UNM professor awarded EMNRD grant to improve power grid resilience

An associate professor at The University of New Mexico received a grid modernization research grant from the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department.

Ali Bidram, associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, received the $788,000 grant to create advanced energy storage architecture for characterizing the ability, resilience, efficiency and flexibility of New Mexico's electric power grids.

UNM will lead the project titled "Optimization and Control Framework for Advanced Storage Architectures" in collaboration with Sandia National Laboratories and Microgrid Systems Laboratory.

The researchers have three goals: optimize locations and sizing for energy storage systems on electrical power grids, create algorithms for virtual power plants to facilitate the integration of edge data centers, and develop borderless and controlled microgrid algorithms and distribution systems.

Edge data centers are smaller computing facilities located near end-users, typically on-site at an office, college campus, cell tower or other location with advanced computing needs. While they require less power than the hyperscale data centers making headlines around the country, the smaller data centers still increase demand on electrical grids. Bidram hopes to create virtual power plant algorithms that will maximize existing voltaic and battery storage systems to address these needs.

The project began July 1 and will run for two years. The UNM Office of Sustainability also received an EMNRD grid modernization grant to improve infrastructure on the UNM main campus.

To learn more about the EMNRD grid modernization grants, visit State investing $83 million to upgrade energy infrastructure.