IGERT: Sustainable Grid Integration of Distributed and Renewable Resources

该综合研究生教育和研究培训（IGERT）奖支持德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校的一项研究和教育计划，以解决分布式和可再生能源系统的可持续电网整合问题，这是温室气体减排和能源独立的关键优先事项。该项目的关键背景是Pecan Street项目，这是一个基于奥斯汀大学和公用事业公司的合作项目，旨在重新设计和制定奥斯汀的电力系统。研究目标是彻底改变能源的生产、使用、储存和交易方式，与经济、环境、社会和安全目标保持一致。研究结果将适用于整个美国的分布式电力（智能电网）系统，并将产生重大的经济影响。学员将从事数据通信、网络安全、网络管理计算、分布式发电（太阳能、风能、燃料电池）、电力电子和控制、能源存储（电池、飞轮、压缩空气、储热、电动汽车）、建筑暖通空调系统和节能建筑、高效电器以及用于系统性能、跟踪和优化的传感器等领域的基础和应用研究。IGERT的受训者将开发适合高中数学和科学教育工作者的课程材料，以支持UTeachEngineering，并将协助创建关于未来网格的研究生课程内容。UTeachEngineering将促进向K-12中代表性不足的群体伸出援手，并为高中工程课程开发新的教育材料。IGERT是一项nsf范围内的计划，旨在满足教育美国博士科学家和工程师的挑战，他们具有跨学科背景，所选学科的深厚知识，以及未来职业需求所需的技术，专业和个人技能。该计划旨在通过建立创新的研究生教育和培训模式，在一个超越传统学科界限的合作研究的肥沃环境中，促进研究生教育的文化变革。

This Integrative Graduate Education and Research Training (IGERT) award supports a research and educational program at The University of Texas at Austin to address sustainable grid integration of distributed and renewable energy systems, a crucial priority for greenhouse gas reduction and energy independence. A key context for this project is The Pecan Street Project, a collaborative university-utility Austin-based effort to redesign and reformulate Austin's electric power system. The research goal is to revolutionize the way energy is produced, used, stored, and traded consistent with economic, environment, social, and security objectives. Results will be applicable to distributed power (smart grid) systems throughout the U.S. and will have a significant economic impact.Trainees will be engaged in collaborative basic and applied research in data communications, cybersecurity, network management computation, distributed generation (solar, wind, fuel cells), power electronics and controls, energy storage (batteries, flywheels, compressed air, thermal storage, electric vehicles), building HVAC systems and energy efficient buildings, efficient appliances, and sensors for system performance, tracking, and optimization. IGERT trainees will develop course materials appropriate for high school math and science educators in support of UTeachEngineering, and will assist in the creation of content for a graduate-level course on the Grid Of The Future. Outreach to underrepresented groups in K-12 will be facilitated by UTeachEngineering and development of new educational materials for high school engineering courses.IGERT is an NSF-wide program intended to meet the challenges of educating U.S. Ph.D. scientists and engineers with the interdisciplinary background, deep knowledge in a chosen discipline, and the technical, professional, and personal skills needed for the career demands of the future. The program is intended to catalyze a cultural change in graduate education by establishing innovative new models for graduate education and training in a fertile environment for collaborative research that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries.