Get Smart

While I am a firm believer that little things--like recycling my Diet Dr. Pepper can everyday and frequenting discos that generate energy from dancers--add up, I am always excited to learn of big things that can make a big difference on the road to sustainable living.


The National Science Foundation has given a major boost to the push to modernize the United States’ power transmission grid so that renewable energy can more easily deliver on its potential. North Carolina State University will host the NSF’s Engineering Research Center for Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management Systems or more briefly: the FREEDM Systems Center.

The FREEDM center will be working to transform “the nation’s century-old, centralized power grid into an alternative-energy-friendly “smart grid” that can easily store and distribute energy produced from solar panels, wind farms, fuel cells and other energy sources. This “Internet for energy” will enable millions of users to generate their energy from renewable sources and sell excess energy to the power companies. Researchers envision consumers using this “plug-and-play” system anytime, from anywhere.”

In addition to doing smart grid research, the center will be offering a Masters degree and undergrad concentrations in renewable energy systems. Partnerships with 14 middle and high schools will also be formed to allow younger students to explore the latest research in alternative energy being done at the center.

via TreeHugger. More info at FREEDM System Center.