New Mexico Tech has received a $3.3 million award from the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department’s Grid Modernization Program for the Smart Microgrid Demonstration and Training project. The project will deploy and evaluate fiber-optic infrastructure on the demonstration microgrid at New Mexico Tech’s Playas Research and Training Center (PRTC), complemented by research and educational activities at the university’s Socorro campus. This interdisciplinary initiative applies advanced sensing, artificial intelligence (AI), and data analytics to power systems challenges, combining education and workforce training with field-scale demonstrations to enhance microgrid resilience and reliability.

The project is led by Principal Investigator Dr. Qingsong Cui, an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at New Mexico Tech, with support from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and two New Mexico Tech research centers: the Petroleum Recovery Research Center (PRRC) and the Institute for Complex Additive Systems Analysis (ICASA).

“This initiative reflects New Mexico Tech’s commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and to applying university expertise to real-world challenges,” said Dr. Cui. “By bringing together academic departments and research centers, we are creating a lasting demonstration and training platform that expands opportunities for students, strengthens collaboration with external partners, and supports New Mexico’s efforts to build a more resilient energy future.”

The Department of Electrical Engineering will lead the project and coordinate the power systems, sensing, communications, and demonstration activities. The Department of Computer Science will lead the project’s AI efforts, including data analytics, visualization, predictive monitoring, and cybersecurity. Together, these efforts will integrate power systems, advanced sensing, and AI to enhance the resilience of microgrid systems.

The PRRC will contribute its expertise in project implementation and the coordination of complex field activities, supporting planning, procurement, installation, and the transition of project concepts into an operational demonstration platform. ICASA and PRTC will work together to manage on-site activities, facility access, safety, field demonstrations, and training. In particular, PRTC provides a controlled, field-scale environment where emerging technologies and operational concepts can be evaluated under realistic and repeatable conditions. The facility will connect the project’s power systems, sensing, and AI work with hands-on demonstrations, giving students, professionals, and external partners opportunities to observe system behavior, evaluate new approaches, and gain practical experience with modern grid technologies.

The project will also support workforce development, public demonstrations, and outreach. Beyond the project period, the demonstration platform will provide a lasting resource for education, workforce training, research, and collaborative demonstrations, strengthening New Mexico Tech’s capacity to advance grid modernization and energy resilience throughout New Mexico.