Professor Gadh, director of the Smart Grid Energy Research Center, points out solar panels to U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz on a tour of the Smart Grid Living Lab on the top level of Parking Structure 9.
Secretary Ernest Moniz gets an up-close view of two major projects in UCLA’s energy-related portfolio
By Cynthia Lee | October 03, 2016
Originally published in UCLA Newsroom
U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz spoke with UCLA leaders and researchers in engineering and physics and astronomy this morning and toured two laboratories on campus that are supported by the U.S. Department of Energy. During his visit to Los Angeles, Moniz focused on the Department of Energy’s role in combating climate change and driving clean energy innovation and deployment.
“I’m so pleased that we were able to show Secretary Moniz a portion of UCLA’s energy-related portfolio, much of which has been made possible through the generous support of the Department of Energy,” said Interim Vice Chancellor for Research Ann Karagozian, a distinguished professor in mechancial and aerospace engineering, who organized the visit.
Accompanying Moniz on the tour were Mark Gold, UCLA associate vice chancellor for environment and sustainability; George Kivork, federal liaison for the Office of Mayor Eric Garcetti; and Marvin Moon, director of power systems engineering for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
Led by Rajit Gadh, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and director of the Smart Grid Energy Research Center, Moniz was shown the Smart Grid Living Lab in Parking Structure 9 with its solar panels, EV chargers and fast chargers that are integrated into the grid. He then visited the Smart Grid Energy Research Center in Engineering IV, where he watched research and technology demonstrations involving battery energy storage, demand response and microgrids.
The energy secretary then toured the UCLA Particle Beam Physics (Neptune) Lab in Boelter Hall, where professor James Rosenzweig and professor emeritus John “Mike” Cornwall, both of physics and astronomy, and Sergei Tochitsky, a research scientist in electrical engineering, talked about ongoing research in advanced particle accelerators.
Moniz concluded his campus visit at the Luskin Conference Center with a discussion with Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Scott Waugh, campus administrators, faculty members and visitors.