UCLA’s highly regarded Smart Grid Energy Research Center (SMERC) has partnered with the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) to collaborate on research and development of new technologies with the goal of developing a strong smart grid at the international level.

SMERC performs research, creates innovation, and demonstrates advanced wireless/communications, Internet and sense-and-control technologies to enable the development of the next generation of the electric utility grid, the smart grid.

The smart grid of the future would allow integration of renewable energy sources, reduce losses, improve efficiencies, increase grid flexibility, reduce power outages, allow for competitive electricity pricing and allow for integration of electric vehicles.

SMERC and KIER, whose mission is to contribute to national economic growth by developing industrial core energy technology and deploying outcomes, have begun working together to get the smart grid available at the international level.

Rajit Gadh, Director of UCLA’s Smart Grid Energy Research Center and a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, said UCLA allows them to create and complete tasks on a quick and efficient basis. “UCLA is like a little city – Pasadena, Burbank, and Glendale are not much bigger…with a city like UCLA, we can test our concepts very quickly, as well as conduct very interesting tests,” said Gahd.

Gahd’s team has begun an experimental lab, working with KIER, to observe how wireless sensing and control systems can help create the smart grid work internationally.

“KIER has a strong interest in energy-efficiency technology and R&D due to its importance in terms of energy savings and the reduction of carbon dioxide,” said Tae Hyun Yang, KIER’s principal researcher on the joint project saying that KIER is well aware of the growing reputation of UCLA and their Engineering department.

Dr. Jung-in Choi, a Korean professor who helped KIER and Dr. Gadh join forces, said the technology both of these companies could create is endless. “I think UCLA’s Smart Grid Energy Research Center is one of the most active research institutes in the smart-grid field today. In particular I have been most interested in the open architecture platform for the smart grid Dr. Gadh’s, WINSmartGridTM, in particular. KIER needs an open architecture platform technology, and I thought a partnership between KIER and SMERC would be beneficial for both,” said Choi.

The companies are confident that the collaboration between both groups will help them create more efficient products quicker and with better results.