May 13 to 17, 2013, a delegation of Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research & Design Institute (abbreviated as SNERDI), headed by President Dr. Zheng Mingguang, visited America’s Electric Power Research Institute (abbreviated as EPRI) and North Carolina State University (abbreviated as NCSU).

May 13, SNERDI delegation paid visit to EPRI. The two sides held talks about each other’s research scope and current emphasis in work. Mr. Neil Wilmshurst, Vice President of the Nuclear Sector, attended the meeting and had introduction about EPRI’s general situation.

In the following agenda, Dr. Zheng and Mr. Wilmshurst, on behalf of each other’s institute, signed a three-year Cooperation Agreement on SNERDI’s joining EPRI’s ANT Program, which stands for the Advanced Nuclear Technology Program. The signing of this agreement marks SNERDI’s official membership. It will thence have access to the technical materials, participate in meetings and share information under ANT program. Such an authorization has been approved by America’s Department of Energy (DOE).

Established in 1972, EPRI is an independent, nonprofit organization designed to manage a broad public-private collaborative research program on behalf of the electric utility industry, the industry’s customers, and society at large. EPRI's area covers different aspects of electric power generation, delivery and its use. EPRI provides short or long term solutions to customers or the society in these areas. EPRI adopts a membership-based cooperation mode and has over 450 members in 30 countries and more.

During his visit to EPRI, Dr. Zheng also made a speech under the theme of China’s Nuclear Power and Development of Passive Series.

May 16, SNERDI delegation visited NCSU and exchanged views with Dr. Yousry Azmy, Prof. and Head of Nuclear Engineering Department as well as other professors over a wide range of topics like technological progress of nuclear energy, technical capabilities and research focus of NCSU and nuclear power talents cultivation. In this visit, Dr. Zheng called at Dr. Paul Turinsky, Prof. of Nuclear Engineering Department and also one of the heads of America’s Consortium for Advanced Simulation of Light Water Reactors (CASL). They had in-depth discussion on digital simulation of reactor core and main process systems and development of calculation tools and platform, etc. The two sides expressed willingness to further carry out academic communication.

This trip to the U.S.A. signifies SNERDI has, under the guidance of SNPTC, taken another step forward on its internationalization path.