The Council recently spoke to Neil Wilmshurst, Senior Vice President, Energy System Resources & Chief Nuclear Officer, at EPRI, a USSBC member, about their significant contributions to the global energy sector, particularly delving into three major themes: collaboration, innovation, and sustainability. Through collaborative efforts with partners worldwide, EPRI has been instrumental in driving innovation and advancing research and development initiatives aimed at ensuring a sustainable and reliable energy future. Their commitment to fostering partnerships and leveraging innovative solutions underscores their dedication to addressing the challenges and opportunities within the energy landscape.
For those who may not be familiar, could you provide a brief introduction to EPRI, highlighting its mission, key objectives, and the scope of its work in the energy sector, particularly within the context of its engagement in the Kingdom?
Founded in 1972, EPRI is an independent non-profit energy research, development, and deployment organization, with three specialized labs.
EPRI conducts extensive collaborative research programs help drive innovation to ensure clean, safe, reliable, affordable, and equitable access to electricity across the globe. These programs span a wide range of topics relevant to the power sector, including sustainability, grid modernization, energy storage, renewable integration, and cybersecurity. The institute collaborates with hundreds of organizations representing the energy sector, academia, and governments, in 45 countries around the world.
EPRI also maintains an employee presence in more than a dozen countries in Europe, the Gulf Region and Africa, as well as Asia, and the Americas. This brings a unique, global perspective.
Can you share insights into EPRI’s ongoing collaborations and partnerships with Saudi organizations and institutions in advancing research, development, and training initiatives in the energy sector?
EPRI is committed to the sustainability of the energy sector across the world, which is why we have collaborated with numerous utilities in the Gulf Region (including Saudi Electric and the GCCIA) on a number of projects, including hosting an annual energy transition event. It allows us the opportunity to discuss important issues and set expectations for the future of the energy and electricity sector in the region.
Senior thought leaders interested in energy have participated in the energy transition forum, highlighting developments that supported open, transparent, and competitive investments and emphasizing the importance of cooperation to achieve sustainable energy goals. Existing energy resources can propel the industry only so far down the road. As the energy sector continues to accelerate solar and wind deployment, where will they get clean, firm power? Options are emerging, but many of tomorrow’s potential, low-carbon, energy resources—including clean hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, advanced nuclear, nuclear fusion, and long-duration energy storage—are still in the early stages of development and demonstration.
Neil Wilmshurst, Senior Vice President, Energy System Resources & Chief Nuclear Officer, EPRI
In what specific areas of energy research and innovation does EPRI believe there is the greatest potential for impact and advancement?
All aspects of the energy industry must come together to accelerate the pace of decarbonization. Over the course of 15 years, the electricity sector has become 33% cleaner, but the overall economy’s decarbonization has progressed slowly during the same period.
EPRI’s Low-Carbon Resources Initiative (LCRI) is helping to advance global, economy-wide, deep decarbonization. LCRI focuses on large-scale deployment beyond 2030, targeting advancements in low-carbon electric generation technologies and energy carriers, such as hydrogen, ammonia, synthetic fuels, and biofuels. Currently, switching to clean electricity is not a practical solution to reduce carbon in all sectors, especially those hard-to-decarbonize sectors such as including cement, steel, chemicals, shipping, and aviation. It’s going to take all options—depending on what works best in different regions—for an affordable, reliable, equitable clean energy future.
We’re also excited about the work of Climate READi, which stands for Climate Resilience and Adaptation Initiative. As more extreme weather and climate events increase in frequency and society increasingly depends on electricity, EPRI is strengthening the power sector’s collective approach to managing climate risk to the power system. Energy companies, regulators, policymakers, and other industry stakeholders require science-based insights about the future power system and the environment in which it will operate to identify optimal adaptation and resilience investments. EPRI’s collaborative model will convene the global thought leaders and scientific researchers necessary to build an informed and consistent approach.
We’re implementing hundreds of projects to benefit society, driving innovation for a reliable, equitable, and affordable clean energy transition. EPRI’s work with international organizations such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the World Energy Council, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and the International Energy Agency (IEA) further inform collaborative research, support global energy policy, and enhance the exchange of knowledge and best practices across borders.
