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The US National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded one of its prestigious Engineering Research Centre grants to establish a National Research Centre for Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management Systems (FREEDM) at North Carolina State University (NCSU).

The new centre will collaborate with universities, industry and national laboratories around the world to develop a smart grid that can easily store and distribute energy produced from solar panels, wind farms, fuel cells and other alternative energy sources. The so called ‘internet for energy’ will enable users to generate their own energy from alternative sources and sell the excess back to the power companies.

The centre will be funded by an initial $18.5 million grant over five years from the NSF, with an additional $10 million provided by supporting institutions and membership fees. More than 60 companies have already agreed to join the partnership.

Research at the new centre will begin immediately under the direction of Alex Huang, Progress Energy Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at NCSU who has been appointed director. A new headquarters for the centre is scheduled to open on the university’s Centennial Campus in 2010.

For further information:
www.engr.ncsu.edu/news/news_articles/freedm.html