GE Digital Energy Donates Power System Lab to University of Western Ontario

Dec. 2, 2009
GE Digital Energy has donated an Innovation Lab for power systems and communications to The University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario.

GE Digital Energy has donated an Innovation Lab for power systems and communications to The University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario. The newly named GE Digital Energy Innovation Lab will give undergraduate, graduate, PhD students and faculty of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) hands-on experience with the latest power system protection and communications technology. This technology is used to improve the resiliency and responsiveness of the electrical grid and enable greater connectivity and increased security for utilities and consumers.

Using the Innovation Lab, students and faculty will further their research in advanced protection and hardened communications systems, including wireless and Ethernet. The Innovation Lab will enable enhanced experiments and testing in power system protection and stability, electrical substation automation, IEC 61850 and Communications. This research will allow students and faculty to develop new tools and algorithms that will result in smarter control and communications technology, helping to create the smarter electrical grid of tomorrow.

"Western Engineering is very grateful for this generous donation from GE Digital Energy to support power and communication systems education and research,” says Andrew Hrymak, dean, Western Engineering. “The Innovation Laboratory will provide leading-edge equipment to further efforts in smart grid and green energy technology areas and support our internationally recognized faculty.”

The GE Digital Energy Innovation Lab opened on Nov. 18, 2009. The new high-tech equipment, valued at $362,000 CDN, includes protection relays, substation communications equipment, digital radios, test switches, and monitoring and diagnostics software.

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