Power Electronics Accelerator Consortium for Electrification

The Power electronics Accelerator Coalition for Electrification (PACE) is a coalition of research institutions, utilities, and industry manufacturers working to take power electronics innovations to grid-level pilot demonstration and use in the field. Stakeholders combine forces to speed up broad adoption of these technologies, which are vital to support a secure and resilient U.S. electric grid.
Providing a secure and resilient electrical grid in the United States requires modernizing architecture and system management. This means an expanded role for power electronics, which provide improved reliability, automation, and intelligence compared to mechanical systems.
PACE will drive these advances at all levels, from primary components to transmission-level grid integration. Power electronics systems are a cross-cutting technology supporting a range of energy sources and storage to support transportation and buildings. Developing modular, interoperable power electronics components for each stage of power delivery will enhance electric reliability and make grid integration more affordable for utilities and their customers.
The PACE framework consists of four primary research areas that correspond with various stages of technology development:
The coalition provides a framework to incubate ideas and provide hardware and software services to take the idea to fruition, then provide a platform to transition the technology to field demonstration. A variety of pathways are available for partnership opportunities, including basic research and development programs, tech collaborations, and industry-led projects.