Martin Rosenberg | Feb 18, 2011

 

Sometimes it is the little things that matter most.

With that in mind, the Electric Power Research Institute is putting $1 million of seed money annually behind each of four potential breakthrough technologies.

One would allow real-time, three dimensional imaging of vital power plant parts. Another would allow for robotic inspection of power lines. A third would speed removal of contaminants from nuclear power plants. And a fourth involves on-site production of activated carbon to reduce the expense of mercury emissions controls at coal powered generating units.

New technologies, large and small, are top of mind at EPRI and increasingly across the power industry. And it involves more than increased efficiency.

Michael W. Howard, president and chief executive officer of EPRI, said his organization is very interested in "electric transportation and associated energy storage technologies that will enable the widespread use of electricity as a viable fuel source for every-day transportation."

And EPRI is also interested in what it takes to "provide a reliable power system capable of supporting the greater penetration of renewable resources," he said.

Howard will be speaking about game-changing energy technologies at the upcoming EnergyBiz Leadership Forum Feb. 27 - March 1 in Washington.  

Also speaking will be Lyndon Rive, the chief executive officer of SolarCity, a company working to make a more compelling business case for solar.

"The innovation that will transform the electric power industry in the next five years is making non-polluting power sources less expensive," Rive told EnergyBiz. "There will be incremental improvements in renewable technology over the next five years, but the greatest impact will come from new financing. As investors get more comfortable with investing in non-polluting power sources there will be more options for power consumers."

Josh Richman, Bloom Energy head of business development, said that for renewables to gain ground, it will require utilities and financial institutions "to deploy these technologies on a large scale."

"Over the past five years, we saw installed wind capacity in the United States increase from 11 gigawatts to 40 gigawatts and solar increase from .5 gigawatt to 2 gigawatts," Richman said.  

Howard said the electric sector is transitioning to cleaner generation and a more interactive power grid. "Because of this tremendous challenge, the need for technical innovation has never been greater," he said.

Howard, Rive and Richman will be speaking in depth about these and related issues at the EnergyBiz Leadership Forum in Washington starting Feb. 27.

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