RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS BY THE DECADE
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2020s
1990s
1980s
1970s
1970: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency created
1973: Global energy crisis 1975: Energy and Policy Conservation Act passed
1975: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission established
1977: U.S. Department of Energy established
1978: Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act enacted
1979: Three Mile Island Nuclear Plant Accident
of R&D Achievements
YEARS
FIFTY
One of the greatest psychic rewards of the field we are in is the feeling of having made a contribution that is not going to be washed out with the sands of time...because real benefits flow to succeeding generations.
In fact, the only justification for society's supporting R&D is not to keep society happy at that time, but to make the world better for the future...to create an intellectual and technological endowment for our children and their children.
- Dr. Chauncey Starr
EPRI Founder
So much has changed since EPRI’s founding in 1972 — spurred by the challenges of the 1960s and 1970s that led the U.S. Congress, state governments, and public and private energy companies to recognize the need for an independent, collaborative research and development organization. Energy challenges may evolve, but they persist. Today, extreme weather events, the integration of intermittent energy sources, and new cybersecurity attacks present increased risks to energy systems — meaning EPRI’s value proposition is as important as ever.
A Letter from EPRI's President
"To transition to a clean energy future, we need an economy-wide transition — transportation, industrial uses, and buildings.
Our work of collaboration has increased considerably, and I envision EPRI as the voice of science to bring forward solutions across sectors and industries.”
Arshad Mansoor
EPRI President and CEO
Rooted in independence and objectivity, EPRI collaborates with scientists, engineers, governments, and experts from academia and industries to shape and drive innovative, global energy solutions. As a nonprofit organization, EPRI focuses on public interest energy and environmental research that providesscience-based analysis, evaluations, andguidance. Because now more than ever, the clean energy transition challenge requires allavailable tools and resources.
I am proud to follow our founder, Chauncey Starr, and the five other CEOs before me to lead EPRI in delivering value and societal benefit. The pages that follow offer a glimpse at some of the most important research contributions made by EPRI and its collaborators over these last 50 years — as well as current initiatives underway. Our collaborative mission and business model provide critical, objective support to global stakeholders advancing energy transitions. EPRI looks forward to being fully engaged in this work for decades to come — working together across many sectors to achieve a net-zero economy that is reliable, affordable, equitable, digital, and resilient.
As the world transitions to a sustainable, net-zero future, we have a generational opportunity to unlock even more value for customers in unprecedented ways.
Together, EPRI and its members can deliver previously unimagined access to clean, abundant energy and even further enhance the quality of life for all those that we are privileged to serve.
This opportunity demands transformational technology solutions, a collaborative spirit, and continuing leadership — all qualities EPRI has embodied over the past half century.
Stan Connally
EPRI Board Chair and
Executive VP of Operations, Southern Company
Looking Back,
Facing Forward
For 50 years, our talented team of researchers and partners have provided tangible benefits to society and value to our members —and will do so for decades to come.
We are proud to have worked with more than 450 companies in 45 countries — collaborating with universities, national labs, and other organizations to make a difference in how society produces, distributes, and uses energy.
2010s
2000s
50 Years of Research to Advance Reliable, Affordable Energy Transitions
1980s: Energy mix begins to change; for example, more U.S. energy generated from nuclear than oil
1981: First commercial availability of personal computers
1986: Chernobyl Nuclear Plant accident
1987: National Appliance Energy Conservation Act passed
1987: Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer adopted
1990s: Electric power industry restructuring globally
1993: Public launch of the World Wide Web
1997: Publicly available Wi-Fi
1999: First hybrid electric vehicles sold in the U.S.
Late 1990s: Preparations for Y2K
2001: 9/11 attacks
2005: Energy Policy Act of 2005 enacted to address energy security, environmental quality, and economic growth
2006: First large-scale rollout of smart meters completed in Italy
2007: Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 passed
2008: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and International Electrotechnical Commissionagree to collaborate on the development of international standards
2009: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act enacted
2011: Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant Accident
2011: AI wins Jeopardy with IBM’s Watson
2015: First successful cyber attack on power grid in Ukraine
2012: Largest power outage in history occurred in India, affecting 400 million people
2014: Growing interest in distributed energy resources
2016: Increased adoption of smart devices and more efficient appliances
2020: Start of COVID-19 global health pandemic
2020: Growing push to divest from fossil fuels
2021: U.S. rejoins Paris Agreement ahead of COP26
2021: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed
2021: Launch of Net-Zero Industrial Clusters Initiative by World Economic Forum, Accenture, and EPRI
2022: Inflation Reduction Act enacted
Advancing clean energy transitions while maintaining reliability, affordability, resiliency, and reliability is our top priority — and requires enduring solutions, accelerating progress, and collaborating broadly. EPRI delivers independent and objective thought leadership, industry expertise,and collaborative value to help the energy sector identify issues, technology gaps, and broader needs that can be addressed through effective research and development programs. Join us.
ENDURING.
Together, we are shaping the future of energy.
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
ACCELERATING.
COLLABORATING.
Supporting Transitions to a Net-Zero Future
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A Letter From EPRI's President
Enhancing Resilience
EV Fleet Electrification
Supporting Advanced Nuclear
"To transition to a clean energy future, we need an economy-wide transition — transportation, industrial uses, and buildings.
Our work of collaboration has increased considerably, and I envision EPRI as the voice of science to bring forward solutions across sectors and industries.”
Arshad Mansoor
EPRI President and CEO
Download a copy of EPRI's 50 Years of R&D Achievements Here!