SPEC was established as a NCSU center of excellence with vertically integrated research programs in the following major areas of research related to energy and power

1) Power Management Microsystems (faculty leader: Prof. Alex Huang)

Research on integrated power management ICs to extend battery life (improve efficiency) and power next generation microprocessors. This research area is supported by the Power Management Consortium.

2) Utility Power Electronics (faculty leader: Prof. Subhashishi Bhattacharya)

Research on technolgies to prevent next blackout as well as renewable energy integration using power electronics and energy storage. This research area forms a core research area of the newly formed FREEDM Systems Center

3) Power Semiconductor Devices and Power ICs (faculty leader: Professor Alex Huang)

Fundamental technologies that will enable fast and better power electronics systems based on new processes and materials such as SiC and GaN. This research area forms a core research area of the newly formed FREEDM Systems Center

4) Electric Power Systems (faculty leader: Professor Mesut Baran)

Explore innovative method to distribute power and protect power systems from failure or damage. Smart grid research and control. Issues and solutions related to distributed energy resources. This research area forms a core research area of the newly formed FREEDM Systems Center

5) Electric Vehicle Systems (faculty leader: Dr. Srdjan Lukic)

Study power electronics and energy storage technology as it applies to the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and plug-in electric vehicle (PEV), as well as their interaction and management by the electric power grid. This research forms a core part of the newly formed Advanced Transportation Energy Center (ATEC)