10/10/2024 Diya Mehta 2 min read
Written by Diya Mehta
Meet the brilliant minds behind an innovative solution to power grid challenges! They are competing in the Collegiate Inventor’s Competition!
Zhuoran Han and Jaekwon Lee from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, guided by their adviser Can Bayram, have developed a groundbreaking Photoconductive Semiconductor Switch (PCSS) that promises to transform our aging power grid.
"Power outages cost American households $150 billion annually. For instance, weather-related outages alone account for $25 - $70 billion per year, affecting half a million Americans on average daily. To reach the 2050 goal of a more reliable, resilient, and net zero grid, faster and higher power electronic devices with improved protection and simpler controls are needed. This is what their photoconductive semiconductor switches will do – protect us against (un)planned grid outages and extreme weather disruption,” states Professor Bayram.
This diamond-based PCSS technology allows rapid switching, high-voltage capabilities, and exceptional reliability, offering faster recovery from outages and improved grid stability. Their invention not only safeguards the electrical grid but also paves the way for the seamless integration of renewable energy sources, moving us closer to a net-zero emissions future.
This remarkable invention is a beacon of hope for a more reliable, sustainable power grid that serves us all.
Their project has been selected as one of just five finalists in the graduate category and it is also up for a People’s Choice award. Voting will close at 5 p.m. on October 16. Cast your vote today by voting online!