China's National Institute for Clean-and-Low-Carbon Energy (NICE) Announces New Organizational Structure and Leadership Appointments

BEIJING, May 16, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- China's National Institute for Clean-and-Low-Carbon Energy (NICE) announced today the organizational structure and leadership team that will be the driving force behind the research institute's new operational model. NICE President and CEO Mike Davis said the new organization puts in place the critical foundation essential to deliver global impact in the area of clean energy technology creation and positions NICE to accelerate growth and delivery of energy and environmental innovation to market at scale. NICE is rapidly becoming a world-class industrial research and development institute developing advanced science and technology innovations with partners worldwide that address strategic global energy and environmental challenges for China and the globe.

Commenting on the NICE leadership team, Davis said, "The path ahead for success is clear – China and the world must together invent new ways to extract, process and convert fossil fuels for use in energy production and utilization – in a way that is clean, safe, reliable and affordable. We have assembled a team of the world's top scientific and engineering talent, we are well funded with strong financial backing and partnership support from key Chinese stakeholders and international industrial partners and we are delivering breakthrough innovations surrounding clean and low carbon energy. I have every confidence in the new organizational structure of NICE and the abilities and dedication of a world class and internationally renowned NICE leadership team together with our scientific, engineering and operations talent to effectively develop and deploy the necessary breakthrough technologies, processes and products that are fundamental to our energy future."

NICE is currently developing technologies, processes and products that enhance the strategic value of coal and other fossil fuels through upgrade and conversion. Such innovations reduce and/or eliminate the environmental impact of these critical fuel sources thereby keeping coal and other fossil fuels economically feasible and environmentally acceptable. Strategic focus areas of research for the institute include:

• Coal & Biomass Upgrading to greatly reduce the negative impact of coal on the environment
• Hydrocarbon Conversion to value-added environmentally acceptable fuels and chemicals
• Performance Materials creation of value-added materials through processes that reduce and/or eliminate harmful environmental waste
• Clean Electricity Generation and Storage

Senior Leadership Organization

Under the leadership of President and CEO Mike Davis the following Executive appointments have been made:

• Dr. Ke Liu has been named Vice President of Technology in the expanded organization and is responsible for all Science R&D Centers including Catalysis, Materials, Chemistry, Solar and Energy Storage and Engineering R&D Centers including Process Development, Reaction & Separation Engineering, Equipment R&D and F-T Technologies. Additionally Dr. Liu is responsible for Technologies & Life Cycle Analysis along with Laboratory, Pilot Plant and Field Operations for the organization.
• Dr. Ming Wang has been named Vice President of Business Planning and Deployment and will be responsible for IP and Quality Management, focus area Business Planning and Development, Technology Deployment and Commercialization, as well as worldwide Communications.
• Dr. Wenhua Li has been named Vice President of Administration and will be responsible for Finance and Accounting, HR, Law, IT, General Office, Procurement and Library.
• Dr. Yulin Shi has been named President of the National Energy Research and Development Center (NERDC) reporting to the President and CEO and also serves as the Senior Director of Operations reporting to the Vice President of Technology.
• Dr. Li Wang has been named Senior Director for IP and Quality Management, reporting to the Vice President of Business Planning and Deployment and in additional will hold the position of NICE Fellow.
• Dr. Li Weng has been named Senior Director of Engineering reporting to the Vice President of Technology.
• Dr. J. Simon Xue has been named Acting Senior Director of Science reporting to the Vice President of Technology.

ABOUT NICE

The National Institute of Clean-and-Low-Carbon Energy (NICE) is a leading Chinese industrial scientific and engineering research institute dedicated to delivering innovations that are fundamental to China's energy future and the future of its partner nations. NICE is staffed with top scientists and engineers from around the world, working in collaboration with international partners to develop breakthrough technologies and associated processes that can be deployed at scale, in the areas of clean and low carbon energy.

NICE is advised by a distinguished Board of Directors comprised of Nobel Laureates, US and Chinese Academies of Science and Engineering Members, industrial leaders and leading academicians and is financially backed by Shenhua. Shenhua is a leading global integrated energy company with businesses of coal, power generation, railway transport, port, shipping, coal liquefaction and chemicals, and runs a complete supply chain covering production, transportation and trade and is one of the largest integrated energy enterprises in China. Shenhua is ranked among the world's top 500 companies and is cross listed in Stock Exchanges of Hong Kong and Shanghai. www.nicenergy.com

ABOUT NICE LEADERSHIP

Mike Davis is a Distinguished Graduate of the US Air Force Academy and holds a Master's of Science Degree from the University of Illinois and was formerly Assistant Secretary for Conservation and Renewable Energy for the Department of Energy, CEO Golden Genesis and ReliOn, Inc., Associate Laboratory Director at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and most recently Director of Strategic Programs for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) at US DOE. Mr. Davis has held positions of Chairman of the US National Hydrogen Association, President of the US Solar Energy Industries Association and is a recipient of the American Wind Energy Association Achievement Award, the Secretary of Energy's Gold Medal Award (US DOE's highest honor for management performance) and was awarded the United States Air Force Bronze Star and Commendation Medals for his military service.

Dr. Ke Liu holds a PhD Chemical Engineering from City University of New York and Master of Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and was formerly with Exxon-Mobil, United Technologies Corp. (UTC) and General Electric (GE). Dr. Liu is a Member of China's 1000 Talents Program, one of the nation's highest recognitions of scientific expertise in the areas of science and engineering and is the Chair of the Chemistry and Chemical Division and deputy Chair of the Government Relation (GR) Committee of the Chinese National "1000 People Plan" Organization. Dr. Liu has numerous publications and over 65 patents and patent applications.

Dr. Ming Wang holds a PhD Chemical Engineering from UC Davis and was formerly with Chevron Corporation. He advanced his career at Chevron by holding positions with increasing responsibilities from Senior Staff Engineer, Technical Team Leader, Advanced Energy Focus Area Manager, Process R&D Team Manager and Process R&D Unit Manager. Dr. Wang is author of over 20 publications and reports with a proven track record in the areas of technology development & deployment, new business development, and intellectual property (IP) management. He is also a Member of China's 1000 Talents Program, one of the nation's highest recognitions of scientific expertise in the areas of science and engineering.

Dr. Wenhua Li holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering and was formerly with General Electric. Previously, he was VP of Beijing Research Institute of Coal Chemistry, Research Fellow at Harvard University and Chairman of the China National Coal Standardization Committee.  Dr. Li is author of over 50 publications, contributor to five books on coal science and winner of four government technology awards.  He is Distinguished Professor for China University Mining and Technology.

Dr. Yulin Shi holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering and Technology from Research Institute of Petroleum Processing and was formerly with SINOPEC Corporation and China Shenhua Coal to Liquids and Chemicals Company, Ltd. Dr. Shi has over 40 published theses and reports with application of over 40 patents. He was awarded China's Top Ten Outstanding Youths Award in Technology Innovation. Dr. Shi is also a National Labor Model awarded by the State Council and a winner of China's Gold Prize for National Invention and Patent Award.  He is a member of numerous committees, and was awarded special allowance by China's State Council in association with his scientific endeavors in his field.

Dr. Li Wang holds a PhD Chemistry from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and was formerly Senior R&D Fellow for Honeywell. He is also a Member of China's 1000 Talents Program, one of the nation's highest recognitions of scientific expertise in the areas of science and engineering. He is author of over 15 academic publications and holds over 20 patents and was winner of Honeywell's Premier Achievement Award.

Dr. Li Weng holds a PhD Chemical Engineering from City University of New York with research in the area of IGCC Process Assessment for DOE and was formerly Director of Engineering for IFP/RSI and was also with ABB/Simcon and Engineering Director at Caltech PEER.

Dr. J. Simon Xue holds a PhD Solid State Chemistry from McMaster University and was formerly President of Sierra Power Group, CTO for International Battery Inc, and Director for Battery Technology at A123 Systems Inc. Dr. Xhu holds 12 patents and has authored 50 peer reviewed publications.

SOURCE National Institute of Clean-and-Low-Carbon Energy