Energy
The Energy sector covers the entire field of applied technology, with a few exceptions, starting from the first oil crisis in the 70s of the last century, when faced with the realistic prospect of not being able to dispose indefinitely of energy sources at reasonable costs. To this, the recent awareness of having to limit climate change, added additional reasons, all convergent on two objectives: energy saving (consume less energy with equal results) and energy efficiency (obtain the maximum result from the same limited amount of energy). Numerous interventions by international and European legislative forces have provided additional incentives for research. Following the energy generation and distribution chain, important areas of research are identified in renewable sources from natural and inexhaustible "fuels" such as air, light, water and tides and nuclear fusion. The distribution network of electricity, gas and water aims at the creation of Smart Grids, whose goal is to reduce losses, coupling punctually, in space and time, the energy produced with that required by end users, industrial and civil. In this context, energy storage through different techniques, but mainly through chemical batteries, covers a fundamental need. Users, in turn, benefit from components with low consumption, operational intelligence and high dynamics, which allow to implement dynamic strategies of energy use through real-time consumption measurement and load control.
The Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering is active in almost all of these fields. The generation through the study and optimization of photovoltaic cells, involving studies of electrical systems and power electronics. Distribution through the deepening of the transition from traditional electrical networks and systems to the Smart Grid, through algorithms for optimal management of load flows and static converters and switches. The optimal use of energy is at the center of the studies of machines and electric drives, in particular in their applications of Industry 4.0, in close collaboration with the laboratories of informatics and industrial and civil communication (Domotics).
Reference laboratories
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