24/7 Space News
ENERGY TECH
Portland State to lead region-wide effort for the next generation electrical grid
The SEQUINS mission is to be an engine of regional innovation by coordinating and connecting the activities of academic institutions, new and established businesses, risk capital, and governments across the Pacific Northwest.
Portland State to lead region-wide effort for the next generation electrical grid
by Staff Writers
Portland OR (SPX) May 18, 2023

Portland State University has been awarded $1 million from the U.S. National Science Foundation's Regional Innovation Engines, or NSF Engines, program. SEQUINS is among the more than 40 unique teams to receive one of the first-ever NSF Engines Development Awards, which aim to help partners collaborate to create economic, societal and technological opportunities for their regions.

SEQUINS, which stands for Smart, EQUitable, INteroperable, and Secure, will coordinate major players in the Pacific Northwest to make a truly "smart" electrical grid a reality. Over a two-year period, the project will identify obstacles to smart grid growth and develop plans to overcome them through academic research, entrepreneurship, workforce training, strategic government investments, and business collaborations.

If successful, the SEQUINS planning phase will result in up to $160 million in NSF implementation funding for regional businesses, entrepreneurs, academic institutions, and others, with the ultimate goal of transforming the Pacific Northwest into a global smart grid leader. Throughout the work, the focus will be on energy equity, so that everyone in the region, regardless of location and income, benefits from the investments and the job opportunities SEQUINS will create.

"This planning grant from the National Science Foundation will bring together over thirty stakeholders from across the Pacific Northwest," said Robert Bass, associate professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at PSU's Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science, who is leading the planning effort. "The partners will develop a strategic plan to promote the development of an innovative smart grid technology ecosystem that delivers prosperity and energy equity to our region."

Other members of the team from Maseeh College include Antonie Jetter, Associate Dean for Research and Tong Zhang, Assistant Dean of Inclusive Innovation; PSU's Birol Yesilada, Professor Hatfield School of Government, Director Cybersecurity and Cyber Defense Policy; and Melissa Appleyard, Associate Dean of Graduate Programs in the PSU School of Business are also involved.

The NSF Engines program is a transformational investment for the nation, ensuring the U.S. remains in the vanguard of competitiveness for decades to come.

"These NSF Engines Development Awards lay the foundation for emerging hubs of innovation and potential future NSF Engines," said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. "These awardees are part of the fabric of NSF's vision to create opportunities everywhere and enable innovation anywhere. They will build robust regional partnerships rooted in scientific and technological innovation in every part of our nation. Through these planning awards, NSF is seeding the future for in-place innovation in communities and to grow their regional economies through research and partnerships. This will unleash ideas, talent, pathways and resources to create vibrant innovation ecosystems all across our nation."

The PSU team is leading a unique collaboration between five universities, two national laboratories, six private companies and industry organizations, and federal, state, and local government institutions.

The Pacific Northwest is an area uniquely suited for this project. As a national leader in clean energy, many households are already familiar with smart grids: their smart meters and thermostats exchange information with utilities, and many consumers opt in to "load management" programs.

The next generation of smart grids will automatically adjust load and supply-taking energy from home batteries and electric vehicles during peak demand and recharging them when there is excess supply. If enough people participate and if their energy contributions are organized and managed in novel ways with effective incentives, peaks and valleys in demand can be evened out without bringing more power plants online. The cost savings of a fully functional smart grid could save consumers $50 billion a year.

Related Links
SEQUINS
Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
ENERGY TECH
Breakthrough in waste heat to green energy
University Park PA (SPX) May 02, 2023
In the effort to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, one strategy involves harvesting the waste heat that is already being produced by our energy systems. Thermoelectric generators can convert waste heat to clean electricity, and a new design breakthrough may make these devices more efficient than previously possible, according to scientists at Penn State and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. "We have developed a unique materials design that can push the conversion efficiency of thermoele ... read more

ENERGY TECH
Private mission carrying Saudi astronauts launches to ISS

Private mission carrying first Saudi astronauts to visit ISS set for launch

Axiom Space's second crewed mission gets green light

Ax-2 crew carrying personal, cultural mementoes on launch to ISS

ENERGY TECH
Rocket Lab to launch small satellite swarm for NASA

Sales rocket for Zenno's fuel-free satellite pointing system

Virgin Orbit receives more than 30 indications of interest under court approved bid procedures

For 191st time, SpaceX booster successfully returns after launch

ENERGY TECH
A blancing act at Ubajara: Sol 3830

These sounds are out of this world

Perseverance images may show record of wild Martian river

Sitting still but not idling at Ubajara: Sols 3827-3829

ENERGY TECH
"Tianzhou Express" is online again, with five highlights

Tianzhou 6 docks with Tiangong space station

China's cargo craft Tianzhou 6 ready for launch

Tianzhou-5 cargo craft separates from China's space station

ENERGY TECH
Toshiba posts 35% decline in full-year net profit

Sidus Space selected by OneWeb to manufacture satellite hardware

Sidus Space expands global ground site network with new ATLAS contract

How NASA's work led to commercial spaceflight revolution

ENERGY TECH
Beauty brand Lush unveils new Green Hub but business comes first

EU targets fast fashion in push for durable goods

Team uses 3D printing to strengthen key material in aerospace and energy utilities

GPR announces Series A funding on back of customer traction

ENERGY TECH
Astronomers observe the first radiation belt seen outside of our solar system

Researchers uncover how primordial proteins formed on prebiotic earth

Bacteria survive on radioactive elements

Astronomers spot benzene in planet-forming disk around star for first time

ENERGY TECH
NASA's Juno mission closing in on Io

Pioneer 11, launched 50 years ago, helped solve mysteries of the universe

NASA: Up to 4 of Uranus' moons could have water

New video series captures team working on NASA's Europa Clipper

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.