The Armour College of Engineering is partnering with the Robert W. Galvin Center for Electricity Innovation to host a tour of IIT’s first-of-its-kind smart grid infrastructure from 12:45-1:45 pm on Tuesday, March 25, 2014 in the IIT Tower, 16th Floor. This event qualifies for Engineering Themes credit for Energy. RSVP today. There are a maximum of 25 spots available.

The Galvin Center is a major university initiative to improve the reliability, security, efficiency, and sustainability of the nation’s electrical grid and overcome obstacles to the effective adoption and implementation of the Smart Grid. The Galvin Center partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy to build the first-ever Perfect Power microgrid – an electric system that will not fail – at IIT’s main campus in Chicago. The $3 million project funded by IIT, the State of Illinois, and the U.S. Department of Energy is designed to eliminate blackouts, cut its peak load by 20 percent and integrate more distributed renewable energy resources. The Galvin Center leadership is working with entities across the world to replicate and scale the microgrid model for communities, military bases, corporate parks, sports facilities, and other universities.

In January 2012, the Galvin Center completed and moved into a new, state-of-the-art 16,000 square-foot facility designed to house, microgrid research, demonstration and education activities.  The Galvin Center contains offices, exhibition rooms, classrooms and student workrooms, acting as a hands-on experience center for Smart Grid, microgrid and energy technology and education.

Note: Students will need to use IIT identification to gain access to the IIT Tower.