As the land-grant university for the energy-rich state of Pennsylvania, it isn’t surprising that Penn State counts among its core strengths a broad and deep expertise in energy-related research. Today, in areas from materials science to policy, from environmental chemistry to architectural and electrical engineering, the range and quality of our research make Penn State a world leader in energy research.
We've produced a package of five stories that capture just a sliver of that expertise, briefly sampling some of the more innovative ideas of Penn State researchers working together to solve key questions of making and using energy.
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Generating energy—tapping natural processes to power our future
Storing energy—revolutions in materials to make batteries that charge faster, last longer, and are safer than conventional batteries
Catching carbon—new technology to capture CO2 before it gets into the atmosphere and either sequester it or use it to create new products
The built environment—how new inventions and design principles are making our buildings and appliances more energy-efficient
And for an inside look at how Penn State students are making a mark in the field of wind energy, see A Shift in the Wind.
Shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources requires more than the invention of better solar cells or batteries. Because photovoltaics and wind turbines depend on the time of day and the weather, we also need ways to combine different power sources and storage systems so we have steady, reliable service; and we need to integrate the new technologies with traditional power plants and electric grids.
Penn State scientists, policy experts, and physical plant managers are exploring how to navigate this transition so we can get the greatest value out of the green technologies that are becoming available.
DISTRIBUTED POWER AND NEW CHALLENGES
The increasing popularity and affordability of alternative energy challenge our existing power systems in many ways. Where the traditional power grid has a central source of electricity—a large power plant—and a massive network of transmission lines carrying the electricity to customers, today, electrical supply is much more distributed, with many customers generating some or all of their own electricity with wind turbines or solar cells. At times, they still draw power from the grid, but at other times they send power back onto the grid or unplug from the grid completely.
That complexity doesn’t fit well in the existing utility system, says Seth Blumsack, who studies the regulatory and market environments for new technologies.
“The business models and policies that support the traditional power grid are rapidly becoming outdated,” he says. As more customers opt out, electric utilities lose income. They may struggle to keep their lines in good repair so they can continue to serve those who do not unplug.
Blumsack and his colleagues use models to simulate how grid systems might operate under different market conditions or policies. He emphasizes that regulations need to take into account that access to electricity is not just a market good; it has social value as well.
“As much as we want to encourage different technologies, when it comes down to it, there are certain things that we as a society are not going to tolerate,” he says. “Electricity being broadly unaffordable is one of them. Massive blackouts are another. This is part of the challenge—how do you encourage that kind of sustainable transformation while at the same time maintaining accessible and affordable and highly reliable power? That’s the big challenge.”
—Cherie Winner