Changing the world.
Yet another benefit of a Smart Grid.
Bob Hay, Sr. Engineer, Smart Grid Development; Instrumental in training ORNL Engineering Scholars
When one of the largest Department of Energy research labs is in your own backyard, and you are a nationally renowned Smart Grid, it seems a partnership is inevitable. But what we could not have known before we agreed to throw our hats in the ring together, was that this partnership has the potential to change the way the world thinks about power. And while that seems like a big statement, it doesn’t begin to convey the world of possibilities that lie ahead for both EPB and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Before we could team up with anyone, regardless of their resume, we had to know if their thinking and vision aligned with ours. Here at EPB, we weigh every opportunity against what it means for our customers. If it doesn’t make sense for them, then it doesn’t make sense for us. It’s that simple. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) works towards what is good for the American people, not necessarily for profit. We like that. We were all in.
It’s a win-win. Oak Ridge gains access to trillions of data points and utilizes our Smart Grid as a real-life environment for testing the technologies they develop in their labs.
For EPB, one of the most exciting aspects of our relationship with ORNL is that in a year’s time, we’ve gone from having a fairly small research and development department to essentially utilizing one of the leading organizations in the country as our R&D arm. That means, it is not only possible to make the lives of our customers better, but we are intricately involved in applying technology that makes a difference in our nation and ultimately the world.
Gaining access to the Smart Grid and our resources requires a one-week training course, called the Engineering Scholars Training Program. Guest engineers learn about EPB, the technology that has been Implemented, the data being generated, how it’s used, internal processes and more.
Once completed, ORNL personnel become certified Engineering Scholars in Residence. They have access to office space, data, and EPB staff who work with them to confirm all projects stay in-line with EPB and its customers’ interests.
Being on the cutting edge of how we manage power, develop a more modern grid for our nation and respond to innovation within digital space, all demands incredibly reliable electric service and the fastest, most efficient Internet. EPB is state-of-the-art in both. Add to that the kind of brainpower and resources Oak Ridge National Laboratory brings to the table and the bar for serving our customers, now and in the future, has been significantly raised.
