An Eye on Biomass Use as Future Energy

Technology Research at University of Delaware Focus on Green Energy

Aug 27, 2009

Meeting future energy needs, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and focusing on green energy supply is the goal of a University of Delaware biomass research center.

The University of Delaware is home to an Energy Frontier Research Center. The university center’s focus is on developing technology to convert biomass such as trees and grasses into chemical, electricity and fuels.

This innovative research center complements the involvement by faculty at the University of Delaware in building a foundation for energy and catalysis research, such as converting biomass into fuels.

Future Energy as Green Energy Focus for Research

Biomass is the energy stored in organic materials such as wood, straw, vegetable oil and other wastes. When properly managed, biomass energy can be highly efficient renewable energy sources and result in a green economy.

The mission of the University of Delaware center is to build a science base that will result in biorefineries and prepare skilled workers in this emerging field.

Nationally, the Department of Energy Office of Science is investing $777 million in such research centers over the next five years. Funding for the University of Delaware’s center came from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, where the primary qualification for funding was job creation.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduce While Securing Energy Supply

Researchers at Delaware will certainly not be alone in the pursuit of cleaner, future energy. Collaborations will be built with scientists across the United States at Lehigh University, the California Institute of Technology, and the universities of Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Southern California, and Stony Brook.

The Delaware center will also use several computational facilities and the immense resource of the National Synchrotron Light Source at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The synchrotron is a scientific facility funded by the U.S. Department of Energy where annually, more than 2,500 scientists from all over the world come to perform experiments.

Technology Research into Renewable Energy Creates Green Economy

The technical experience and research output of the facility are not its only goals. The University of Delaware will use this center to leverage outreach and education opportunities. Undergraduate students from across the U.S. will be offered the chance to participate in research programs and high school teachers will be involved in raising awareness about biomass as a source of future energy.

In addition, short courses, webinars and seminars will be available for undergraduate and graduate students. Industry and government employees can also take advantage of such learning opportunities.

The University of Delaware is developing an energy center with research results that will help meet future energy needs while focusing on green energy supply. This type of technology research is a demonstration of the university’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and its carbon footprint.

The copyright of the article An Eye on Biomass Use as Future Energy in American Universities is owned by Shelley Aylesworth-Spink. Permission to republish An Eye on Biomass Use as Future Energy in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.