Mahmoud Kabalan, Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Microgrid Research at the University of St. Thomas School of Engineering, recently discussed a new partnership with Bright.Green. This collaboration aims to develop innovative solutions for grid modernization, enhance energy security, and equip the next generation of the workforce.
The University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, already a hub for microgrid research, will join forces with Bright.Green, a firm specializing in electric vehicle (EV) charging technology, to construct a cutting-edge microgrid facility. This project is backed by a $2 million investment that will support research in distributed energy and artificial intelligence (AI)-ready technologies. The arrangement will also designate Kabalan as the Bright.Green Director for the University’s microgrid research efforts.
Kabalan, who leads the microgrid research at the St. Paul campus, is also a member of the advisory board for the Microgrid Knowledge Conference, which will be held in Dallas from April 15-17. Bright.Green offers monitoring, payment, and compliance services for EV charging infrastructure. The partnership with St. Thomas will concentrate on designing a microgrid that employs AI-driven power management, carbon-free energy sources, and advanced grid technology. This integrated system will be used to test EVs, electric buses, and decentralized energy solutions.
“This facility will be among the most advanced in the world, developing groundbreaking solutions for grid modernization, energy security, and next-generation workforce training,” Kabalan stated.
Work on the initial microgrid project at the University of St. Thomas began almost a decade ago. This new collaboration with Bright.Green gives the next phase of microgrid development a renewed focus on cutting-edge digitalization through AI.
