KEMA further deepens position as leading energy storage consultant

KEMA (www.kema.com [2]) continues to strengthen its leadership in energy storage as Dr. Ali Nourai joins the firm as an executive consultant. A leading expert in energy storage technologies, Dr. Nourai will further enhance KEMA’s industry-recognized strengths in growing the understanding and capabilities of energy storage technology and its applications. “Advancements in storage technologies and increasing flexibility in the product offer new capabilities and new application areas—with beneficial characteristics such as fast response, multiple cycles, duration, transportability and scalability,” said Ron Willoughby, KEMA Vice President. “Ali has established himself as the leading industry expert in advanced energy storage technologies, including community energy storage applications. As a member of KEMA’s energy storage team, Ali will be a major contributor to all aspects of our on-going storage engagements, including helping to develop a defensible financial model for utility storage applications.” Prior to joining KEMA in March 2010, Dr. Nourai built a 30-year career at American Electric Power Service Corporation (AEP), holding various senior level positions in the utility’s generation, transmission and distribution groups. Most recently as the Manager of AEP’s energy storage program, Dr. Nourai launched the utility’s NAS battery deployment program, introduced energy storage as a key technology to address grid operational challenges and secure new business opportunities, and launched AEP’s vision of the future grid integrating distributed energy resources. Dr. Nourai serves as the chairman of the board for the Electricity Storage Association (ESA). He earned his Doctorate of Engineering from the Rensselear Polytechnic Institute, holds six US patents and has been widely published in the field of energy storage and T&D systems. Dr. Nourai and KEMA’s Rick Fioravanti, Director of Storage Applications & Support, will be leading a DistribuTECH 2010 Utility University course on “Emerging Storage Technologies and Their Roles in our Future” on March 22, 2010 in Tampa, Florida. KEMA is actively engaged in helping utilities enhance transmission and distribution system reliability, security and performance. The firm is involved in projects across the energy storage value chain—ranging from technology development and evaluation to the advancement of visionary large-scale storage applications. In the US, KEMA recently released the first independent guidebook on integrating wide-scale energy storage in the electric power infrastructure, testified on grid-scale energy storage before the full US Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and participated along with MIT in an IEEE and ASME sponsored briefing at the US Congress on electricity storage policy issues. About KEMA Founded in 1927, KEMA is a global provider of business and technical consulting, operational support, measurement and inspection, testing and certification for the energy and utility industry. With world headquarters in Arnhem, the Netherlands, KEMA employs more than 1,600 professionals globally with offices and representatives in more than 20 countries. KEMA’s US subsidiary, KEMA, Inc., is headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts and serves energy clients throughout the Americas and Caribbean. Media contacts (www.kema.com/press_releases [3]): - Americas, Caribbean: Kristen Brewitt (kristen.brewitt@kema.com [4]); tel +1 781 418 5714 - Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific: Rolf van Stenus (rolf.vanstenus@kema.com [5]); tel +31 26 3 56 2607