Since 1994 Solar Splash has been an annual project sponsored by the Power Electronics Society. Solar Splash is an international competition in which power electronics students create and race boats powered by a combination of solar energy and electricity. Teams must submit detailed technical reports to qualify for the competition. When competing, they are awarded points across seven categories which include visual displays, workmanship, speed, maneuverability and endurance. The entire events lasts five days.
The International Future Energy Challenge began in 2001 as collaboration between the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Association of State Energy Officials and the U.S. Department of Defense. The goal was to create a model of low-cost DC to AC inverter used by distributed generation systems. The program's success inspired the Power Electronics Society to host a bi-annual event in which students tackle similar projects with an immediate relevancy to the modern world. Students participating in 2011, choose between two project goals. One is to create a low-cost lithium ion battery charger for electric and hybrid vehicles. The other is to create a lower power motor drive system for use in an emergency water treatment device. The competition is open to students from qualifying colleges worldwide.
The Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition is a conference held annually since 2009. International energy students and professionals attend. However the Power Electronics Society invites students to present papers and project-based research. PES will also pay travel expenses of qualifying students whose work is accepted for presentation at the conference. Research topics are not clearly defined, and innovation is welcome. However the follow topics may serve as guidelines: renewable and alternative energy sources, electric transportation, energy conversion technology and politics and economics of energy conversion.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Standards Association is a global organization that researches and standardizes electronics technology, including power electronics. The IEEE SA publishes standards, which are its industry-wide guidelines for implementing new technologies, and the organization makes these standards available for free download via its IEEE Get Program. Student may download standards related to power electronics and use these as the basis of college projects. The projects may involve creating models of technical devices developed according the parameters of the standard. Additionally, the students may research the process of developing power electronics standards and report on this process.