GRAPES Students
The university students who participate in GRAPES power electronics research and development benefit from hands-on experience and industry connections.
Many GRAPES students participate in real-world projects and internships with our industry members, who often seek out those students for hiring after graduation as well.
If you are a student (entering college or currently enrolled) interested in power electronics and the power grid, you can contact us to find out more about our program and about applying to become part of the GRAPES research team.
Student Successes
During my 6-month internship, I focused on analyzing the integration of long-duration energy storage (LDES) systems and their role in enhancing the flexibility of renewable energy integration into MISO (Midcontinent Independent System Operator) footprint. My work involved understanding how LDES can support grid stability by balancing short term reliability reserve, mitigating intermittency and uncertainty issues associated with renewable energy sources like wind and solar, and improving the efficiency of both regional and system wide load forecast. I gained hands-on experience in modeling energy storage systems, assessing their performance in real-world scenarios such as high electricity demand during Summer peaks, and understanding the technical and regulatory challenges involved in deploying such systems. By the end of the internship, I had a deeper understanding of the potential for LDES to optimize renewable energy usage and contribute to a more resilient and sustainable modern power grid.