Statement

Studies in Energy Sources and Systems at Rensselaer

Dr. Kim L. Boyer
Professor and Head of Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering

2 August 2010

For electrical, computer, and systems engineers, the 21st century will be a time of significant challenge, as well as a time of significant opportunity.  In particular, we will be summoned to address key problems in the delivery and use of energy. Energy sources and systems of the future will be diversified, heterogeneous, distributed, and intelligent.  It is impossible to say exactly what these systems will become over the next 10-30 years, but it is clear that they will differ from what we have today.  Their design, implementation, and operation will require expertise in devices, circuits, control, computation, and communications – in addition to aspects of  “traditional” electric power engineering. 

The ECSE Department at Rensselaer is working to confront these challenges.  As we capitalize on our unique, historical strengths in electric power engineering, we are pivoting to confront a rapidly changing landscape in the acquisition, generation, harvesting, control, delivery, and consumption of energy.  We shall educate coming generations of electrical, computer, and systems engineers to be intellectually flexible, working from a broad base of fundamentals.  Clearly, those who design energy systems of the future will require the intellectual breadth provided in a fully featured electrical engineering program.  Similarly, electrical, computer, and systems engineers working in other areas must be familiar with aspects of power engineering, as we anticipate energy systems penetrating individual circuits and devices, even to the nanoscale. 

While the electric power engineering program was gradually evolving in response to these external forces, more definitive action was required.  In 2008 the Department initiated a process to unify our legacy electric power engineering program within our electrical engineering program for all degree levels. This process is now complete.  Energy Sources and Systems is now an integral part of our Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering research and academic program, exposing courses and opportunities in this area to a broader range of students. In particular, it is now one of the core areas of our undergraduate electrical engineering program.

The separate programs in electric power engineering, at all degree levels, are now closed.