Grid expert to address growing need for innovative energy solutions
Columbus, OH-- Dr. Mani Vadari has joined Battelle as Vice President of its Energy Infrastructure business, Battelle announced today. Dr. Vadari has more than 20 years of experience delivering strategic solutions to the electric utility industry focusing primarily in Transmission/Distribution (T&D) grid operations, generation operations, energy markets, and Smart Grid. Dr. Vadari has authored over 25 articles in a variety of areas from Dispatcher Training Simulator (DTS) development to artificial neural networks to electricity utility deregulation and the Smart Grid.
Dr. Vadari’s experience spans the regulated as well as de-regulated arena for utility and energy companies. His roles have primarily involved serving as business architect, focusing on process, technology and organizational impacts for many leading utility companies in North America and around the world. Vadari is considered a Smart Grid subject matter expert, offering much sought-after perspectives on the entire value chain of an electric utility from generation to consumption. He has also provided subject matter expertise in setting the strategic technical direction for developing key aspects of the Transmission/Distribution grid of the future. Prior to joining Battelle, Dr. Vadari was a partner at Accenture where he was one of the lead partners in their global T&D practice.
Dr. Vadari also previously served as a lead engineer at ESCA (Areva T&D), focusing on power system and deregulation applications and their delivery. While at ESCA, Dr. Vadari developed ESCA’s Transient Stability application and also led the industry’s leading DTS product team responsible for development, project support, training, marketing and sales support.
“We’re delighted to have a person of Dr. Vadari’s experience and reputation at Battelle,” said Don McConnell, President of Battelle Energy Technology. “He brings the right mix of technical insight, business insight and practical experience in implementation to address the emerging opportunities of grid management.”
As Vice President of Battelle’s Energy Infrastructure business line, Dr. Vadari is responsible for its general management and direction, a key element of Battelle’s Energy Technology Global Business. In this role, Dr. Vadari is responsible for maximizing the programmatic and commercial returns from Battelle investments to support the increasingly robust “pipeline” of innovations in the Energy Infrastructure business. Dr. Vadari will direct Battelle’s investments to build on the portfolios of the Department of Energy’s National Laboratories and associated partnering institutions and lead the development of a major segment of Battelle’s portfolio of commercial energy business.
Dr. Vadari received his Ph.D. and MS degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington in Seattle. Dr. Vadari and his family will continue to reside in Seattle, Washington and he will work out of Battelle’s Seattle Research Center.
Battelle is the world’s largest non-profit independent research and development organization, providing innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing needs through its four global businesses: Laboratory Management, National Security, Energy Technology, and Health and Life Sciences. It advances scientific discovery and application by conducting $4.6 billion in global R&D annually through contract research, laboratory management and technology commercialization. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Battelle oversees 20,400 employees in more than 130 locations worldwide, including seven national laboratories which Battelle manages or co-manages for the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Battelle also is one of the nation’s leading charitable trusts focusing on societal and economic impact and actively supporting and promoting science and math education.
Media contacts: Katy Delaney, 410-306-8638, delaneyk@battelle.org, or T.R. Massey, 614-424-5544, masseytr@battelle.org.
