I WOULD LIKE to acknowledge the vision of the Power System Engineering Research Center (PSERC)/Industry University Collaboration Research Center (IUCRC), and Department of Energy (DOE) to encourage deployment of workforce-training materials along with research in support of design, development, and deployment of advanced tools needed for the future grid. The future grid—and its sustainability, security, efficiency, and affordability—is fundamental, and thus requires energy processing. Furthermore, electromagnetic machines, power electronics, storage, inverters/converters, tools for the design of the microgrid and smart grid are essential. Knowledge of communications, controls, and standards is essential for building the structure of the future grid. Therefore, my hope is that this book will contribute to research materials that prepare undergraduate and graduate students to prepare for research and careers in the evolving power grid and smart grid industries.

The new course in energy processing and smart grid at Howard University helped meet the challenge of electrical engineering curriculum revision at the undergraduate level to reduce credit hours for graduation from 130 to 120 as in other engineering schools. It has been taught as an undergraduate junior-level course and as a first-year graduate special topic course.

Special thanks are due to several students who helped in the preparation, problem-solving, and exercises in the book. We also acknowledge the pioneering work in energy processing, machines, and smart grid and microgrid by several authors.