Café Scientifique: The New 21st Century 'War of the Currents' – AC vs. DC Electricity

Carnegie Science Center's Podcast

View the corresponding slide show here! Abstract: Improvements to the existing electric power grid infrastructure, whose design dates back nearly a century, have been identified as a key aspect of the current U.S. strategy to improve energy efficiency, grid reliability, and power security. In order to effectively and economically implement the necessary improvements and expansions of the power grid infrastructure to meet the emerging needs of smart grid implementation, renewable energy integration, and energy storage applications, increased development and applications of advanced power electronics based technologies, such as High Voltage and Medium Voltage DC Systems (HVDC and MVDC) and Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS), must take place. An overview of current HVDC, MVDC, and FACTS technologies will be provided, along with a discussion of new developments and emerging needs for future transmission and distribution system applications. In addition, an interesting historical perspective will be provided on the AC vs. DC controversy dating back to the days of Westinghouse, Tesla, and Edison - and why that battle is being renewed today. Biography: Dr. Gregory Reed is the Director of the Electric Power Initiative in the Swanson School of Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh, Associate Director of the University’s Center for Energy, and Associate Professor of Electric Power Engineering in the Swanson School’s Electrical & Computer Engineering Department. He is also the Director of the newly established Grid Technologies Collaborative of the DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory's Regional University Alliance; and an inaugural member of the National Academies of Science and Engineering's Energy Ambassador Program. His research interests, teaching activities, and related pursuits include advanced electric power and energy generation, transmission, and distribution system technologies; power electronics and control technologies (FACTS, HVDC, and MVDC systems); renewable energy systems and integration; smart grid technologies and applications; and energy storage. Dr. Reed has over 27 years of combined industry and academic experience in the electric power and energy arena, including engineering, research & development, and executive management positions throughout his career with the Consolidated Edison of New York, ABB Inc., Mitsubishi Electric Corp., and DNV-KEMA Inc. He has authored or co-authored more than 75 papers and technical articles in the areas of electric power system analysis, the applications of advanced power systems and power electronics technologies, and power engineering education. He is an active member of the IEEE Power & Energy Society and the American Society of Engineering Education. Dr. Reed earned his Ph.D, in electric power engineering from the University of Pittsburgh (1997), M.Eng. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1986), and B.S. from Gannon University (1985). Web: www.power.pitt.edu ; http://www.energy.pitt.edu/About/Reed.asp Recorded at the Carnegie Science Center, Pittsburgh, PA. Monday, April 8th, 2013.