NSF ENGINEERING RESEARCH CENTER

Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management (FREEDM) Systems

The FREEDM Systems ERC

VISION
Our vision for the ERC for Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management (FREEDM) Systems is an efficient electric power grid integrating highly distributed and scalable alternative generating sources and storage with existing power systems to facilitate a green-energy-based society, mitigate the growing energy crisis, and reduce the impact of carbon emissions on the environment. We believe the key to solving the energy crisis is not necessarily the renewable energy itself, but the infrastructure needed to deliver and manage large scale distributed renewable energy resources.

MISSION
The mission of the ERC is to develop the fundamental and enabling technology to demonstrate the FREEDM System and, through such development and demonstration, foster a revolution in innovation and technology in the electric power and renewable energy industries, providing long-term energy security and environmental sustainability for the United States. The primary U.S. university partners in the FREEDM Systems ERC include North Carolina State University, Arizona State University, Florida A&M University, Florida State University, and Missouri University of Science and Technology. These universities are recognized world leaders in the proposed research areas and have proven complementary strengths through many years of research collaboration. The ERC will involve an integrated, cross-disciplinary mix of faculty, postdoctoral research associates, graduate students, and undergraduate students in electrical and computer engineering, materials science, textile engineering, physics, mathematics, computer science, and business management. The ERCs international partners include RWTH Aachen Universitys E.ON Energy Research Center in Aachen, Germany, and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, Switzerland. RWTH is the European leader in power electronics and energy storage and will collaborate on joint research on advanced storage and on solid state transformer development. ETH heads a large European consortium conducting research on future energy infrastructure.

Envisioned FREEDM System will incorporate widespread networks of renewable energy resources and storage devices.

This center of excellence has been proposed to the National Science Foundation (NSF) for funding over the next five to ten years. The goal of NSFs ERC Program is to create a culture of innovation in engineering research and education that links scientific discovery to technological innovation through transformational engineered systems research. ERCs make advances in technology and produce engineering graduates who will be creative innovators in a global economy.

GOALS
Develop the fundamental knowledge base for the FREEDM system and provide fundamental breakthrough technology in energy storage and power semiconductor devices; Develop enabling technologies for subsystem and system demonstrations; Develop a one-megawatt FREEDM green energy hub system to power the ERC headquarters and other buildings on NC States Centennial Campus; Form long-term partnerships with large and small firms to speed the translation of ERC research into commercially viable products, stimulate formation of start-up companies based on ERC intellectual property, and involve students in all phases of the innovation process; Develop a diverse group of adaptive, creative, and innovative graduates who advance fundamental knowledge, enabling technology and engineered systems innovations in renewable electric energy delivery and management systems; Develop long-term partnerships with middle and high schools, teachers, and students to enhance engineering content knowledge and pedagogical methods, bring engineering concepts into the classroom, involve pre-college students in research, and thereby increase the diversity and enrollment of domestic students in university engineering degree programs; and Increase the diversity of the proposed Centers leadership, faculty, and students to exceed academic engineering nationwide averages within the first five years of operation.

The FREEDM Systems ERC

RESEARCH PROGRAM
The FREEDM System will provide innovative and transformational technology for the electric power industry, significantly improving energy security and reliability. U.S. renewable energy sourcing is among the lowest of developed nationsan ominous sign of a looming energy crisis. Three major factors contribute to this crisis: Energy insecuritymost imported oil comes from destabilized regions; non-renewable nature of fossil fuels; and The Increased global warming caused by CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion. To overcome these problems, we must look for solutions to better utilize long term, secure, sustainable, and environmentally friendly energy. The Earth has an abundance of renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, geo-thermal, hydro, and ocean waves. Large-scale utilization of distributed renewable energy resources would significantly improve U.S. energy security and independence, as well as global environmental health. In the FREEDM Systems vision, residential users will take charge of their energy needs with innovative solar panels, wind turbines, and electric/hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Other new technologies, unforeseen today, will emerge as a result of the massive innovation fostered by the paradigm shift advocated by the FREEDM Systems ERC. Residential and commercial customers will sell or store excess power generated by their solar, wind, or fuel cell energy sources back to the power companies, reducing the demand for new oil- or coal-fired power generation plants, and decreasing green-house gas emissions. Such a proposition, incorporating millions of new energy generation sources, will require wide-ranging transformation of the nations electrical grid infrastructure. The key to solving the energy crisis is not necessarily the renewable energy itself, but the infrastructure needed to deliver and manage widespread use of distributed renewable energy resources. The FREEDM Systems ERC proposes a smart-grid paradigm shift to prepare the U.S. to take advantage of advances in renewable energy for a secure and sustainable future.

The proposed FREEDM System is a green energy grid infrastructure that will:
Allow plug and play of any energy resource or storage device, anywhere and anytime; Manage distributed energy resources and storage devices through Distributed Intelligence; Pioneer a scalable and secure communication backbone; capable of being totally isolated from the central grid, if necessary, continuing Be to operate based on 100% renewable energy; Provide perfect power quality and guaranteed system stability; and Have improved efficiency, operating the alternating current system with a unity power factor. The FREEDM Systems ERC will realize its vision through breakthroughs in fundamental research (system theory, advanced storage, and post-silicon power devices) and enabling technology development (secured communication, distributed grid intelligence, highfrequency and high-voltage power conversion, and distributed energy storage devices.)

The FREEDM Systems ERC

INDUSTRY and INNOVATION PROGRAM

The ERC will cultivate active collaboration among researchers in universities, industry, and national laboratories. It will leverage partnerships with electrical equipment manufacturers, utility companies, fuel cell and energy storage companies, alternative energy systems manufacturers, software developers, and other large and small firms. Companies may become full, associate, affiliated, or contributing members of the center. Fees and benefits vary by category of membership.

All members can take advantage of:

Leveraged research funding of over $10 million per year. Early access to ERC inventions protected on a fast-track basis by an Intellectual Property Protection Fund (IPPF) covered by industry membership fees, providing up to $10,000 toward patenting each selected center invention. Selected inventions may be generated at any partner university through NSF-funded core research funds or industry member fees. Industry Practitioner Program: R&D employees in member companies will be encouraged to work on ERC research project teams and jointly own patents to their ERC inventions. Priority Access to ERC Students and Graduates: Member companies may work with ERC student researchers as interns to identify and hire our best graduates. NCSUs Technology Evaluation and Commercialization Program: Student or consultant teams will evaluate ERC inventions to assess technology time to market. Evaluations will provide a foundation for licensing and business planning decisions. Professional Short Courses: Members will have free or discounted access to all newly developed ERC on-site and distance education short courses on topics such as renewable energy systems, power electronics, or applications in power grid technology.

ERC Membership Benefits Full Associate Contribution $50,000/yr $15,000/yr Seat on Industry Advisory Board X X Non-exclusive, royalty free IP rights for internal use X X Royalty-free, non-exclusive, commercial license to Center IP protected by IPPF X Access to all non-proprietary information Unlimited Unlimited Access to Center testbed facilities X X

Affiliated $2,000/yr

Contributing Major gift or donation

Unlimited

Unlimited

Entrepreneurial companies can take advantage of the ERCs network of Innovation Partners:
Venture Capital Firms: Several venture capital firms have committed to affiliation

with the ERC, providing entrepreneurial companies opportunities for advice, traditional venture funding, grants, and loans.
SBIR/STTR Support: Small Business Technology Development Centers (SBTDCs)

in each partner state will help small business members exploit federal SBIR/ STTR funding through customized training workshops and advising for SBIR/ STTR proposal teams.
SBIR/STTR Matching Funds: Members who receive SBIR/STTR awards may

submit requests to NC Board of Science and Technologys SBIR/STTR Matching Funds program, which matches 100% of Phase I awards (to max of $100,000) to bridge gap between the Phase I and Phase II, making small businesses more competitive for Phase II funding. The ERC will also award $10,000 to any faculty members involved in a winning SBIR Phase I project.
Technology Incubators: Office and laboratory space (subject to availability) for

ERC spin-off companies in technology incubators on the partner university campuses, in addition to short-term consulting by technical, academic, managerial and business professionals.

The FREEDM Systems ERC

FACILITIES
The 20,000-square-foot FREEDM ERC headquarters will be located in the Centennial Science Center, to open on NC States Centennial Campus in 2009. This new center home will include ERC offices, computer laboratory, library, and power electronics, energy storage, and motor drive laboratories, as well as a Real Time Digital Simulator and a 1MW FREEDM System demonstration hub. A network of cutting-edge, shared laboratories at the ERC partner universities will support the ERCs research agenda. North Carolina State University Semiconductor Power Electronics Center NC State Nanofabrication Facility Power Semiconductor Research Center Photonics Laboratory Analytical Instrumentation Facility North Carolina Solar Center Advanced Dielectrics Laboratory
SPEC High-power Laboratory, NC State

Real-Time Simulator at FSU

Arizona State University Power Systems Engineering Research Center Energy Management Laboratory The National Center of Excellence on SMART Innovations for Urban Climate + Energy Thermal Storage and Radiative Characterization Lab Structural Engineering Mechanics Testing Lab Sustainable Energy Lab Fulton High Performance Computing Initiative Global Institute for Sustainability Informatics Lab ASU Decision Theatre Florida State University and Florida A&M University Center for Advanced Power Systems Five-Megawatt Advanced Prototype Test Facilitythe most powerful simulator of its kind in an academic environment in the world. Power Science Laboratory National High Magnetic Field Laboratory Missouri University of Science and Technology Emerson Electric Company Energy Conversion Laboratory The Ameren Power Electronics Laboratory High-Frequency Machines and Drives Laboratory Flexible AC Transmission Systems Laboratory FACTS Interaction Laboratory

5 MW Advanced Test Facility at FSU

FACTS Interaction Laboratory at MS&T

The FREEDM Systems ERC

EDUCATION PROGRAM
To develop a diverse group of adaptive, creative, and innovative graduates, the ERC will:
Train graduate students capable of providing leadership

in the growing field of renewable energy systems through a new masters degree program.
Customize a portfolio of professional development

experiences for each ERC graduate research associate to provide knowledge, skills, and experience for success in an innovation/ technology-driven global society.
Train undergraduate students for renewable electric

energy careers and encourage them to seek graduate degrees through a new concentration in renewable energy systems.
Fund Research Experiences for Undergraduates

to provide meaningful participation in ERC research and innovation activities, mentored by graduate students and faculty.
Monitor, improve, and assess the long-term impact

of the education program.

The FREEDM Systems ERC

PRE-COLLEGE EDUCATION OUTREACH PROGRAM

The ERC has developed strategic outreach partnerships with 14 schools to enhance teachers engineering content knowledge and teaching methods, bring engineering concepts into the classroom, involve high school students in ERC research, and thereby increase the diversity and enrollment of domestic students in university engineering degree programs.
East Alamance High School, Mebane, NC FSU Charter High School, Tallahassee, FL Godby High School, Tallahassee, FL Carl Hayden High School, Phoenix, AZ Southern High School, Mebane, NC Broadview Middle School, Burlington, NC Fairview Middle School, Tallahassee, FL FSU Charter Middle School, Tallahassee, FL Graham Middle School, Graham, NC Hawfields Middle School, Elon College, NC Raa Middle School, Tallahassee, FL Turrentine Middle School, Burlington, NC Western Middle School, Elon College, NC Woodlawn Middle School, Mebane, NC

Through these partnerships with pre-college institutions, the ERC will:

Engage teachers in a summer research experience atmosphere on a partner university campus; Work with teachers to combine engineering content knowledge and best teaching practices in new, high-quality, pre-engineering curriculum activities to be classroom-tested and shared openly on the Internet. Provide a Young Scholars Program that pairs promising high school students for university research experiences with graduate student mentors. Engage middle school girls and minorities in renewable energy summer science camps to encourage interest in future science careers and increase diversity in the field of power engineering; Sponsor a renewable energy event at the North Carolina Science Olympiad, awarding the winner a $1,000 scholarship to any partner university; Engage ERC graduate students in pre-college outreach activities to improve their ability to communicate about engineering and mentor younger students.

The FREEDM Systems ERC

LEADERSHIP TEAM
Deputy Director: Dr. Stan Atcitty Senior Research Staff Sandia National Laboratories Partner Campus Directors: Dr. Mariesa Crow F Finley Distinguished Professor . of Electrical Engineering Missouri University of Science and Technology Dr. Jim Zheng Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Florida A&M University Industrial Collaboration and Innovation Directors: Dr. Mark Johnson Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering North Carolina State University Keith McAllister Manager, Industrial Programs The North Carolina Solar Center FREEDM Fundamental Science Thrust Leader: Dr. Jayant Baliga Director, Power Semiconductor Research Center and Distinguished University Professor of Electrical Engineering North Carolina State University System Theory, Modeling and Control Subthrust Leader: Dr. Gerald Heydt Director, Power Systems Engineering Research Center and Regents Professor of Electrical Engineering Arizona State University Advanced Storage Subthrust Leader: Dr. Jim Zheng Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Florida A&M University Post-Silicon Devices Subthrust Leader: Dr. Jayant Baliga Director, Power Semiconductor Research Center and Distinguished University
Professor of Electrical Engineering

Distributed Grid Intelligence Subthrust Leader: Dr. Bruce McMillin Director, Experimental Computation Laboratory and Professor of Computer Science Missouri University of Science and Technology Solid State Transformer Subthrust Leader: Dr. Subhashish Bhattacharya Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering North Carolina State University Distributed Energy Storage Device Subthrust Leader: Dr. Stan Atcitty Senior Research Staff Sandia National Laboratories Fault Isolation Device Subthrust Leader: Dr. Mischa Steurer, Associate Scholar Scientist Center for Advanced Power Systems Florida State University FREEDM System Demonstration Thrust Leader: Dr. Mischa Steurer Associate Scholar Scientist Center for Advanced Power Systems Florida State University Intelligent Energy Management Subsystem Testbed Leader: Dr. Mariesa Crow F Finley Distinguished . Professor of Electrical Engineering Missouri University of Science and Technology Intelligent Fault Management Subsystem Testbed Leader Hiu Helen Li Assistant Professor of Engineering Florida State University

Center Director: Dr. Alex Huang Director, Semiconductor Power Electronics Center and Progress Energy Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering North Carolina State University

Dr. Steinar Dale Director, Center for Advanced Power Systems Florida State University Dr. Gerald Heydt Director, Power Systems Engineering Research Center and Regents Professor of Electrical Engineering Arizona State University Dr. Rik DeDoncker Director, E.ON Energy Research Center and Professor of Electrical Engineering RWTH Aachen University, Germany Dr. Klaus Froehlich Head, High Voltage Laboratories Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich Education and Diversity Directors: Dr. Leda Lunardi Director of Graduate Programs and Professor of Electrical Engineering North Carolina State University Dr. Mesut Baran Professor of Electrical Engineering North Carolina State University Pre-college Education Director: Dr. Sharon Schulze Director, The Science House North Carolina State University

North Carolina State University FREEDM Enabling Technology Thrust Leader: Dr. Mariesa Crow F Finley Distinguished Professor . of Electrical Engineering Missouri University of Science and Technology Reliable and Secured Communication Subthrust Leader: Dr. Wenye Wang Assistant Professor of Computer Engineering North Carolina State University

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NSF Engineering Research Center for Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management Systems North Carolina State University Campus Box 7571 1017 Main Campus Drive, Suite 2100 Raleigh, NC 27695-7571 aqhuang@ncsu.edu Phone: 919-513-4176 Fax: 919-513-0405
2008
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