Lexington, KY - Ground was broken today on a UK coal/biomass-to-liquids unit that could lead to development of vehicle fuels made from Kentucky coal and biomass.
UK Center for Applied Energy Research(CAER)
The $5.7 million facility at the
could produce transportation fuels from these indigenous resources with the aim of ensuring a more independent U.S. energy future.
The UK unit will also focus on state-of-the art technologies to improve efficiency and reduce the amount of carbon dioxide created when converting coal and biomass to liquid fuels. The gasification unit will be capable of producing one barrel of fuel per day.
Funding for the process-development unit includes support by the U.S. Department of Energy ($4.55 million), the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet ($708,000), and a UK cost share ($453,000).
"The importance of using our abundant, affordable coal and biomass resources to meet growing energy needs, both for electricity and transportation, cannot be overstated," said Governor Steve Beshear.
"A key benefit of this unit is that it can be used as a test-bed for new concepts at an affordable level," said Rodney Andrews, director of CAER and the project's principal investigator. "Our goal is to develop facilities and personnel to sustain a synthetic fuels industry in Kentucky."
Researchers will evaluate the commercial and technical viability of advanced technologies to produce fuels by the Fischer-Tropsch method, a long-established way of converting petroleum substitutes into transportation fuels, via gasification.
By installing a coal/biomass gasifier that can be tuned to supply the energy center's existing reactors, it makes use of 30 years of expertise gleaned by CAER's fuel processing researchers. This will be an open-access facility, whose findings will be in the public domain to aid the wider scientific and industrial community. Environmental considerations, particularly how to manage and reduce carbon dioxide emissions from these plants, will be a primary objective of the research.
"Energy independence is an absolute must if this nation hopes to remain globally competitive," said UK President Eli Capilouto.
"No challenge looms larger than energy security. At UK, we are working with our partners in Washington and in Frankfort to find solutions."
Center for Renewable and Alternative Fuel Technology (CRAFT)
Research into biofuels also is underway at Eastern Kentucky University's
. CRAFT is focusing on alternative energy sources for the production of plastics, pharmaceuticals, and other petroleum-based products.
And researchers in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) are looking into whether switchgrass mixed with coal feedstock can more efficiently fuel power plants. Eastern Kentucky Power Cooperative is currently partnering with Maysville Community and Technical College in a switchgrass project that could provide Kentucky farmers with a new way to diversify, supplying a biofuel for power generation.
Also on hand for the groundbreaking ceremony at UK were Kentucky Congressmen Geoff Davis and Hal Rogers. "Our future is under our feet. By encouraging and expanding the development of coal use technology, we can attain greater energy independence, reinvigorate our economy, and create new jobs, right here at home," said Rogers.
"Coal-to-liquid technology has the potential to provide our nation with a reliable source of safe and affordable fuel and to help reduce our dependence on foreign energy," added Davis.
"Our abundant natural resources combined with the leadership of the University of Kentucky and the Center for Applied Energy Research on developing this technology could bring enormous economic benefits including significant job growth to the Commonwealth."