Power Systems Engineering Research Center (PSERC)

The electric power industry is evolving from its historical business structure. The vertically integrated utility of the past has been replaced by multiple players providing unbundled services using market-oriented decision-making. Challenges for success in this demanding business environment are being raised by new market structures and ways of doing business, new technologies, the demands of customers for customised services, strategic choices between centralized and decentralised technologies, institutional changes creating mega-RTOs, a greying industry that needs well-trained power engineers, and new environmental priorities. Yet the basic function of the industry – to produce and to deliver power, safely and reliably – has not changed. The challenges call for new strategies, technologies, analytical capabilities and tools, and operating practices, along with sound public policy guidance.

The Power Systems Engineering Research Center (PSERC) draws on university capabilities to creatively address these challenges. Under the banner of PSERC, multiple U.S. universities are working collaboratively with industry to:

• engage in forward-thinking about future scenarios for the  industry and the challenges that might arise from them
• conduct research for innovative solutions to these challenges using multidisciplinary research expertise in a unique multi-campus work environment
• facilitate interchange of ideas and collaboration among academia, industry and government on critical industry issues
• educate the next generation of power industry engineers.

PSERC provides:

• efficient access to experienced university researchers in an array of relevant disciplines and geographically located across the U.S.
• leading-edge research in cost-effective projects jointly developed by industry leaders and university experts
• high quality education of future power engineers.

The multidisciplinary expertise of PSERC’s researchers includes power systems, applied mathematics, complex systems, computing, control theory, power electronics, operations research, non-linear systems, economics, industrial organisation and public policy. PSERC partners with private and public organisations that provide integrated energy services, transmission and distribution services, power system planning, control and oversight, market management services, and public policy development.