research teams from PSERC universities develop proposals with industry project advisors. Industry members review the proposals. The reviews are then provided to the Director, who works closely with the Executive Committee to develop a recommended set of proposals to move forward and present their proposal. After the proposals are presented at the December industry-university meeting, industry members vote on the proposal finalists.
Industry members may contribute additional membership funds to support targeted research projects aligned with PSERC’s research program. This funding often extends an existing line of research, supports demonstrations or use of data from a particular PSERC member, or broaden the scope of an existing project.