Power
Climate change effects and the resulting demand for clean energy have led to significant technological advancements in the areas of power systems, control, power electronics, and semiconductor devices. Integrated together, these disparate topics of varying levels of abstraction can lead to substantial improvements in the efficacy of renewable energy systems, the smart grid, transportation electrification systems, and electronic devices. Consequently, specific areas of interest for this focus group include:
Research topics
- Power converter design and operation
- Semiconductor device modeling and characterization
- Utilization of energy storage devices for grid-related harmonic mitigation
- Stability analysis of the smart grid
- Cybersecurity of the smart grid
- Advanced strategies for renewable energy integration
Recent externally funded research projects have been sponsored by the US Department of Defense, US Department of Energy, and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory with objectives related to power electronic device modeling, converter design, and improved integration of solar technology. Even more recently, a research grant has been allocated from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory related to analysis of cybersecurity threats to the smart grid.
students specializing in power take classes such as
required core courses
Power System Management
Power Electronics 1
Advanced Power Electronics
recommended courses
Feedback Control Systems
Power System Operation
Control System Design
Electro-Optics
Microwave Electronics
Fundamentals of Cybersecurity
Nonlinear Control Systems
Optimal Control Theory
Compound Semiconductors and Devices
Plasma in Engineering and Science
faculty members
Dr. Raghav Khanna (Power Leader)
Dr. Raghav Khanna’s research is in the areas of modeling and characterization of wide bandgap semiconductors for improved performance of next generation power electronic circuits, and in renewable energy integration.
Dr. Richard Molyet
Dr. Richard Molyet’s research is in the area of optimal and feedback control, as well as the use of energy storage devices for grid-related harmonic mitigation.