1. Grid-Smart Technology Application and Resource Center
A full scale Micro grid facility built to accelerate the adoption of Smart Grid, Energy
Efficient and Renewable Energy technologies through Education, Workforce
Development, R&D, Demonstration and Certification.
Education & Workforce Development Collaborative Research
Specialized Projects Certification Services
STARGrid

2. 1
GRIDSTAR STRATEGIC THRUSTS:
Education & Workforce Development
Online Professional Masters Courses
Classroom format courses
Webinars
Tours and Seminars
Bi-Monthly Custom Workshops
Hands-on Training
Collaborative Research
Advanced Metering Infrastructure
Microgrids
Home Area Networks
Demand Response
Energy Efficiency
Electric Vehicle Charging
Distribution Grid Management
Grid Modeling
Cybersecurity
Solar Power: Inverters & Electric Storage
Smart Homes
Communication technologies
Information Systems
Protocol Standards for Interoperability
Application and Business Process Development
Specialized Projects
Technology Testing and Validation
Comparative Technology Analysis
Technology Advisory Services
Education & Training Curriculum Dev.
Technology & Business Process FeasibilityTesting
Interoperability Testing
Cybersecurity Testing
Custom Application & Business Process Dev.
Certification Services
Requirements Development
Certification Test Bed Development for Multiple
Standards for Interoperability
Standards Compliance Testing for Distribution Grid
and Customer Premises Technologies
Tours and Seminars
Technology Demonstration
Performance Testing
Hands-On Learning

3. GRIDSTAR SUCCESS STORIES:
22
Grid Energy Storage Pilot System
Deployed in The Navy Yard
In partnership with Solar Grid Storage and
the Philadelphia Industrial Development
Corporation (PIDC), GridSTAR Center has
deployed a commercial scale grid-interactive
battery which will function to improve the
quality and reliability of the electric grid.
David Riley, a faculty member from Penn
State and the chief investigator on the
GridSTAR projects stated,
“Energy storage is an important
part of building a more resilient
and efficient electrical grid. This
project has helped us learn about
the complexities of building and
launching a grid interactive battery
system. We are using the lessons
to inform new courses and training
programsfocusedonthedevelopment
of a smart grid.”
David Riley, Director
GridSTAR Center
Through a specialized control system, this
battery will aid the utility in regulating grid
frequency of AC power and reducing peak
demand energy costs. This grid interaction
creates a revenue stream which will be
further studied when this unit is eventually
connected to a community scale solar array.
This storage system is the first of its kind in
the PJM marketplace, and will create many
opportunities to use the access to the Navy
Yard unregulated grid for the research and
education.
“GridSTAR Center is a model for what
the grid of the future will look like. This
unit has blazed a trail to deploy larger
systems around our region.”
Tom Leyden, CEO
Solar Grid Storage
Penn State’s GridSTAR Center hosts
immersive leadership program
On May 19 a cadre of Penn State students
began an Immersive Leadership Experience
in Sustainable Energy and Business. This
summer program combines hands-on
coursework with internship experiences, and
ishostedbyGridSTARCenter,whichisasmart
grid educational and operational research
center that is part of the Architectural
Engineering Department at Penn State,
located at The Navy Yard in Philadelphia.
These students represent a diverse cross
section of the student body and come from
several Penn State campuses including
Abington, Brandywine, Berks, Hazleton
and University Park. A sophomore energy
engineering major, Jessica Scarpello, has
found value in this diversity. As she observed,
“We are all working towards the same
goal which is energy independence.
It is interesting to me how many
different approaches we are all taking
within the 17 of us. Our projects are
definitely different but the same in
terms of goals. We can really learn
from each other when we talk about
our projects.”
Jessica Scarpello, Sophmore
Energy Engineering
Students have begun attending interactive
classes held at the GridSTAR Center. The
class content and activities have centered
around energy and sustainability including
home energy assessments in Philadelphia
communities, field trips to innovative local
businesses and renewable technology
workshops. Each student has also been
paired with a regional firm focused on
sustainable business, energy and research
activities.
Brett Samocki, a junior at University Park, has
found great overlap in the coursework and
internship components stating,
“As an energy, business and finance
major, I was seeking an internship
that provided experience relating to
the relationships between energy,
sustainability and business practices.
My internship has me working on a
projectcalledBuildingRetuning,which
trains maintenance personnel to find
low and no-cost energy efficiency
measures in commercial buildings.
This is very similar to the class
component of the program, where
we performed energy assessments in
residential homes to help save energy
and money. Both of these have given
me a larger perspective on energy
and sustainability, and I feel that this
programisabeneficialcomplementto
my future plans in the energy sector.”
Brett Samocki, Junior
Energy, Business and Finance
Pictured above: Penn State students participating in
hands-on engineering coursework at GridSTAR Center.

4. Penn State Collaborators
Department of Architectural Engineering
College of Engineering
Penn State Outreach
Sustainability Institute
Development Leaders
US Department of Energy
PA- Commonwealth Finance Authority
Pennsylvania State University
Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp.
(PIDC)
ELECTRI International
Ben Franklin Development Partners
National Science Foundation
2013 Development Partners
CertainTeed Corporation
Eaton Corporation
East Penn Manufacturing
Dynapower Company
IBEW Local 98
Lutron Electronics
National Electrical Contracting Association
(NECA)
Nat’l Joint Apprenticeship Training Centers
(NJATC)
Pacific Data and Electric
Penn-Del-Jersey NECA
Scitor Corporation
Solar-Grid-Storage
United Management Consultants
2013 Sponsors
Chevrolet
Home Edison
Isofoton North America
Megcomm Films
Nissan
Octoraro Native Plant Nursery
Princeton Power, Inc
Sequentric Energy Systems
Simplex Homes
Steibel Eltron
Unirac
U-Go Stations, Inc
GREEN
RESOURCEFUL
IMPARTIAL
DEVELOPMENTAL
SCALABLE
TRANSFORMATIONAL
ACCOUNTABLE
REAL
GridSTAR TAXONOMY:
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Dr. David Riley, Principal Investigator
DRiley@engr.psu.edu
Dr. Erfan Ibrahim, Strategic Innovations Director
eibrahim@scitorenergy.com
Elizabeth Resenic, Communications Coordinator
EResenic@engr.psu.edu
Visit us Online at:
www.gridstarcenter.psu.edu