Peter W. Sauer

Peter Sauer is a Professor and Co-PI at the University of Illinois, holding the W. W. Grainger Chair in Electrical Engineering within the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering. He serves as Site Director for the NSF-sponsored Power Systems Engineering Research Center and actively leads projects on power system operational reliability.

His research specializes in modeling and simulation of power grid components including loads, generators, and smart grid infrastructure, with emphasis on dynamic modeling of renewable resources (wind/solar) and low-inertia generation impacts. Key investigations address contingency analysis, disturbance recovery, and automatic generation control challenges in modernized grids.

Scientific Awards

• IEEE Power & Energy Lifetime Achievement Award
• Fellow of the IEEE
• Member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering

Sauer has secured major research funding through NSF initiatives including his role as Program Director for Power Systems (1991-1992) and leadership of the Power Systems Engineering Research Center. His industry impact includes co-founding PowerWorld Corporation (1996-2001) where he served as Chairman of the Board.

He directs the Power Systems Engineering Research Center, a multi-institution collaboration advancing grid reliability through synchrophasor technology and resilience-focused projects under the CREDC initiative.