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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NSF Energy, Power, and Adaptive Systems (EPAS) Program

What is the EPAS program?

The Energy, Power, and Adaptive Systems (EPAS) program is a National Science Foundation (NSF) research grant opportunity focused on advancing the engineering foundations and enabling technologies behind modern energy and power systems. The program emphasizes systems that are intelligent, adaptive, networked, and data-driven, and it supports work that improves how energy is generated, converted, delivered, managed, and integrated across interconnected infrastructures.

What types of research does EPAS support?

EPAS supports research that is both theoretically strong and practically relevant. On the theory side, it includes systems and control, modeling, optimization, and learning. On the practical side, it includes devices, power electronics, grids, and test beds. The program often encourages multidisciplinary projects that connect engineering theory with real-world energy and power systems.

What is the core technical focus of EPAS?

At its core, EPAS supports the design and analysis of complex engineering networks that combine sensing, imaging, control, computation, and learning. The aim is to enable next-generation energy and power systems that can operate effectively under uncertainty, changing conditions, and network interactions.

Is the electric power grid a major focus area?

Yes. A major emphasis within EPAS is the electric power system and the evolving power grid, including generation, transmission, distribution, and the integration of renewable, sustainable, and distributed energy resources.

What Smart Grid challenges are considered relevant to EPAS?

The program highlights Smart Grid challenges such as sensing and monitoring, communication-control interdependencies, reliability, stability, and resilience, especially as the grid incorporates variable renewables and distributed assets.

Does EPAS consider interdependencies between infrastructures (like power and communications)?

Yes. EPAS explicitly recognizes that power systems do not exist in isolation and highlights interdependencies among critical infrastructures, particularly power and communications. Proposals that address infrastructure coupling and the engineering implications of those couplings may align well with the program’s stated interests.

Does EPAS consider regulatory or economic realities of grid operation?

Yes. The program description notes that regulatory and economic structures influence grid operation and technology adoption, and it suggests that proposals connecting engineering innovation with realistic grid constraints and market/regulatory realities may be responsive to the program’s interests.

Does EPAS fund research on renewable energy and energy harvesting?

Yes. EPAS supports research on alternative energy and energy scavenging technologies. Examples called out include solar cells, ocean waves, wind, and low head hydro, spanning both energy harvesting devices and the broader systems needed to make these sources useful at scale.

What kinds of device or conversion technologies fit within EPAS?

The description signals interest in novel energy conversion and collection devices, along with the electronics and interfaces needed to connect renewable sources into larger systems.

Does EPAS include power electronics, drives, and high-power conversion?

Yes. EPAS includes emphasis on high power electronics and drives, including high voltage/high power switching and conversion, as well as generators, motors, and network interfacing.

Are energy storage and sensing included in EPAS?

Yes. Energy storage and energy/power sensing technologies are explicitly included, reflecting the importance of measurement, diagnostics, and controllability in next-generation energy systems.

What does EPAS mean by "intelligent and adaptive systems"?

EPAS targets methods and architectures that allow systems to learn and adapt in real time. The opportunity description mentions approaches such as adaptive dynamic programming, brain-like networked architectures capable of real-time learning, neural networks, neuromorphic engineering, cognitive optimization and prediction, and telerobotics.

Is the program interested in work at the intersection of control theory and machine learning?

Yes. The topics described place EPAS squarely in the space where control theory and machine learning meet real engineering systems, particularly systems that operate under uncertainty, changing environments, and complex network interactions.

Does EPAS support distributed control and multi-agent systems?

Yes. EPAS supports distributed control and multi-agent systems with embedded computation. These ideas can apply to sensor and adaptive networks, coordinated fleets of devices, and networked infrastructure control where local decisions must remain globally stable and efficient.

Does EPAS cover quantum-related research?

Yes. EPAS explicitly notes emerging areas such as quantum systems engineering and quantum and molecular modeling and simulation of devices and systems, signaling openness to forward-looking work beyond conventional grid and energy topics.

What kinds of quantum or molecular topics are implied?

The description points to modeling frameworks and computational approaches for designing or analyzing devices and systems at quantum or molecular scales, along with a systems-engineering perspective for integrating such components into usable technologies.

Does EPAS support test beds and experimental platforms?

Yes. In addition to pure research, EPAS highlights support for innovative test beds, which can include building experimental platforms or shared infrastructure that accelerates progress in energy, power, and adaptive systems.

Does EPAS support curriculum or education-related activities?

Yes. The program description notes support for laboratory and curriculum development that integrates research and education, indicating that proposals may include educational elements tied to research goals and workforce development.

Are collaborative or multidisciplinary proposals encouraged?

Yes. Collaborative and multidisciplinary proposals are explicitly encouraged, particularly where integrative work requires a breadth of expertise across areas like power electronics, control/learning, communications, cyber-physical systems, materials/devices, or emerging quantum-related topics.

Is there specific support for small teams?

The description indicates that the NSF directorate/division involved (ECCS) may support a limited number of small team proposals with three or more investigators from different disciplines and/or universities.

What NSF area or classification is associated with EPAS in the provided information?

The provided information indicates EPAS was a discretionary NSF grant program under CFDA 47.041 (Engineering Grants), associated with the NSF engineering directorate/division context described as ECCS.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The provided opportunity information states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

Who is eligible to apply based on the provided information?

The provided metadata describes broadly unrestricted eligibility (open to any type of entity), subject to any additional eligibility language in the full announcement.

What were the submission windows listed in the archived record?

The archived record lists annual submission windows of January 7 to February 7 and September 7 to October 7.

Is this listing active, and are the deadlines current?

The record shown is archived and notes that the current closing date was replaced by PD 13 7607. That means applicants would need to consult the successor program announcement for current deadlines, funding levels, and up-to-date requirements.

Does the archived metadata show expected awards or total funding?

The provided metadata lists expected awards and estimated total funding as 0. Based on the description, this typically reflects that the archived listing is not an active funding solicitation record rather than a definitive statement about NSF’s actual annual EPAS funding.

What example topic areas are explicitly mentioned as relevant?

Illustrative areas of interest mentioned include: control theory and hybrid dynamical systems; distributed and mobile networked control; estimation for sensing and imaging; reliability and control of renewable energy; sensor networks for energy-efficient buildings; transportation networks and human-robot interaction; stochastic modeling; energy collection and conversion devices (photovoltaic, thermal, and novel conversion methods); renewable energy systems; power conversion and interfacing (generators, motors, drives); energy storage; high voltage/high power switching; transmission and distribution; intelligent power grids; high-performance and multiscale modeling; and quantum systems and modeling.

How can EPAS be summarized in one sentence?

EPAS is a broad NSF engineering program that funds foundational and applied research connecting intelligent control and learning, energy and power devices and electronics, and networked infrastructure to enable more capable, efficient, resilient, and adaptive energy systems.