PALO ALTO, Calif., May 21, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Electric Power Research Institute's chief nuclear officer, Neil Wilmshurst, received an Energy Leadership Award today at the Energy Inc. Summit for his significant contributions to the Carolinas' growing energy sector.
The annual summit, held in Charlotte, North Carolina, and sponsored by the Charlotte Business Journal and E4 Carolinas, focuses on industry trends and business opportunities in North and South Carolina.
Wilmshurst oversees more than $170 million in annual collaborative research for the benefit of the public, targeting the safe, reliable, cost-effective operation of nuclear plants around the world. Notable accomplishments under his leadership include:
- Growing international funding of EPRI nuclear research to 45 percent today from 20 percent five years ago.
- Increasing participation in EPRI's nuclear research programs to 75 percent of the world's nuclear reactors. Participants include all U.S. utilities and nuclear plant owners and operators from Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Hungary, Spain, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Switzerland, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates.
- Attracting more than 2,100 global nuclear energy professionals to Charlotte for EPRI nuclear conferences, workshops and user groups in 2014.
- Increasing Charlotte-based jobs in EPRI's nuclear department by 15 percent over the past two years.
- Driving EPRI research into new areas, bringing intellectual capital in concrete, cyber security, flexible operations and nuclear plant maintenance to the Charlotte campus.
"Neil has significantly increased awareness and application of EPRI's research across the nuclear sector – locally, regionally, and globally," said Michael Howard, EPRI president and CEO. "Everything he's done since joining EPRI has been with an eye toward enhancing our collaborative business model, shifting the question from 'Why should I join EPRI?' to 'Why aren't we already a part of EPRI?' It is gratifying to see him get this deserved recognition."
More information about Energy Inc. is available here.
About EPRI:
The Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI, www.epri.com) conducts research and development relating to the generation, delivery and use of electricity for the benefit of the public. An independent, nonprofit organization, EPRI brings together its scientists and engineers as well as experts from academia and industry to help address challenges in electricity, including reliability, efficiency, affordability, health, safety and the environment. EPRI's members represent approximately 90 percent of the electricity generated and delivered in the United States, and international participation extends to more than 30 countries. EPRI's principal offices and laboratories are located in Palo Alto, Calif.; Charlotte, N. Car.; Knoxville, Tenn.; and Lenox, Mass.