Eric Peeters, Dow Corning Solar Solutions

Title: Innovation in advanced materials for next generation technologies in renewable energy sector

Biography: Peeters is the Global Solar Executive Director and Vice President. A rapidly growing sector that aims to develop and commercialize material solutions for the photovoltaic industry, Peeters is responsible for the overall strategic direction and operations of the solar business around the world. He joined Dow Corning in 1992, working as a chemical engineer at the company’s manufacturing site in Barry, UK. Over the course of his 18-year career at Dow Corning, he has served in a number of science and business leadership roles in the U.S. and Europe, including Procurement, product line management, and Science & Technology. Peeters has a master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium, and a Master in Technology Enterprise degree from the IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Ned Stetson, U.S. DOE

Title: An Overview of U.S. DOE’s Activities for Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technologies

Biography: Dr. Stetson is a Technology Development Manager for the U.S. Department
of Energy’s Hydrogen Program with over 18 years of experience in hydrogen storage materials and technology development. Stetson manages
hydrogen storage projects, including the Metal Hydride Center of
Excellence and the H-Prize. Prior to joining, he researched complex hydrides at the Univ. of Geneva. Stetson also spent over 10 years at ECD-Ovonics, where he was involved with the development of novel hydrogen storage materials and hydride-based hydrogen storage systems. He has also been active with the Compressed Gas Association, Society of Automotive Engineers, International Code Council and the International Standards Organization.

Megan McCluer, U.S. DOE Wind & Hydropower Technology Programs

Jim Ahlgrimm, U.S. DOE Wind & Hydropower Technology Programs

Title: U.S. DOE Wind and Water Power Program

Biography:McCluer began her career at NASA Ames Research Center where she worked as an Aerospace Engineer in the Rotorcraft Aeromechanics Group for 12 years. She then served 4 years as the Project Manager for the U.S. Air Force’s CV-22 Flight Test Program at Edwards Air Force Base. After volunteering to assist with disaster relief in the Gulf Coast, McCluer moved to private industry and became the Senior Engineering Program Manager for the Technology Department at Clipper Windpower. In Sept 2008 she was selected to become the Program Manager for the Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program at the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. She now serves as Senior Advisor for Wind Power Technologies at DOE. She has an Associate of Science in Civil Engineering from Franklin Institute of Boston, a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from San Jose State University and a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Biography: Ahlgrimm is a team leader in the U.S. Department of Energy Wind and Water Power Technologies Program. He joined the program in 2002 and has served in various wind and hydropower technology development and deployment management roles. Currently he is responsible for program areas related to materials research and development. Jim has a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy, an MBA from the University of Maryland, and a Masters in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University.

Bob Powell, General Motors Global R&D

Title: Materials Science for Automotive Electric Vehicle Transportation

Biography: Powell is the manager of the Electrochemistry and Battery Systems Group at the General Motors Global Research and Development Center. His group is responsible for identifying and developing advanced battery materials and supporting their integration into GM vehicle products. His thirty-three year career with General Motors has involved R&D in the fundamental materials and mechanisms of emission catalysis; electronic and structural ceramics, superconductivity, electro-rheological fluids. He was also responsible for magnesium and aluminum alloy and casting R&D for lightweight powertrains. He as published widely and holds twenty US patents. He received a B.S. from Alfred University and the M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley. He is the recipient of the General Motors John Campbell Award for “fundamental contributions to creep deformation in magnesium alloys” and two TMS awards.

Bhakta Rath, Naval Research Laboratory

Title: Energy After Oil

Biography: Dr. Rath is the Associate Director of Research for Materials Science and Component Technology. He is recognized in the fields of solid-state transformations, grain
boundary migrations, and structure-property relationships in metallic
systems. He has published over 140 papers in these fields and edited
several books and conference proceedings. He received a B.S. degree in
physics and mathematics from Utkal University, an M.S. in metallurgical
engineering from Michigan Technological University, and a Ph.D. from the
Illinois Institute of Technology. Previously, he headed the Metal Physics Research Group of the McDonnell Douglas Research Laboratories in St. Louis until he came to NRL as Head of the Physical Metallurgy Branch. During this period, he was adjunct professor at Carnegie-Mellon University, the University of Maryland, and the Colorado School of Mines.

Tom Sanders, Savannah River National Laboratory

Title: Small Modular Reactors and American Competitiveness

Biography: Sanders the Associate Lab Director for Clean Energy Initiatives. He is responsible for developing new opportunities for the Lab in energy technology development. He was elected to a three year term as Vice President and President and Board Executive of the American Nuclear Society in 2008. Made rebuilding U.S. nuclear export industry through the development of Small Modular Reactors as his ANS executive initiative. Testified to Congress, Blue Ribbon Commission, and Secretarial Officers from DOE, DOS, DoD, NRC, and other agencies. Recently appointed to a second term on the Civil Nuclear Trade Advisory Committee, which serves the Secretary of Commerce on trade issues facing the U.S. civil nuclear industry. Recently elected to the International Nuclear Energy Academy. Chosen as a U.S. member of Russian President Medvedev’s Global Energy Prize Committee. Co-founder and former Vice President of the American Council on Global Nuclear Competitiveness. Completed BS, MS and PhD in Mechanical/Nuclear Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin.

Steve Bossart, DOE, National Energy Technology Laboratory

Title: Materials Research for Smart Grid Applications

Biography: Bossart is a senior energy analyst at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). His primary area of study is the electric power sector with an emphasis on Smart Grid and its costs and benefits. He has 27 years of project management and analytical experience at the NETL and its predecessor organizations. He is author of over 70 publications covering a wide range of subjects including coal gasification, waste management, environmental controls for coal-based processes, nuclear decommissioning, and Smart Grid.