Background
This course is taught by experts from both universities and the private sector. It prepares students for careers related to modernizing the electric grid, including roles like utility planner, community advocates, project developer, engineers, program managers, and policy analysts.
The course will include “real world” projects that will allow the student teams to explore if and how the Smart Grid and related technologies and approaches can support sustainable development and a cleaner energy future. In addition panels of expert advisors will help the faculty guide the student teams. Optional field trips may also be provided if there is sufficient student interest.
The course will help prepare students to contribute to grid modernization as project developers, engineers, program managers, policy analysts, business analysts, attorneys, economists and other key positions. It will also serve as a valuable resource for those who may not want to focus their careers on energy related issues but appreciate the value of knowing more about how the transformation taking place in the energy sector can support other aspects of sustainable development.
Students will mainly work on a team project and give presentations. Each week features an industry topic which will be led by an expert in the field or a guest speaker from industry and government, and there may be optional field trips.
Distance-learning / Zoom option is available (real-time & recorded sessions).
Smart Grid Public Forum
The class will conclude with a Smart Grid Public Forum during the final class session. At the Forum, student teams will present their findings to many invited leaders from the Northwest energy community. Previous Public Forums have developed a well-earned reputation for advancing the region’s knowledge of the challenges and opportunities associated with the smart grid, grid modernization, and a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.
Course Topics
This course explores many cutting-edge topics through an 11-week schedule. Each week focuses on a different aspect of grid modernization, led by expert guest speakers from the energy industry. As a result, every edition of this course differs from the earlier ones. Edition 9.0 is no exception. The course syllabus is still being refined and guest speakers are still being recruited. However, here are some of the topics under consideration for this year's course.
- Course Overview & How the Grid Works: How the electric grid operates from generation to meter, key institutions, and the forces driving transformation: decarbonization, decentralization, digitization, and electrification.
- Grid Fundamentals & Oregon Energy Policy: Deeper dive into wholesale electricity markets, distribution system basics, and the regulatory landscape. Introduction to the Oregon Energy Strategy (released November 2025 under HB 3630), its five pathways, and the state’s projected doubling of electricity demand by 2050.
- Planning the Future Grid: How utilities plan for grid investments, forecast load, and integrate distributed resources into distribution system plans. Examination of utility Distribution System Plans (DSPs), Integrated Resource Plans (IRPs), and the intersection of transmission and distribution planning.
- Distributed Energy Resources & Flexible Loads: Survey of distributed energy resources (DERs)—rooftop solar, behind-the-meter storage, smart thermostats, heat pumps, EVs—and how they interact with the grid. Covers grid-interactive efficient buildings, demand response, flexible load management, and the role of building electrification in grid planning.
- Energy Storage & Microgrids: Battery storage economics, technology trends (lithium iron phosphate, long-duration storage), and the role of storage in grid operations. Microgrid design, project planning, community resilience microgrids, and the multifamily use case.
- Virtual Power Plants & Aggregation Models: How DERs are aggregated into Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) that can provide grid services at scale. Covers DER aggregations, commercial models, and the growing role of VPPs as alternatives to gas peaker plants.
- Affordability, Equity, & Energy Democracy: Who pays for the energy transition, and who benefits? Examination of rising utility rates, energy burden in frontline communities, community solar, rate design and equity, and models of energy democracy.
- AI, Data Centers, & Load Growth: The surge in data center construction and AI computing is reshaping grid planning nationwide. Examination of load forecasting challenges, equity concerns about who pays for grid expansion, and the potential for AI tools to improve grid operations and planning.
- Grid & Local Resilience: Wildfire risk management, climate adaptation, public safety power shutoffs, and utility system hardening. Community-scale resilience: tribal energy sovereignty projects, rural microgrids, and Oregon’s resilience pathways.
- Cybersecurity & Grid Operations: As the grid becomes more digitized and distributed, cybersecurity risks multiply. Covers threats to DERs and operational technology (OT) systems, federal cybersecurity standards (NERC CIP), the role of AI in both attack and defense, and grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) for transmission system modernization.
- Smart Grid Public Forum (Student Presentations): Student team presentations and Smart Grid Public Forum. Class will be held at its normal time during finals week.