Built largely in the 1960s or before, our electric power system cannot reliably run the kinds of digital devices on which today's economy depends. The effects of this inefficient, unreliable, and outdated electricity system are acutely felt each year at Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT).
The Perfect Power System at IIT will be the first energy distribution system of its kind in the United States.
The Perfect Power System will allow IIT to avoid costly system upgrades and realize efficiency savings well into the future. It is estimated that the system will pay for itself as it is built, over the next five years. The project is funded by IIT and the DOE.
Perfect Power means not only a cheaper energy bill for IIT, but also a safer, more productive campus and the opportunity for IIT to set the standard for electric power delivery.
Perfect Power Videos
Take a virtual tour of
Illinois Institute of Technology's
Perfect Power System
IIT is implementing a
first-of-its-kind power grid.
Watch the Channel 7 News Clip
Perfect Power News Coverage
Perfect Power Phase One is Complete
Read the press release here
Download a Perfect Power fact sheet containing much of the information displayed on this site.
The article, "Microgrids: Utility vs. Private Ownership" on earth2tech discusses the rise of microgrids and highlights Perfect Power at IIT as an example of "the evolving relationship between utilities and their customers." Full Article
An Electric Light and Power article explains that the first phase of Perfect Power at IIT has recently been completed. Full Article
Smart Meters and GreenTech Media stories also discuss smart grid technology and IIT’s completion of phase one of Perfect Power.
The Winter 2010 issue of Energy Today discusses the Illinois Smart Grid Collaboration and highlights Perfect Power at IIT, with information from Principal Investigator Mohammad Shahidehpour. Full Article
Educational Resources
Get educated on smart grid technology with this Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) online video.More information can be found in The Smart Grid: An Introduction, a publication sponsored by DOE's Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability. It is the first publication of its kind to explore -- in layman's terms -- the nature, challenges, opportunities and necessity of Smart Grid implementation. See mention of the Perfect Power project at IIT on page 37.