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Tom Key is a prominent American engineer and scientist in the electric power industry. He is an internationally recognized leader in power system compatibility research, distributed energy resources, and testing. Mr. Key is credited as the father of the CBEMA curve for computer tolerance, which he developed in the late 1970’s. He has been a catalyst and major contributor to IEEE standards for compatible interface of end-use equipment and distributed power systems. He has managed many research and development programs and projects. While at Sandia National Laboratory in Albuquerque, his work included design and testing of photovoltaic power systems, development of grid-connected power inverters for conditioning and control of distributed power sources, creation of recommended practices for power system design, grounding, and protection. Since joining EPRI he has developed criteria for a utility grid-compatible interface, characterized high-performance dc/ac inverters and electronic appliances, analyzed effects of power disturbances on sensitive electronic equipment, and developed design criteria and recommended practices for cost-effective application of power-enhancement equipment. He is the author of more than 100 professional papers and technical articles.

Early life and education
TBD here. Master of Science in Electrical Power Engineering and Management, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1974 Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, University of New Mexico, 1970

Career Beginnings in the U.S. Navy
Tom’s contributions to advancing the state-of-the-art began more than 40 years ago. In the 1970s as an Officer in the United States Navy, Civil Engineer Corps, active duty, he led the Navy’s early work on power for sensitive electronic equipment such as computers and effects of power disturbances on this equipment. Results were documented in a well-known IEEE paper "Diagnosing Power Quality-Related Computer Power Problems." He has also advised the Navy Engineering Laboratory regarding research in the area of electrical power system reliability and power quality improvement devices. Tom quickly became a nationally recognized leader in power system compatibility research, distributed energy resources, and testing, he is credited as the father of the CBEMA (Computer Business Equipment Manufacturers Association)curve for computer tolerance, which he developed in the late 1970’s.

The CBEMA curve for voltage tolerance (see History section of INCITS )has been widely used and published as a guideline for voltage tolerance and a susceptibility curve for end-use equipment. After several years of careful consideration, the Information Technology Industry Council (ITIC) ESC-3 working group agreed upon a new revision to the widely quoted CBEMA curve in 1996. This new CBEMA curve (now known as ITIC curve) is more reflective of the performance that can be expected from typical single-phase computers, computer peripherals, and other types of information-technology equipment such as copiers, fax machines, and point-of-sale terminals. While the ITIC curve serves as a benchmark for equipment susceptibility, it is only applicable to Information Technology equipment. It does not address the wide range of equipment such as adjustable speed drives, DC drives, programmable logic controllers, relays, and contactors. These are extensively used in process industries and are often the most sensitive elements impacted by voltage sags. Meeting the ITIC requirement alone does not guarantee that critical loads will be unaffected by events associated with disturbances occurring under “normal” steady-state conditions, and even less when a CVR has become the new steady state condition. Standards-developing groups, supported by test results, are working on expanding the concept of the CBEMA curve to the specific types of equipment listed above.

Contributions at Sandia National Laboratories
In the 1980s, Tom served as Manager of RDT&E for a utility grid-compatible interface at Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM. This work characterized high-performance dc/ac power inverters and electronic appliances, analyzed effects of power disturbances on sensitive electronic equipment, and developed design criteria and recommended practices for cost-effective application of power-enhancement equipment. While at Sandia he initiated the development of recommended practices for design of photovoltaic solar electrical wiring and protection and criteria that defines requirements of a "utility grid-compatible" interface and supervised testing and reporting of research results on integrating photovoltaic power systems with the electric grid.

Leadership at the Electric Power Research Institute
In the 1990s and 2000, Tom was a founder of the Electric Power Research Institute's laboratory for power quality, distributed generation and end-use applications in Knoxville, TN and created a compatibility-related research program that provided new options to clients and an effective funding mechanism for pooling resources. He organized and managed a national power quality testing network, Conceived and designed lab facilities and developed evaluation criteria to address the compatibility of new electronic equipment and distributed energy resources with the electric power supply. Staff and facilities increased by a factor of 15 during this period. The “System Compatibility” Research Project that Tom designed led to new ways to enhance the design of appliances and equipment to be more compatible with their intended electrical environments and addressed emissions and immunity characteristics of electrical appliances for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. Over the past 20 years, this research has led to improved product voltage tolerance, better power quality related standards, well defined power quality testing protocols, and an overall increased power quality knowledge base.

At EPRI Tom continued to make significant contributions in the integration of renewable energy, developed criteria for a utility grid-compatible interface, characterized high-performance dc/ac inverters and electronic appliances, analyzed effects of power disturbances on sensitive electronic equipment, and developed design criteria and recommended practices for cost-effective application of power-enhancement equipment. Tom has been a catalyst and major contributor to various standards activities including IEEE and IEC for compatible interface of end-use equipment and distributed power systems.

Tom has proven over the years to be very effective in bringing multiple stakeholders together for the betterment of the electric industry, whether that be utilities, vendors, national labs, or universities. Through the years, Tom has exemplified the concept of collaboration.

Awards and honors
Awards that Tom Key has received throughout his career include: 1979 – IEEE prize paper award for powering and grounding (CBEMA curve) work 1992 – Chairman award for development of first IEEE Emerald book standard 1996 – IEEE Region 3 Outstanding Engineer Award (for PEAC) 2000 – Testimony for CPUC on grid support from distributed generators 2005 – IEEE Fellow for contributions in power quality field 2006 – IEEE Prize paper award for Distributed Resources Standards 2007 – IEEE IAS magazine prize article award for DG standards article 2007 – Testimony for US House Science and Technology Comm. on energy storage 2013 – IEEE Life Fellow

Publications
Over his 40 year career, Tom Key has produced over 175 publications related to the electric power industry and energy-related R&D with the United States Navy, Sandia National Laboratories, and Electric Power Research Institute



Achievements

 * IEEE Fellow for Advancements in Electric Power Quality
 * John Mungenast International Power Quality Award distinguished power quality research.
 * IEEE Outstanding Engineer Award, Region 3
 * Originated and directed the EPRI Power System Compatibility Research Program