Technology Innovation
10 Research Programs Backgrounder
The Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI) conducts research and development relating to the
generation, delivery and use of electricity for the benefit of the public.
With a staff of recognized industry experts, EPRI has established itself as a thought leader in the electric
sector worldwide. The organization is recognized for developing and demonstrating innovative
technologies, analyzing and enhancing current technologies, as well as seeking alternative methods to
produce and deliver electricity.
EPRI’s Technology Innovation (TI) organization has been integral in leading the development of key
technologies that have benefitted the electricity industry in numerous ways. The organization focuses on
stimulating innovation and developing enabling electricity technologies for adoption over a 5-10 year
period, or longer. For instance, EPRI research has lead to recognition of the global impact of mercury, the
development of a high-impact decontamination process and technologies to reduce carbon emissions
from coal generation.
The technology challenges that the electricity industry will face in achieving a low carbon future will
require groundbreaking technology development in a number of strategic areas. EPRI has identified 10
strategic programs that will be the focus of its longer term research efforts from 2009 and beyond.
Technology Summary
Biotechnology
This strategic program will increase understanding of biotechnology’s potential and develop biological
solutions for economic and environmental challenges facing the power generation industry. Strategic
work addresses knowledge and technology gaps relating to biofixation for CO2 capture, corrosion control
using regenerative biofilms, bioremediation of power plant discharges, and other promising biotechnology
applications.
CO2 Capture
This strategic program will increase basic understanding of carbon capture mechanisms and accelerate
the development of technologies offering much lower energy penalties and costs than those anticipated to
become commercially available within the next decade. Strategic work addresses knowledge and
capability gaps relating to modeling, screening, testing, optimizing, and deploying solvent-, sorbent-, and
membrane-based capture processes.
SM
ElectriNet
This strategic program will create the framework for an interconnected, integrated electricity-based
network through which generators, providers, and users interact to optimize efficiency, reliability, security,
and economic and environmental performance. Strategic work addresses knowledge and technology
gaps relating to the data exchange, communications, control, and management infrastructure required to
support mutually beneficial interactions among individual generation, delivery, storage, and end-use
components and the entire ElectriNet.
Emissions, Health and Environment
This strategic program focuses on increasing basic understanding of the potential impacts of multimedia
releases from emerging combustion-based generating systems to inform both technology development
and environmental policymaking. Work addresses knowledge and technology gaps relating to the
characteristics, environmental cycling, and ecological and human health risks of emissions from future
fossil and biofuel plants incorporating CO2 capture and other advanced control systems.
Near-Zero Emissions
This strategic program will develop the advanced emissions control technologies required to maintain
coal as a primary component of the electric sector’s fuel supply mix. Strategic work addresses knowledge
and technology gaps relating to achievement of near-zero emissions of NOx, SO2, SO3, fine particulate
matter, mercury, and other chemicals from conventional and advanced power plants fueled by coal and
coal-biofuel blends.
Materials – Delivery and End Use
This strategic program will develop and apply nanotechnologies and other new materials to increase
power transfer capability, enhance grid controllability and reliability, boost power delivery and end-use
efficiency, and address climate change and other emerging issues. Strategic work addresses knowledge
and capability gaps relating to cable dielectrics, power electronics materials and devices, transmissionclass insulators and structures, gaseous dielectrics, batteries, and building envelope components.
Materials – Fossil and Nuclear Generation
This strategic program will increase basic understanding of damage mechanisms and develop improved
materials and coatings to support the continued operation of existing coal, natural gas, and nuclear
capacity and the deployment of advanced plants. Strategic work addresses knowledge and technology
gaps relating to materials behavior, damage initiation and propagation, condition assessment, and failure
prevention in high-temperature environments.
Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE)
This strategic program will advance NDE capabilities to reduce the cost of applying state-of-the-art
methods, to detect incipient problems, and to inspect components that cannot currently be examined at
nuclear plants and other generating facilities. Strategic work addresses knowledge and technology gaps
relating to widespread use of ultrasonic testing, early detection of stress corrosion cracking and other
common problems, and inspection of structural concrete, buried piping and tanks, and cast stainless steel
components
Renewables
This strategic program will develop the new technologies required to support widespread renewables
deployment in central-station and distributed applications. Strategic work addresses knowledge and
technology gaps related to improving the cost and performance of wind, solar, geothermal, biomass,
hydro, wave, and tidal energy systems and facilitating their integration as reliable, economical, and clean
generation options.
Sensors and Operations
This strategic program will develop integrated sensor systems to improve real-time monitoring and control
capabilities and increase the availability, reliability, and security of the electricity infrastructure. Strategic
work addresses knowledge and technology gaps relating to sensing elements, sensor deployment and
operations, data processing and analysis, communications, alarm and visualization, and automated and
human decision-making for high-priority power delivery and fossil and nuclear plant applications.
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,
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nonprofit organization, EPRI brings together experts from academia and industry as well as its own
scientists and engineers to help address challenges in electricity generation, delivery and use, including
health, safety and the environment. EPRI's members represent more than 90 percent of the electricity
generated and delivered in the United States, and international participation extends to 40 countries.
EPRI's principal offices and laboratories are located in Palo Alto, Calif.; Charlotte, N.C.; Knoxville, Tenn.;
and Lenox, Mass.
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Contact:
Don Kintner
EPRI
Manager, Communications
dkintner@epri.com
704-595-2006
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