2006 Bower Science Award Theme: Electric Power Systems
A modern-age pioneer of power electronics, Narain Hingorani is considered the father of flexible alternating current transmission systems (FACTS) and custom power innovations, and a leader in high voltage direct current (HVDC). His developments are expected to revolutionize future alternating current (AC) power transmission and distribution systems.
Hingorani began his education at Baroda University in India, graduating with a B.Sc. in electrical engineering in 1953. After two years with the Bombay Electricity Board, he moved to England, earning his M.Sc. and Ph.D. at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology in 1957 and 1961. He earned his D.Sc. from the university in 1994. He was a lecturer at England's Loughborough University and Salford University during the 1960s. After six years as senior scientist with Bonneville Power Administration in the U.S., in 1974 Hingorani began working at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) in Palo Alto, California. After 20 years at EPRI, five years as vice president, electrical systems division, he retired to start his own consulting business in the development of power electronics and devices, and the application of power electronics to transmission, distribution, industrial power, and marine power systems.
Hingorani is the recipient of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Lamme Medal and the IEEE Power Engineering Society's Uno Lamm Award. In 2004, in recognition of his pioneering of FACTS and custom power technologies, the IEEE Power Engineering Society decided to name its FACTS and Custom Power Awards as the "Nari Hingorani FACTS Award" and the "Nari Hingorani Custom Power Award." Hingorani is a life fellow of IEEE and a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
Information as of April 2006