GridEd Short Courses

GridEd's short course program seeks to train existing professional engineering staff on topics to prepare them to design and operate the grid of the future. Regular and sustained course offerings are derived from surveys and regular feedback from GridEd utility industry advisors. Courses are taught by EPRI experts, GridEd Partner university professors, and/or other university professors and industry experts with specialized knowledge in power systems engineering, distributed energy resources (DER), distributed generation (DG), and other related topics.

GridEd short courses are delivered in a variety of formats which include live-in-person, live-online, and recorded-online. Professional Development Hours (PDHs) are awarded to course participants based on the number of course hours. If you would like to request more information about a specific course, be added to the distribution list to receive notification when registration opens for new courses, or to register for a course at a discounted rate, please contact Amy Feser at afeser@epri.com.



Registration Now Open: Information and Communication Technologies for Distributed Energy Resources and Systems

Course Description:

This course trains participant in understanding the fundamentals and applying the information and communication technologies (ICT) for distributed energy resources (DER) and systems such as demand response (DR), solar, energy storage, and electric vehicles. Electric utilities and grid operators across the world are looking at solutions for effective use and operation of the smart grid in the era of increasing deployments of DER technologies such as solar, energy storage, and flexible loads for demand response (DR). A vital element of the solution is to enable interoperable and cost-effective monitoring and control of these resources. Example applications include: (a) leveraging grid-facing services across a variety of types, makes, and models of grid-connected DER; (b) optimization of the dispatch of front-of-the-meter and behind-the-meter DERs through advanced distribution grid control systems such as Distributed Energy Resourced Management Systems (DERMS) and DR Management Systems (DRMS); and (3) enabling information exchange for grid modeling that unlock new benefits from DER management. While some regions offer DR programs, others are aggressively deploying distributed generation and electric vehicles. Under this not-so-distant future state underlies the ICT backbone that supports access and management of DER devices and systems.

This course covers DER 101 or fundamentals and background on the communication technologies and half-a-dozen data protocols (each with a unique purpose) available for communicating with a diversity of DERs over the grid network architecture, the associated information models to define the format and meaning of data transported over these protocols, example applications of deployment these protocols and data models for interoperability, and summarize the trajectory of adoption of these technologies in the smart grid.

The course answers questions like “What is a DER?” “What are the recommended communication technologies and architecture for DER?” “Why are communications important for DER?” “What standards are out there to streamline communicating with DER at interconnection and over the life of the device?” “Why is interoperability important for DER?” “Who are the responsible parties for adopting these standards?”

Dates and Times: Thursday and Friday, November 5-6 from 1:00-5:15pm ET

This course is designed to train and inform technical and decision-making staff involved in the planning and operations of the programs for DR, procurement and installation of DER, integration of solar, storage, and EV systems, and development of advanced utility-scale grid management systems. The stakeholders include, but not limited to, electric utilities, grid operators, aggregators, DER equipment manufacturers, and system integrators.

Registration Fee: $100/hr/person

  • 20% discount for organizations sending three or more staff
  • 25% discount for government workers (non-utility)
  • 25% discount for college professors*
  • 75% discount for graduate students*

*University ID required

Register Now for this Event: https://tinyurl.com/y6nekl2z

Contact Amy Feser, afeser@epri.com, for inquiry on discounts.

Registration Now Open: Machine Learning and Big Data Analytics

Course Description:

This course is one in a series of several courses developed and offered through GridEd to enhance workforce readiness through training and education of personnel with needed skill sets at the intersection of power systems and digital systems.

This 1.5-day course focuses on machine learning and big data analytics and machine learning in smart grid. The value, velocity, volume, and variety of big data in smart grid will be discusses. The course will also review the basics of unsupervised learning, supervised learning, reinforcement learning algorithms, and generative models. Important applications of big data analytics and machine learning in electric power distribution systems, transmission networks, and electricity markets will be presented with real-world data set.

The applications covered in the short course includes:

Distribution Systems: 1) Topology identification, 2) Electricity theft detection, 3) Predictive maintenance of distribution equipment, 4) Estimation of behind-the-meter solar generation, 5) Reinforcement learning based control.

Transmission System: 1) Anomaly detection with PMU data, 2) Motifs and signatures discovery with PMU data, 3) Event classification with PMU data.

Electricity Market: 1) Algorithmic trading with virtual bids in electricity market.

Dates and Times:

Tuesday, Thursday and Friday November 10, 12-13 from 1:00 - 5:30pm ET

Registration Fee: $100/hr/person

  • 20% discount for organizations sending three or more staff
  • 25% discount for government workers (non-utility)
  • 25% discount for college professors*
  • 75% discount for graduate students*

*University ID required

Register Now ForThis Event: https://tinyurl.com/yyb2qqnf

Contact Amy Feser, afeser@epri.com, for inquiry on discounts.

Registration Now Open: Introduction to Energy Storage Short Course Series

Course Description:

This course was developed and offered by GridEd to address several evolving forces that will alter the fundamental operating characteristics of the electric grid, transforming it from a one-way central supply structure to one that has bidirectional, flexible power flows resulting from the integration of energy storage systems. The focus is on energy storage technologies and applications. Students will learn about the technical challenges facing the wider use of energy storage and what can be done to address those challenges. Additionally, considerations for energy storage project development and deployment will be discussed. This course is provided in a live-online environment and includes a 6-hour introduction to energy storage followed by three optional 2-hour deep dives on energy storage valuation, battery technology and performance, and safety.

Dates and Times:

Registration Fee: $100/hr/person

  • 20% discount for organizations sending three or more staff
  • 25% discount for government workers (non-utility)
  • 25% discount for college professors*
  • 75% discount for graduate students*

*University ID required



Library of Course Offerings

The following courses are available upon request and may be repeated periodically as a standard offering based on feedback from the GridEd utility industry advisory board.

Now Available (GridEd Basic Power System Course Materials)

We are pleased to announce that we have finished compiling all the lectures and videos for the basic power course. A syllabus is provided that describes the Basic Power course and provides a legend for each of the 75 different modules from the full course. Both the videos and the PowerPoints have been posted to a box.com folder. If you or colleagues would like to access these materials please send an email to Amy Feser (afeser@epri.com)

Pricing and Discounts

The cost to participate in a GridEd short course is $1200. Discounts are available as follows:

  • Group Discount for 3 or more staff enrolled in the same course – 20%
  • Government Worker (Non-Utility) – 25%
  • University Professors – 25% (University ID Required)
  • Graduate Students – 75% (University ID Required)

In addition, GridEd Affiliate university staff and students, and DOE staff may be placed on a waiting list for short courses; and, if space is available, will be permitted to take the course for free.

Those who seek deeper discounts (up to 50%) and would like to purchase multi-seats for use in any GridEd short course may join EPRI's supplemental "GridEd course bundle" project (EPRI Product 3002015049 - Educating a Digital Power Workforce to Be GREAT with Data (GridEd Membership) . Additionally, EPRI members may purchase courses with Self-Directed Funds (SDF). GridEd advisors receive the greatest benefit and discounts which include three pre-paid slots per year to attend any GridEd short course, and the option to host a short course at their facility. If you would like to purchase a full course (all 25 seats), bring a course to your facility, or would like to join GridEd as an advisor, (EPRI Product - 3002015367 GridEd Training Courses and Activities), please contact us at afeser@epri.com.

To be added to the short course invitation list, send a request to: afeser@epri.com

Previous GridEd Short Courses

October 6-29, 2020 Distributed Energy Resource (DER) Interconnection on Radial Distribution Systems
February 13 - 14, 2020 Electric Transportation Fundamentals
September 12, 2019 Information and Communications Technologies for Distributed Energy Resources: Monitoring and Management for Solar, Storage, Flexible Loads, and Electric Vehicles
March 9, 2019 2019 Big Data Analytics and Machine Learning in Smart Grid
March 4, 2019 Reliability Assessment of Distribution Systems Live Online Course
September 25, 2018 Distributed Generation Interconnection on Radial Distribution Systems Live Online
September 20 - 21, 2018 Electric Transportation
June 18, 2018 Utility Applications of Power Electronics
June 7, 2018 Big Data Analytics in Electric Power Distribution Systems
April 4 - 5, 2018 Application of Smart Inverters Technology
February 22 - March 27, 2018 Distributed Generation Interconnection on Radial Distribution Systems
February 8 - 9, 2018 Energy Storage Technologies, Applications and Integration
January 16 - 17, 2018 Bulk System Integration of Variable Generation
December 12 – 13, 2017 Energy Storage Technologies, Applications and Integration
November 13 – 14, 2017 Electricity Markets
November 13 – 14, 2017 Energy Storage Technologies, Applications and Integration
September 19 – 20, 2017 Predictive Analytics
September 14 – 15, 2017 Electric Power Quality
August 28, 2017 Distribution Volt-Var Planning and Control
August 17 – 18, 2017 Application of Smart Inverters Technology
July 25 – August 17, 2017 Distributed Generation Interconnection on Radial Distribution Systems
May 15 – 16, 2017 Energy Storage Technologies, Applications and Integration
March 6 – 9, 2017 Utility Applications of Power Electronics
February 27 – 28, 2017 Business Case Analysis in the Electric Utility Industry
February 16 – 17, 2017 Applications of Smart Inverters Technology
February 7 – 8, 2017 Electricity Markets
October 4 – 27, 2016 Distributed Generation Interconnection on Radial Distribution Systems
February 25 – 26, 2016 Unbalanced Power Systems Analysis
January 13 – 14, 2016 Applications of Smart Inverters Technology
December 2 – 3, 2015 Business Case Analysis in the Electric Utility Industry
November 17 – 18, 2015 Electric Power Distribution Systems
October 8 – 9, 2015 Applications of Smart Inverters Technology
Sept. 8 – Oct. 6, 2015 Distributed Generation Interconnection on Radial Distribution Systems
August 25 – 26, 2015 Distributed Generation Technologies and Applications
July 8 – 9, 2015 Electric Power Distribution Systems
September 29 – 30, 2014 Business Case Analysis in the Electricity Utility Industry
September 11 – 12, 2014 Dynamic Distribution System Modeling with Open DSS
August 20 – 21, 2014 Electric Power Distribution Systems
July 16 – 17, 2014 Distributed Storage & Generation Technologies and Applications