Distributed Electrical Systems Laboratory – Power Systems group
The joint research activities of the Distributed Electrical Systems Laboratory (DESL) and the Power Systems group (PWRS) refer to the development of smart grid concept solutions in order to efficiently deliver sustainable, economic and secure electricity supply. These solutions aim to integrate intelligently the actions of all users connected to the electrical network whatever they are generators or consumers.
Energy Transport Advances Laboratory
The Energy Transport Advances Laboratory (η-Lab) aims to obtain deeper understandings of interfacial transport physics. We then leverage these fundamental understandings to expand scientific possibilities and create high-performance, low-carbon-footprint solutions for cooling, power generation, clean water production, and beyond.
Group of Energy Materials
Our Group performs R & D on fuel cells and electrolysis, concentrating on solid oxide technology (600-800°C) to convert hydrocarbons (natural gas, biofuels) into electricity and heat (gas-to-cogeneration) and convert excess electricity and waste heat into fuel (power-to-gas).
Industrial Process and Energy Systems Engineering
The Industrial Process and Energy Systems Engineering (IPESE) research group is working on the process and energy system engineering for efficient use and reuse of energy, efficient energy conversion, integration of renewables and complex system integration.
Laboratory for Applied Mechanical Design
Research at the Laboratory for Applied Mechanical Design (LAMD) is focused on the design and experimental investigation of small scale turbomachinery for decentralized energy conversion. Typical applications range from small scale gas turbines, compressors for domestic heat pumps to high speed expanders for waste heat recovery using Organic Rankine Cycles.
Laboratory of Renewable Energy Science and Engineering
The Laboratory of Renewable Energy Science and Engineering (LRESE) investigates the conversion of renewable energies (solar, wind, biomass, hydro and geothermal) into storable fuels, materials and commodities.
Materials for Energy Conversion
Our research aims at developing fundamental knowledge through experiment and modeling enabling new materials and processes that improve device performance, stability, cost, and sustainability. We focus on the following application-driven topics: batteries for short-term energy storage and electrochemical fuels for long-term energy storage.
Photovoltaics and Thin Film Electronics Laboratory
The laboratory of photovoltaics and thin-films electronics (PV-lab) of IEM, founded in 1984 by Prof. Arvind Shah and headed by Prof. Christophe Ballif since 2004, has pioneered several new processes for the preparation of thin-film silicon, such as the introduction of very high frequency (VHF) plasma deposition and microcrystalline silicon as an efficient photovoltaic material, and simple processing of heterojunction crystalline cells.
Power and Wideband-gap Electronics Research Laboratory
Our mission is to innovate semiconductor devices with nanoscale design of high-performance materials to exploit their unique properties and conceive new, drastically more efficient devices that outperform the state-of-the-art.
Power Electronics Laboratory
The research interests of the Power Electronics Laboratory are in the broad area of Electrical Energy Generation, Conversion, and Storage. In particular, we are interested in High Power Electronics Technologies for Medium Voltage applications, those operating with voltages in the kV range, currents in the kA range, and powers in the MW range.