Background
This interdisciplinary course is co-taught by a team of faculty and industry experts, supported by national and regional experts who will participate as guest speakers. 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.
Distance learning Zoom option 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 that have just recently emerged or are just now emerging. 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.
- An introduction to the existing grid and the grid transformation process that is currently underway;
- Formation of interdisciplinary student teams and recruitment and assignment of expert advisors for these teams;
- The emergence of new (and some say “disruptive”) technologies and financing approaches, the resulting calls for new business and regulatory models associated with the “utility death spiral”, and their relationship to the Northwest’s energy profile;
- The impact of climate change on the transmission grid and grid outages;
- How grid modernization and energy storage can enhance the value and effectiveness of wind, solar and other valuable but intermittent renewable energy resources;
- Key energy policy issues, challenges and opportunities that have already impacted or are now emerging as a result of the smart grid and grid transformation;
- Oregon’s unique approach to identifying and adapting to major changes in the electricity sector;
- Demand response technologies and results;
- Advances in solar technology, the debate over net metering, and the fight over how to value the costs and benefits of solar;
- Challenges and opportunities associated with “Internet of Things”, communications standards, interoperability, and cybersecurity concerns;
- The challenge of ensuring grid stability and reliability: the role of synchrophasors and other tools for grid monitoring and control;
- California’s role as an energy innovation hub and the implications for the Pacific Northwest;
- The emerging role of distribution system planning in the face of grid modernization and the popularity of solar, wind and other distributed energy resources;
- New technologies and approaches to energy storage, microgrids, and community solar;
- Emerging and next generation technologies and approaches;
- Relevant new climate, clean energy, and infrastructure legislation and policy that has come from the federal government;
- The evolution of transmission policy and markets in the Western US;
- Regional responses to wildfires and other climate-related natural disasters and their implications for the electric grid;
- The roles and contributions that microgrids can offer.