US-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Energy (USPCASE)
US-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Energy (USPCASE)
The US-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Energy (USPCASE) at the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Peshawar is a leading institution dedicated to addressing Pakistan’s critical energy needs through advanced research, education, and capacity building. Established in 2014 under a USD 20 million Cooperative Agreement between USAID and UET Peshawar, the Center aims to drive innovation and develop sustainable energy solutions that contribute to the economic and social development of Pakistan. The Center focuses on fostering an interdisciplinary approach to energy education and research, emphasizing practical applications and industry collaboration.
Specific Activities
Research and Development:
- Conducting cutting-edge research on renewable energy technologies, including solar, wind, and bioenergy.
- Developing advanced energy storage systems to enhance the reliability and efficiency of renewable energy sources.
- Implementing energy efficiency projects aimed at reducing energy consumption and optimizing resource use in various sectors.
Academic Programs:
- Bachelor’s degree in
- Energy Engineering
- Master’s degree in
- Renewable Energy Engineering
- Electrical Energy Systems Engineering
- Energy Management & Sustainability
- Thermal System Engineering
- PhD programs in
- Renewable Energy Engineering
- Electrical Energy Systems Engineering.
These programs are designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge required to address energy challenges. Continuously updating and enhancing academic curricula to align with the latest advancements in energy technology and industry needs.
Capacity Building and Training:
- Regularly organizing training, workshops, seminars, and conferences to disseminate knowledge and best practices in energy management, policy and technology.
- Providing specialized training programs for professionals and policymakers to enhance their understanding and capabilities in energy-related fields.
Industry Collaboration:
- Establishing collaborations with local and international energy companies to facilitate technology transfer, joint research, and development projects.
- Offering consultancy services to government and private organizations on energy-related projects, including solarization, biogas and energy audits.
Community Engagement:
- Engaging with local communities to raise awareness about sustainable energy practices and the benefits of renewable energy adoption.
- Encouraging student participation in community service projects and initiatives that promote energy conservation and sustainability.
Accomplishments
Innovative Research Outcomes:
- Successfully developed state of the art labs, contributing to advancements in energy utilization.
- Successfully commercialized more than 70% labs for revenue generation.
- Secure more than 220M projects in the form of research grants.
Academic Excellence:
- Graduated numerous students who have gone on to contribute significantly to the energy sector, both in academia and industry.
- Published high-impact research papers in renowned scientific journals, showcasing the center’s contributions to the global energy research community.
Enhanced Industry Relations:
- Formed strategic partnerships with key players in the energy sector, leading to collaborative projects and successful technology transfer initiatives.
- Provided consultancy services to various organizations, helping them implement effective energy solutions and improve operational efficiencies.
Capacity Building Initiatives:
- Conducted multiple training sessions and workshops, benefiting hundreds of professionals and policymakers in the energy sector.
- Implemented successful outreach programs that educated communities about the importance of sustainable energy practices.
Community Impact:
- Engaged with local communities to promote renewable energy adoption, resulting in increased awareness and practical implementation of energy-saving measures.
- Supported student-led projects and initiatives that addressed real-world energy challenges, fostering a culture of innovation and problem-solving.
USPCASE at UET Peshawar continues to be at the forefront of energy education, research, and innovation, driving progress towards a sustainable and energy-secure future for Pakistan.
To create a cooperative environment for students to prepare them for professional life and to help them in developing career oriented skills.
Vision
To bridge government, industry and academia via credible applied research and sustainable policy formulation for the development of Pakistan energy sector.
Mission
The center supports Pakistan’s economic development by strengthening the relevance and responsiveness of university products, including applied and policy research and skilled graduates, to the needs of the public and private sector. The center encourages and empowers women engineers and researchers to actively participate through equal opportunities.
Goals
The overall goal of center is to substantially improve the capacity of University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Peshawar to find innovative solutions to some of Pakistan’s greatest development challenges in energy sector through applied research; graduates who are better prepared to meet the needs of industry, government and their communities; and leadership in policy dialogue.
Objectives
Main objectives of the center are to:
- Increase access for talented, economically and/or culturally disadvantaged students, as defined by Government of Pakistan, to CAS-EP in the discipline of energy;
- Establish governance structures for sustainability and improved capacity of CAS-EP;
- Improve relevance and quality of curricula, strengthen use of effective teaching methods, and upgrade graduate and post graduate programs;
- Apply relevant research to meet client (industry, civil society, government) needs.
Projects
S.No | Title of the Project | Name of the PI | Name of the Co-PI | Amount of Funding (Million PKR) | Founding Agency | Start and End Date | Status |
1. | Syntheses and characterization of Graphene/ Cr coated Silicon Composite as anode material for Li-ion battery | Dr. Ata Ur Rahman | Dr. Syed Atif Pervez | 02.9325 M | USAID | Completed | |
2. | Multi Anchoring Calixarene Based the ℿ A dyes for Dye sensitized solar cell (DSSCs) | Dr. Muhammad Mujahid | Dr. Rizwan Gul | 03.14 M | USAID | May 2016 – May 2017 | Completed |
3. | Integration of Solar and Wind Power Systems in Direct Current Micro-Grid Setup | Dr. Parvez Hameed Sheikh | Dr. Tariqullah Jan | 03.0 M | USAID | Sept 2016 – Aug 2017 | Completed |
4. | Synthesis of non-noble Electrocatalysts for anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFC) | Dr. Saim Saher | Dr. Irshad Hussain | 03.0 M | USAID | Sept 2016 – Aug 2017 | Completed |
5. | Parametric Analysis of Solar Photo Voltaic Cell | Dr. Muhammad Alam Zaib | Dr. Rizwan M. Gul | 02.27262 M | USAID | Sept 2016 -Aug 2017 | Completed |
6. | Synthesis of Non-Noble Electrocatalyst for Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell | Dr. Saim Saher | Prof. Dr. Irshad Hussain | 02.1835 M | USAID | Sept 2016 -Aug 2017 | Completed |
7. | Design and Installation of 10 kW Stand Alone Solar Power System for Study and Research | Prof. Dr. Naeem Arbab | Dr. Abdul Basit | 02.0905 M | USAID | Sept 2016 -Aug 2017 | Completed |
8. | An innovative demonstration for low energy building: components, energy techniques, and ICT tools | Dr. Affaq Qamar | Dr. Muhammad Noman | 03 M | USAID | Sept 2016 -Aug 2017 | Completed |
9. | Mechanical testing and failure analysis of PV modules | Dr. Rizwan M. Gul | Dr. Muhammad Noman | 03 M | USAID | Sept 2016 -Aug 2017 | Completed |
10. | Heat Recovery from Exhaust Fuel Gases | Engr. Asif Sultan | Dr. Saim Saher | 03.0 M | USAID | Sept 2016 – Feb 2018 | Completed |
11. | Design and implementation of robust control for power generator and its integration with battery-backed-up inverters (renewable energies) | Dr. Abdul Basit | Prof. Dr. Naeem Arbab | 03.0 M | USAID | Sept 2016 -Aug 2017 | Completed |
12. | Electronic Load Controller for Micro Hydro Power Plants | Muhammad Saeed | Dr. Abdul Basit | 03.0 M | USAID | Sept 2016 -Aug 2017 | Completed |
13. | Design and Installation of a 10kW Stand-Alone Solar Power System for Study and Research | Prof. Dr. Naeem Arbab | Dr. Abdul Basit | 02.991 M | DOST | Jul 2017 – June 2018 | Completed |
14. | Mechanical Testing and Failure Analysis of PV Modules | Dr. Rizwan M. Gul | Dr. Noman | 02.53575 M | DOST | Jul 2017 – June 2018 | Completed |
15. | Domestic Micro hydro electrical power system: Energy solution for remote villages of Pakistan to overcome electricity crisis. | Dr. Muhmmad Naeem Arbab | Ms. Uzma Nawaz | 03.0 M | DOST | Jul 2017 – June 2018 | Completed |
16. | Pyrolysis/Gasification System for energy extraction from waste biomass. | Dr. Qari Muhammad Khalid | Dr. Muhammad Yameen Sandhu | 03.0 M | DOST | May 2017 -April 2018 | Completed |
17. | Design, Development, and installation of a Kinetic type Micro hydro Turbine at SWAT KPK. | Dr. Suhail Zaki Farooqi | Engr. Rashid Iqbal Ansari | 03.0 M | DOST | Jul 2017 – June 2018 | Completed |
18. | Hybrid Energy Test-Bed for Remote Communities – Integration of PV, Biomass Generator, and Micro-hydro Generator. | Dr. Shoaib Khalid | Dr. Abdul Basit | 07.0 M | USAID | July 2017 -June 2018 | Completed |
19. | Social and Hydrological Research to Improve Impact of Distributed Energy on Sustainable Development and Poverty Alleviation in KPK | Dr. Tanvir Ahmad | Dr. Abdul Basit | 07.0 M | USAID | 2017 – 2018 | Completed |
20. | Renewable based power for remote communities through Biomass Gasifier | Dr. Qari Muhammad Khalid | Dr. Brain M. Fronk | 03.12 M | USAID | July 17 – June 18 | Completed |
21. | Power factor correction for domestic and small industrial consumers in Pakistan | Dr. Abdul Basit | N/A | 03.0 M | DOST | May 2017 – April 2018 | Completed |
22. | Condition monitoring of Aircraft systems for fuel efficiency | Dr. Tanvir Ahmad | Dr. Abdul Basit | 05.0 M | Avionics and Design Department Kamra | 2017 – 2019 | Completed |
23. | CFD analysis of the effects of in-bed tubes on the hydrodynamics of gas-solid flow in a twin chamber fluidized bed. | Dr. Muhammad Hassan | Dr. Khurshd Ahmad | 0.43196 M | HEC | March 2018 – Sept 2018 | Completed |
24. | Development of a large capacity Solar-Biomass Hybrid Tunnel Dryer in po for long-term Preservation of Fruit including Persimmon | Dr. Suhail Zaki Farooqi | N/A | 03.0 M | DOST | August 2018 – July 2019 | Completed |
25. | Smart Control and Communication device for Transformers | Dr. Abdul Basit | N/A | 03.0 M | USAID | 2018 – 2019 | Completed |
26. | Bio-methane gas recovery for USA kitchen waste usa ing a thermophilic anaerobic digester | Dr. Zohaib ur Rehman | N/A | 0.495675 M | HEC under SRGP Program | Sep 2018 – June 2019 | Completed |
27. | Transformer Predictive maintenance | Dr. Abdul Basit | N/A | 07.0 M | USAID | 2018 – 2019 | Completed |
28. | Design and development of dynamic Power Factor correction controller | Dr. Abdul Basit | N/A | 08.0 M | HEC | 2018 – 2020 | Completed |
29. | UNIDO Energy Management System Implementation in KP and Baluchistan provinces of Pakistan | Dr. Abdul Basit | N/A | 03.9025 M | UNIDO | 2019 – 2022 | Completed |
30. | Condition Monitoring and Predictive Maintenance of Fighter Aircraft Hydraulic System Using Machine Learning Algorithms | Dr. Tanvir Ahmad | Dr. Abdul Basit | 13.228 M | HEC | 2020 – 2022 | Completed |
31. | Investigating factors affecting socio-technical integration of Micro-Hydro Power projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan | Dr. Abdul Basit | N/A | 1.6 M | British Council | 2021 – 2022 | Completed |
32. | Clean cooking and electricity through E-Stove in Pakistan | Dr. Abdul Basit | N/A | 1.5 M | British Council | 2021 – 2022 | Completed |
33. | Third generation Photovoltaic for building integration: A smart and Sustainable energy solution | Dr. Adnan Daud Khan | Dr. Muhammad Noman | 17.309313 M | HEC-NRPU | 2022 -Present | On-going |
34. | Design and development of a grid-connected hybrid solar inverter (5 kW) | Dr. Muhammad Ali | Dr. Abdul Basit | 5.88 M | HEC – NRPU | 2022 -Present | On-going |
35. | Substation power transformer risk management: Data-Driven Predictive Maintenance | Dr. Abdul Basit | N/A | 6.78 M | HEC – NRPU | 2023 -Present | Approved |
36. | Grant for Equipment Maintenance Under Tool for Science Programme | USPAC-E | N/A | 1.3 M | Dost | 2023 – Present | On-going |
37. | Solarization of GOVt. Colleges in newly merged districts of kp (Consultancy) | USPCAS-E | N/A | 1.43 Billions | HED, GoKP | 2022 – Present | On-going |
38. | Solarization of GOVt. Colleges in settled areas of kp (Consultancy) | USPCAS-E | N/A | 1.7 Billions | HED, GoKP | 2022 – Present | Approved |
39. | Training on Green Energy Technologies Sponsored by World Bank | USPCAS-E | N/A | 0.8 Million | World Bank | 2023 | Completed |