Director Emeritus
Neal Elliott directed ACEEE’s research for many years prior to transitioning to emeritus status. He continues to contribute to ACEEE’s research and policy efforts as an internationally recognized expert and author on energy efficiency programs and policies, industrial energy efficiency and decarbonization, electric motor systems, combined heat and power (CHP) and clean distributed energy. Neal is a frequent speaker at domestic and international conferences. He joined ACEEE in 1993.
Prior to joining ACEEE, Neal was an adjunct associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Duke University and senior engineering project manager at the N.C. Alternative Energy Corp. (now Advanced Energy) where he was founding director of the Industrial Energy Laboratory. Prior to AEC he worked as N.C. Wood Assistance team leader for the Industrial Extension Service and Department of Wood and Paper Science at North Carolina State University.
Neal earned a bachelor of science and a master of science in mechanical engineering from North Carolina State University, and was a dean's fellow and received a PhD from Duke University. He is a registered professional engineer in North Carolina and has six patents in the area of thermal storage and produce processing.
Expertise:
- Industrial energy efficiency and decarbonization technologies, programs and policies
- Agricultural and rural energy policies and programs
- Combined heat and power (CHP) and distributed energy
- Energy markets (including natural gas, oil, coal and electricity)
