Pitt’s new electrical lab looks to energy’s future

Eaton's equipment donation provides tools to study efficiency more effectively

By Bob Vavra January 9, 2014

The newly-opened electrical power system lab at the University of Pittsburgh aims to explore the next generation of energy-efficiency strategies while educating the next generation of electrical engineers.

The lab opened Jan. 9 at the Benedum Hall of Engineering on Pitt’s campus. The lab’s equipment was donated by Eaton, continuing a long tradition of the power management company’s support of the university and its Swanson School’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Pitt’s Center for Energy.

 “We need to rely on the next generation of highly skilled engineers to help us meet our critical electrical power management challenges,” said Revathi Advaithi, president of Eaton’s electrical sector in the Americas, in a press release announcing the lab’s opening. “Our continued collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh, and innovative training initiatives like the new Electric Power Systems Lab, can help attract the most talented students to this vital field and reinforce the Pittsburgh region’s growing reputation as a leader in energy innovation.”

Pitt’s new Electric Power Systems Lab will potentially help develop new technologies that will impact power generation, transmission, and distribution, according to Gerald D. Holder, Ph.D., the Swanson School’s U.S. Steel Dean of Engineering. 

"The new lab will prepare students for future career challenges, helping sustain the workforce needed to advance power and energy technologies, as well as provide opportunities for critical research activities in these fields including work in the emerging area of DC systems," said Gregory Reed, Ph.D., director, Swanson School’s Electric Power Initiative; associate professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; and a renowned electric power engineer. 

The Swanson School of Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh has more than 2,600 undergraduate, graduate and Ph.D. students and 120 faculty. It also was ranked first in North America in 2011 by the American Society for Engineering Education for the percentage of doctoral engineering degrees awarded to women.

– Edited by Jessica DuBois-Maahs, Associate Content Manager, CFE Media, Plant Engineering, Control Engineering


Author Bio: Bob is the Content Manager for Plant Engineering.