Dave O'Connor has 19 years experience managing complex, multi-party, multidisciplinary energy research and development projects at EPRI on fuels and their applications in power generation and combustion. Mr. O’Connor directs the development and implementation of biomass projects at EPRI.  He provides technical leadership, programmatic guidance, technology transfer, and fiscal management of the $1.5M/year effort.  Specific tasks including guiding cofiring program at five utility sites, strategizing with key power industry developers, and managing EPRI's Biomass Interest Group (BIG). The BIG has undertaken projects on biomass resource assessment, biomass impact on de-NOx catalyst performance, novel biomass conversion projects, (including digestion, pyrolysis and gasification) and the economics of biomass-based power systems. 

Additionally, he provides research planning, schedule and budget control, and project management for fuel-related efforts, including slagging, fouling, fuel-related SCR catalyst degradation, co-firing petroleum coke, novel material handling advances, and utility fuel procurement procedures, tools, and software.  He holds a BS degree in mining engineering from the University of South Dakota School of Mining and Technology.