The Future Role of Power

1
The Future Role of Power Energy in EE
Undergraduate Curriculum

• Mesut Muslu
• University of Wisconsin Platteville

2
Recent Events/Developments

• 9/11
• Northeast blackout of 2003
• Increase in oil prices
• Global warming reports and discussions
• The rise in environmental awareness
• green energy in public domain

3
Observations

• ECE enrolments are declining
• Industry puts more and more emphasis on soft-
  skills and interdisciplinary education
• Students are interested in hands-on applications
  rather than theory more than ever
• Students have higher awareness on societal issues
  (particularly female students)
• Most students come with service learning
  experience in high schools and are interested in
  continuing it at the university level

4
Power Energy Area

• Requires knowledge in many areas (power,
  electronics, digital, controls, magnetics, etc.)
• Provides opportunities for practical applications
• Interdisciplinary nature is appealing to students
• Renewable energy, conservation, and
  environmental issues are particularly appealing
  to students

5
What Power Energy Area can Offer

• Hands-on experience for students
• Interdisciplinary education
• Service learning opportunities
• Public awareness and education in global issues
• Potential enrollment increase (particularly
  female students)

6
Power Energy Education at UW-Platteville

• Has been the strongest emphasis
• Has strong support from the surrounding industry
• PEER (Platteville Energy Education and Research)
  is an integral part of the power program
• Many activities such as field trips,
  scholarships, summer internships, team-teaching,
  projects, etc. are supported by PEER

7
Current Power Energy Emphasis Courses

• EE 3410 Introduction to Power Engineering, 3
  credits, required course
• EE4430 Power Electronics and Electrical
  Machines, 4 credits, elective course
• EE4440 Electric Motor Drives, 4 credits,
  elective course
• EE4450 Power System Analysis and Design, 4
  credits, elective course
• EE4980 Electric Power Distribution Systems, 4
  credits, elective course

8
New Initiatives in Power Energy Area at
UW-Platteville

• Course modifications
• New energy/renewables minor
• Renewable energy resource center

9
Course Modifications

• Brief description of converters will be included
  in EE3410
• Brief description of renewable energy will be
  included in EE3410
• EE4000 level courses will be revised for
  appropriate integration of renewables,
  conservation, and environmental concerns in
  existing courses
• New courses in wind energy, photovoltaics, and
  fuel-cells are to be developed

10
New Energy/Renewables Minor

• Expected to be a 24-credit university level minor
• 9 credits of required courses including a course
  on Energy, Environment, and Society, and 2-3
  credits of projects course
• EE and ME are expected to have additional common
  courses (wind, photovoltaics, fuel cells, etc)
• Bio-energy, bio-diesel, economic, and agriculture
  related courses will be in another college

11
New Engineering Building Renewable Energy
Resource Center

• The ground breaking is scheduled for May 2007
• The building will be finished and EE is expected
  to move into the new building in Jan. 2009
• The building will house a Renewable Energy
  Resource Center
• The center will be equipped with photovoltaics,
  fuel cells, batteries, etc.
• The center will serve EE, EMS, UWP, and the
  community

12
Conclusions

• Power Energy education may have a significant
  positive impact on the EE programs
• In order to achieve this
• Renewable energy and environmental/societal
  issues needs to be integrated into the curriculum
• Energy and power education must be hands-on and
  must provide opportunities for interdisciplinary
  work including service learning