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University/College Programs

Table of Contents

  • Introduction
  • Programs
    • United States (alpha by state)
    • Asia/Pacific Rim (alpha by country)
    • Canada (alpha by province)
    • Europe (alpha by country)

 

Introduction

The study Clean Energy & Climate Policy for U.S. Growth and Job Creation: An Economic Assessment of the American Clean Energy & Security Act and the Clean Energy Jobs & American Power Act indicate that as many as 1.9 million new jobs could be created across the United States within the renewable energy sphere.   The U.S. biofuels industry is growing by 25-50% every year.  Employment in biofuel labs, plants, and retailers will be plentiful in the future.   And careers in academia and research in these disciplines will increase as well as more universities offer programs focused on renewable, alternative and sustainable energy.

While educational institutions are becoming much more focused on offering alternative energy and renewable energy curriculums; actual degrees, majors, minors or concentrations in these disciplines are still few and far between.    However, if you have an interest in specializing in the emerging biomass and biofuel industries, there are many options available to you in higher education, depending on what type of work and academic experience you are seeking.  

Some Community Colleges offer various associates degrees and certificate programs, which essentially prepare the graduate for work in renewable energy production and management.    Graduates from these programs can expect to find employment as system installation and maintenance technicians, lab technicians and other entry level positions.   Some of these programs also prepare the student to move to a 4 year college to obtain a bachelors degree. 

In terms of 4 year, masters and doctorate programs, renewable energy focus can be approached from various academic angles.  Almost all of these programs are interdisciplinary.  Departments and colleges within Universities which typically have a focus in the biofuels and biomass disciplines include Chemical and Agricultural Engineering, Biosciences, Environmental Sustainability and Resource Use,  Forestry and Land Resource Management,  Energy Production, Sustainability and Engineering programs.   To find Universities that meet your needs, it’s good practice to research the type of information offered below, but also necessary to cross-reference the schools with the information in University Programs, Centers of Excellence and Research Institutes.  This information will provide a starting point for understanding which professors and departments are actively participating in biomass and biofuels research and grants and how the university is interacting in this vibrant academic and research community.  The more active the university, the better the undergraduate and advanced research opportunities for the student. 

 

 

 

 

United States (by State)

Alaska

University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska   A.A.S. , Renewable Resources,  Ph.D.,  Natural Resources and Sustainability  

 

 A.A.S - The renewable resources degree program is offered by the College of Rural and Community Development on the Fairbanks campus and through rural campuses. This two-year A.A.S. degree program helps students gain employment with state, federal or tribal resource management agencies, Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) corporations or other entities. For those already employed in this field, this program provides an opportunity to improve job skills.

 

 Ph.D. – The Ph.D. builds on the existing strengths of the School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences and School of Management faculty members to educate students in specific areas while training them to be conversant in the broader range of relevant topic areas. The program objectives and its curriculum center around three thematic areas of study: 1) resource economics, 2) resource policy and sustainability science, and 3) forest and agricultural sciences.   READ MORE

 

Arizona

University of Arizona   Ph.D. Minor, Global Change   As part of the University of Arizona’s Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs (GIDP), the Committee on Global Change offers a global change PhD minor. The program provides graduate students with a broad understanding of critical concepts and state-of-the-art skills in the rapidly emerging field of global change.

The program’s mission is to help form and prepare the interdisciplinary scientific community who will contribute to an integrated understanding of the natural and social dynamics of global change. At the same time, the program is meant to create a forum within which scholars from different parts of the University can coalesce in innovative ways around the complex problems that constitute global change.  READ MORE

 

Arkansas 

Arkansas Delta Training and Education Consortium Center of Excellence in Renewable Energy Technology Education    A consortium of five Arkansas community colleges are offering students the option of three programs in Renewable Energy Technology (RET) in the fall semester 2009 with options including a two year Associate of Applied Science degree, a one year Technical Certificate and a one semester Certificate of Proficiency. Renewable Energy refers to energy that is made from natural resources that can be replenished by nature.

 “The RET programs are currently grant funded through the U.S. Department of Labor, said Lee Griffith, East Arkansas Community College Director of Administrative Services.  “The grant for the RET programs contains funds that are ear marked for student’s tuition, books, and fees for those who major in RET,” said Griffith.  “Students don’t have to qualify for financial aid or scholarships to be eligible for these funds.  In fact, if a student received scholarship funding for the RET program, they would still be able to receive other forms of financial aid.”

Energies produced from renewable resources include biofuels, solar, wind, geothermal, tidal, hydro-electric, and nuclear power. The EACC RET program’s major focus will be upon on bio-diesel production processes. 

Members of the consortium are:

East Arkansas Community College –Forrest City, Arkansas  READ MORE 

Midsouth Community College – West Memphis, Arkansas

Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas – (3 campuses – Helena, Stuttgart, and DeWitt)

Arkansas Northeastern College – Blytheville, Arkansas

Arkansas State University – Newport, Newport, Arkansas

A Bachelor of Applied Science will be developed at Arkansas State University for students who want to continue in the field towards a 4-year degree.   READ MORE

 

California

University of California at Berkeley   B.S. Minor,  M.A., M.S., Ph.D., Energy and Resources   Established in 1973 as an academic degree-granting program at UC Berkeley, ERG is a unique interdisciplinary community of graduate students, core faculty and over 100 affiliates and researchers from across the campus.

ERG produces cutting edge research to inform scientific, policy and business communities.  ERG is an intellectual hub for research on clean energy, climate science, ecosystems and biodiversity, energy systems, international development, technology and society, and water policy.  READ MORE

 

Humboldt State University, Arcata, California   B.S. and M.S. programs in Environmental Resources Engineering     The Environmental Resources Engineering program (ERE) is one of the largest, oldest  and most respected ABET-accredited undergraduate environmental engineering programs. Our mission is to prepare engineers to solve complex environmental resources problems. The ERE program strives to educate leaders who will sustain, restore and protect our natural resources and the environment.

We prepare our students to be future leaders by establishing a foundation in both the fundamentals and the big picture. The unique ERE curriculum combines traditional environmental engineering with management of natural resources in applications such as ecological restoration and energy resource management. Our emphasis on hands-on learning also sets us apart from most undergraduate environmental engineering programs. ERE students engage in frequent labs, field trips, and team projects, while enjoying a cooperative learning environment in classes that typically have fewer than 24 students.  

Sample Humboldt research:  Biomass Gasification Project: Funded by UC Berkeley   READ MORE

 

Colorado

Colorado State University Graduate Program in Biofuels Development   It is widely recognized that substantial technical advances must be achieved in all aspects of the bioenergy industry, including developing new energy crops; new biological, chemical, and thermal conversion technologies; and new byproducts. The goal of the MASB program, funded by the National Science Foundation, is to prepare PhD graduates who are trained as interdisciplinary scientists with full understanding of the technical challenges facing the emerging bioenergy industry.  Click here for more information.  PDF Announcement

University of Colorado, Boulder   B.S. and Ph. D. – Chemical and Biological Engineering We are a world-class department with 22 faculty (including 2 joint with chemistry) , 20 postdoctoral fellows and research technicians, 90 graduate students, and more than 360 undergraduate students. Our research program is extremely active, including research centers in biorefining and biofuels, membranes, pharmaceutical biotechnology, and photopolymerization.  The University is a partner and frequent research participant with The Colorado Center for Biorefining and Biofuels.   READ MORE

 

Delaware

Delaware State University B.S. Environmental Science       Environmental science has emerged as a critical discipline in the 21st century — and Delaware State boasts a superior Bachelor of Environmental Science degree program. As a land-grant institution, we have a 100-plus-year history of leadership in environmental science education. Our environmental science program builds on that tradition, preparing students for careers that address issues such as

  • Global Climate Change
  • Biofuels and Renewable Energy
  • Sustainable Agriculture
  • Water and Soil Conservation
  • Environmental Policy
  • Habitat and Species Protection   READ MORE

 

University of Delaware, Center for Energy and Environmental Policy  Ph.D., M.S. and B.S.  Energy and Environmental Policy    Established in 1980 at the University of Delaware, the Center is a leading institution for interdisciplinary graduate education, research, and advocacy in energy and environmental policy. 

The Energy and Environmental Policy (ENEP) degree is administered by the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy, which is internationally recognized for its work in this field. Its director, Dr. John Byrne, shares the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with the authors and review editors of the International Panel on Climate Change. The major offers an exciting opportunity for students to prepare for academic and professional careers in the high-demand fields of energy, environment, sustainable development and climate change.  

Sample project:  BIOENERGY FOR SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Sponsor: Blue Moon Fund, others.   The project evaluates strategies that feature bio-gasification and anaerobic digester technology on a small scale to meet local rural energy needs in a sustainable manner.  READ MORE

 

 

Florida

Florida Center for Renewable Chemicals and Fuels  The Florida Center for Renewable Chemicals and Fuels was established in January 2002 with the primary goal of facilitating research and graduate education throughout the Florida State University System in the multi-disciplinary areas of renewable chemicals and fuels. The Center provides a vehicle to solve new technological challenges, serves as a forum to foster productive interactions among faculty and students, assists faculty in the development of competitive research grants, and increases the visibility of this important activity at the state and national levels.

FCRC promotes a new concept in Florida with broad implications at the national and international levels - the creation of biorefineries that use renewable products from agriculture as feedstocks to replace petroleum-based products. The ultimate vision of the center is to be independent of fossils as the sole source of energy and chemical needs, and at the same time achieve economic and environmental stability, and national energy security.

The Center is currently located at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences, Microbiology and Cell Science Department. P. O. Box 110700, Gainesville, FL. 32611-0700 | Tel: (352) 392-0237 | Fax: (352)392-5922 | Email: spgomez@ufl.edu READ MORE

 

Georgia

University of Georgia: Biofuels, Biopower, and Biomaterials Initiative (B3I) UGA’s Biofuels, Biopower, and Biomaterials Initiative (B3I) unites the University’s legacies in agriculture, forestry, environmental science and engineering with its strengths in carbohydrate science, genetics and microbiology to provide a scientific and practical foundation to support an economic and sustainable bioenergy future. Visit the site for more information.   READ MORE  

 

ldaho

University of Idaho    B.S. Biological & Agricultural Engineering       Since 1889, the University of Idaho has been a place that expects more from itself, more from its students, more from knowledge and more from life.

We offer a distinctive combination of outstanding majors and graduate programs, accomplished faculty, world-class facilities, renowned research and a residential campus in a spectacular natural setting. It’s no wonder we’re ranked among the top national universities in the country (U.S. News & World Report). We’re also one of the best values in higher education (The Princeton Review). 

Biological and agricultural engineers understand the interrelationships between technology and living systems - talents needed for current and future engineering positions. Engineers who understand these interrelationships have a wide variety of employment options. Graduates will find career opportunities such as emerging technologies such as biofuels.   READ MORE

 

Illinois

University of Illinois Bioenergy Master’s Degree   Interest in bioenergy and renewable energy sources continues to increase and now students can earn a Master of Science degree in bioenergy from the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The new Professional Science Master’s (PSM) degree is a non-thesis program that allows students to receive training in bioenergy subjects, while gaining relevant professional experience in business classes and an internship.

“Bioenergy is an exciting career area, which is part of the new and emerging bioeconomy. I’m looking forward to working with students to explore this rapidly changing field of study,” said Dr. Hans Blaschek, Director of the U of I’s Center for Advanced BioEnergy Research and student advisor for the Bioenergy PSM.

The bioenergy PSM allows students to choose from four specialty areas: 1. plants, soils, and feedstocks; 2. bioenergy production, processing, and use; 3. environment, economics, and policy & law; 4. bioenergy tools and methods.

Two new classes in bioenergy have been created for University of Illinois students and will be mandatory for PSM students. Topics in those classes include agronomics and improvements needed for crops and biomass feedstocks, land use, biochemical and chemical processes, use of biofuels, other uses for biomass, applications of computational tools, such as modeling, simulation and GIS, environmental impacts and sustainability, energy fundamentals, economics and legal, political and societal issues.

Prospective students should have a baccalaureate degree in a recognized field of biological, physical, agricultural, socio-economic, or engineering science.  READ MORE

 

Illinois State University, Department of Technology   B.S. Program, Renewable Energy Major      Students will be able to choose between two tracks – a technology track or an economics/public policy track. Graduates will be prepared for jobs in the fields of biofuels, wind and solar energy, or regulatory and governmental agencies. 

The Renewable Energy program is designed to prepare students to enter an emerging field with employment opportunities across a variety of industries including biofuels, solar, wind, regulatory and government agencies. Graduates are expected to be conversant in diverse disciplines, including technical, managerial, political, and economic issues important to renewable energy.   READ MORE

 

Iowa

Iowa Central Community College  Associates Degree, Biofuels Technology    

Iowa Central is dedicated to bringing you the very best when it comes to a quality educational experience. We have experienced faculty members who are dedicated to student instruction and advising, and we have a biotechnology and biofuels technology teaching laboratory equipped with the latest in technology for giving you a real hands-on experience.

The A.A.S. Biofuels Technology program offers extensive training that provides our students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become employed in the biofuels industry. The program emphasizes the development of analytical laboratory skills and the skills necessary to operate and maintain mechanical systems.  READ MORE

 

 Iowa State University’s Bioeconomy Initiative  The Bioeconomy Institute (BEI) is an outgrowth of the Bioeconomy Initiative — a campuswide effort, launched in 2002, to investigate the use of biorenewable resources as sustainable feedstocks for producing chemicals, fuels, materials, and energy. Today,  the BEI has over 160 faculty affiliated members who contribute to the Bioeconomy Initiative with over $51 million in cumulative sponsored research funding from industry and federal agencies ranging from the Department of Agriculture to the National Science Foundation.

Like many land-grant institutions, Iowa State’s faculty has been engaged for many years in both fundamental and applied research projects related to biorenewable resources and biobased products. What distinguishes ISU is its early recognition that single objective, single investigator approaches to problems in this field have stymied progress toward commercialization of biobased technologies. The BEI was established to provide cohesion among the diverse efforts in biorenewable resources on campus and to encourage collaboration among departments, colleges, and research units. To date, the BEI has engaged 29 departments in all seven colleges and 20 research centers and institutes.   READ MORE

Iowa State University    M.S., Ph.D, Biorenewable Resources      Iowa State University recently established the first graduate program in biorenewable resources in the United States. While other universities offer certificate programs or minor programs related to biobased products and bioenergy, ISU offers M.S. and Ph.D degrees in this new field, as well as, a minor for students obtaining degrees in other majors.

The Biorenewable Resources and Technology program offers students from a wide variety of science and engineering backgrounds advanced study in the use of plant- and crop-based resources for the production of biobased products, including fuels, chemicals, materials, and energy.  Program Areas include Feedstock Production; Harvest, Storage, and Transportation of Biomass; Advanced Corn-to-Biofuels;  Soybean Biorefinery;  Thermochemical,; Biorenewable Chemicals.    READ MORE

 

Maharishi University of Management   In 1973, Parson’s College closed in Fairfield, Iowa, and its million-square-foot campus went up for sale. With the help of private benefactors, Maharishi International University purchased the campus and moved in during the summer of 1974.  The next several years were a time of rapid expansion. MIU was accredited by the Higher Learning Commissions of the North Central Association, the oldest and largest accrediting body in the United States. The first Ph.D. programs began to be offered in 1979. At the same time, more and more research was being published that documented the benefits of the Transcendental Meditation technique for academic study and all areas of life.  In addition to an undergraduate degree in sustainable living, the university offers an MBA in Sustainable Business which covers five key areas: Self Sustainability - develops your inner potential and leadership abilities through consciousness-Based education; Sustainable Entrepreneurship -focuses on creating successful green businesses that produce real value for society; Sustainable Business Solutions -provides the knowledge and skills needed for transforming and managing businesses for lasting sustainability; Sustainable Management -emphasizes the people and organizational skills needed for managing projects and operations; Sustainable Living - provides advanced knowledge and experience in renewable energy, organic agriculture, and the other principal fields of sustainable living.   READ MORE

 

Louisiana

Gulfsouth Youth BioDiesel Project  The Gulfsouth Youth BioDIesel Project engages, empowers and inspires youth involvement in community development, social entrepreneurship and environmental responsibility through Green Collar job training in which youth ages 14 to 25 learn the ins and outs of how to turn raw organic materials into eco-friendly alternative fuels.  

Building upon Operation REACH, Inc.’s 10-year history of successful community education serving youth and families, the Gulfsouth Youth Biodiesel Project engages young participants in a valuable, hands–on learning experience that teaches them the processes involved the production of cleaner-burning biofuels.   Participants get valuable training that empowers them to make a positive impact in their community by coordinating with a variety of stakeholders – including restaurants, universities, truck drivers, farmers and fishermen – to create a viable biodiesel project.  

 

The program also fills a critical need for developing job skills among urban youth for the growing 21st century green economy.    Youth involved with the program gain valuable skills, ranging from leadership and business savvy to mechanics, chemistry and engineering. Young people will learn the chemistry and engineering required in alternative fuel production, the mechanics of diesel engines, and the environmental impacts of both eco-friendly biofuels and traditional petroleum-based fuels.

 

Participants recruit and secure commitments from local restaurants, caterers and cafeterias to provide used cooking oil – the primary ingredient in biofuels – to the project. Suppliers are equipped with GYBP barrels that youth and their adult supervisors pick up regularly. For their tax-deductible contributions, suppliers are publicly recognized as supporters of a greener Gulfsouth.  

 

Youth participants in the project meet regularly to conduct planning and receive training on relevant components of the program, including the basics of biodiesel production and its impact, leadership, business development, management, sales and marketing. In addition to regular planning and training meetings, young people garner skills through hands-on participation in the enterprise from mentors, teachers and supervisors involved directly in the project.  Under the direction of trained professionals, youth participants convert the used cooking oil into eco-friendly biofuel.  All proceeds from the sale of fuel produced by the Gulfsouth Youth Biodiesel Project will fund Operation REACH’s mission to engage, empower and inspire children, youth and families to reach their highest potential.  READ MORE  and MORE  

 

Massachusetts

University of Massachusetts Amherst  Department of Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences    Campus researchers are planting crops that can be used to make biofuels on land in the Pioneer Valley that is not suitable for food production. The project is a cooperative effort with UMass Extension and several state agencies seeking to develop a sustainable fuel crop in Massachusetts.

Crop trials will be managed by the Department of Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences under the direction of research professors Stephen Herbert and Om Parkash, and weed extension specialist Randall Prostak.  Crops will be grown at the Research and Education Center trial crop farm in Deerfield, and at eight privately owned farms in the Pioneer Valley. Including private farms in the project will provide the researchers with information on how the crops fare in different locations and soil types, and interest local farmers in growing biofuels crops.   READ MORE

 

University of Massachusetts Amherst Department of Chemical Engineering   Chemical Engineering at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, is a dynamic Department offering a highly-rated undergraduate program and a vibrant graduate research program that balances chemical engineering fundamentals with industrial technology. From our beginnings in the 1950s, the Department has educated distinguished scholars and technical leaders. Today, our faculty is recognized for its technological innovation and contributions to engineering sciences in the fields of fluid mechanics and transport phenomena, scientific computing, bioengineering, materials science, nanotechnology, and sustainable energy.   READ MORE  and MORE

 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology   B.S. minor in Energy Studies     The Energy Studies Minor for undergraduates is an Institute-wide program that complements the deep expertise obtained in any major with a broad understanding of the interlinked realms of science, technology, and social sciences as they relate to energy and associated environmental challenges. The minor curriculum integrates these three domains in a thoroughly multidisciplinary program. A faculty oversight committee including representatives from all five Schools oversees the Energy Studies Minor program.

The Energy Studies curriculum has two components.

·         The first is a core that provides an integrated perspective on energy and associated environmental challenges in three domains, each with a primary focus: Energy Science Foundations (fundamental laws and principles that govern energy sources, conversion, and uses), Social Science Foundations of Energy (social scientific perspectives and tools that explain human behavior in the energy context), and Energy Technology / Engineering in Context (the application of laws and principles to a specific energy context).

·         The second component is a customized program of electives that is selected by each student in close consultation with Energy Minor faculty advisors.  READ MORE

 

Michigan

Michigan State University Office of Biobased Technologies   Michigan State’s Office of Biobased Technology aims to integrate innovations in the lab with advances in the marketplace to enhance the economy, the environment, and the quality of life in Michigan and around the globe.  “There is more to the bioeconomy than just fuel,” says Steven Pueppke, director of OBT. “The bioeconomy is about making crop plants more valuable and providing consumers with products from renewable resources.”   READ MORE

 

Michigan State University Biomass Conversion Research Laboratory   The mission of the Biomass Conversion Research Laboratory at Michigan State University is to develop cost effective and environmentally attractive means of generating fuels, chemicals, materials, foods and feeds from renewable plant biomass. We seek to shift the raw material basis of modern society away from excessive dependence on fossil resources, particularly petroleum, and toward biomass. As a global society, one of our greatest economic and environmental risks is our near total reliance on petroleum as a source of liquid transportation fuels. Obviously, the BCRL has chosen no small mission. But we do not believe it is “mission impossible”. In fact, the mission is completely possible.  READ MORE

 

Minnesota

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System   Nine colleges in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system will begin offering a two-year degree program fall 2009 that prepares students to work either in the renewable energy or traditional energy industries.  Development of the new associate degree program is funded mostly with a three-year, $1 million High Growth Job Training Initiative grant from the U. S. Department of Labor.

Besides the energy technical specialist degree, students will be able to earn a 16-credit certificate in one of four specialties - ethanol production, biodiesel production, wind turbine maintenance, and solar energy assessment. The certificate programs, which can be completed in as little as one semester, will be available online.

The colleges offering the new degree are Alexandria Technical College, Century College, Minnesota West Community and Technical College, South Central College, St. Cloud Technical College and four colleges of the Northeast Higher Education District - Hibbing Community College, Itasca Community College, Mesabi Range Community and Technical College and Vermilion College. These nine colleges and the Northeast Higher Education District’s Rainy River Community College make up the Minnesota Training Partnership for a Sustainable Energy Economy. Partnering state-run WorkForce Centers will help recruit students and place graduates in jobs.   READ MORE

 

University of Minnesota College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resource Sciences   CFANS is a college devoted to solution-driven science. We study the health of the land and the health of the living. We ensure the safety of the food and water supply. We strive to improve our economy, foster job creation, strengthen our agricultural and natural resource-based industries and enhance the social fabric of communities.  We care about having enough food and worry that some may have too much food. We turn biomass into products including biofuels and many other products society depends upon.  We work with molecules, microbes, plants, and animals in the water, on the land, and in the sky. In doing so, we interact closely with our citizenry. We use critical and innovative thinking plus all the tools of the arts and sciences to make our planet a productive, friendly, and sustainable environment—to solve everyday problems.

And most of all we engage and motivate students of all ages in an exemplary fashion about why understanding basic mechanisms can lead to applied solutions to society’s current and future challenges, many of which are issues of food, agriculture, and natural resources. Solution-Driven Science reinforces and renews our land grant heritage.  READ MORE

 

Minnesota West Community and Technical College, Granite Falls Campus Associates Degree, Renewable Energy, Biofuel Concentration        Minnesota West Community and Technical College has five campuses and four learning centers located in beautiful southwest Minnesota. Thousands of wind turbines dot the landscape along the Buffalo Ridge, which runs through Minnesota West’s service area. Minnesota West is a national leader in renewable and sustainable energy programs.

The college offers more than 60 majors in technical and liberal arts areas. Situated in a rural setting, Minnesota West boasts activities for both cultural and outdoor enthusiasts.  Unique programs: Agriculture, biotechnology lab technician, biofuels technology, power sports, wind energy technology.  READ MORE

 

Mississippi

Mississippi State University   The Sustainable Energy Research Center (SERC) was established in January 2006 at Mississippi State University (MSU) through funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

SERC was formed to create an infrastructure for coordinated interdisciplinary collaboration atMSU in the development of environmentally and economically sustainable energy sources specific to the Southeastern United States.

SERC serves as a conduit for the development of integrated research and educational programs at MSU. The Center is also a catalyst for forging partnerships between academia, business, and the U.S. government.   READ MORE   and MORE

 

Missouri

Crowder College, Neosho, Missouri - Missouri Alternative and Renewable Energy Technology Center    Biofuel Associates of Arts Degree;   Biofuel, Biogas, Bioethanol, Biodiesel Certificates

 Following decades of success in solar energy projects, the Missouri Legislature designated Crowder College in 1992 as the State’s renewable energy education center. The resulting Missouri Alternative and Renewable Energy Technology (MARET) Center is recognized internationally for its contributions to the energy field.

 The mission of the MARET Center is to expand renewable energy throughout the region with education, applied research, and economic development. Educational programs include certification and transfer degrees encompassing green construction, solar thermal energy, solar electricity, wind, and bio fuels. The MARET Center also assists in new product development and other business support services in renewable energy.

Crowder College is the first community college in the country to offer a Biofuel degree. Additionally the college has added four Biofuel related certificates. Below are the degree and certificates - be sure to check with an advisor for the latest degree requirements and offerings.  READ MORE

 

New Jersey

Princeton University     B.S. , M.S.  Civil and Environmental Engineering     Civil and Environmental Engineering at Princeton is a dynamic and growing department. Its research and teaching address broad questions associated with the built environment, the natural environment, and interactions between the two, with an evolving emphasis on sustainability. 

 Sample Research Opportunity for Undergraduates:  “Assessment of Biomass-Related Energy Technologies and Systems”.   Contribute to a major research effort focusing on various aspects of the production and use of biomass (wood, other plant material, municipal solid waste, etc.) as a renewable energy source. The work includes: engineering assessments of advanced technologies for converting biomass into fluid fuels and electricity; analysis relating to land use for biomass production; and assessment of ecosystem impacts of large-scale biomass production.   READ MORE

 

Rutgers Waksman Institute of Microbiology   Three plant biologists at Rutgers’ Waksman Institute of Microbiology are obsessed with duckweed, a tiny aquatic plant with an unassuming name. They have even convinced the federal government to focus its attention on duckweed’s tremendous potential for cleaning up pollution, combating global warming and feeding the world. …  According to the researchers, duckweed plants can extract nitrogen and phosphate pollutants from agricultural and municipal wastewater. They can reduce algae growth, coliform bacterial counts and mosquito larvae on ponds, while concentrating heavy metals, capturing or degrading toxic chemicals, and encourage the growth of other aquatic animals such as frogs and fowl. These plants produce biomass faster than any other flowering plant, serve as high-protein feed for domestic animals and show clear potential as an alternative for biofuel production.  READ MORE and MORE

 

New Mexico

Sustainable Technologies Center at Santa Fe (NM) Community College  The Sustainable Technologies Center (STC) at Santa Fe Community College integrates 21st century trades with advanced technologies and “green” curricula to promote a sustainability economy. The STC will work with community, state and national partners to further develop and expand the renewable energy industry cluster in the Santa Fe region while being recognized as a state, regional and national resource.   READ MORE and MORE

 

New York

Cornell University’s Biofuels Research Laboratory   In January 2009, researchers from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Engineering began using the space, which was funded by a $10 million grant from the Empire State Development Corp. and replaces an agricultural engineering power and machinery lab in Riley Robb Hall. The Cornell team focuses on the creation of cellulosic ethanol — a process that frees sugars from perennial grasses and woody biomass and biologically converts them into fuel.  “The highlight of the new lab is that multiple departments and multiple colleges are using it,” Walker said. “That’s been the underlying philosophy from the very beginning.”  READ MORE and MORE

 

Northeast Regional Center for the Sun Grant Initiative  at Cornell University      The Northeast Sun Grant is funding eight research and development projects beginning in 2007, through a competitive grants program.  The research portfolio contains experiments in the areas of feedstock development, bio-conversion processes, systems analysis, economics, environment and policy.    Funded projects include:

         Developing the Potential of Hazelnuts as a Feedstock for Biodiesel and other Oleochemicals in the Northeast, Rutgers University

         A Biofuel Screening Program for Grass Feedstocks: Diversity, Physiological Traits and Compositional Characteristics for Optimal Yield, Cornell University

         Improving Woody Biomass Separation by Enzymatic Means, University of Maine

         Development of a Temperature-phased Anaerobic Digestion Process for Enhanced Conversion of Solids in Livestock Manure and Food Wastes to Methane, Ohio State University

         Influence of Alternative Pretreatment Strategies on Cellulosic Ethanol Production using Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation at High Solids Concentrations, Cornell University

         Enhanced Microbial Cellulose Degradation and H2 Production above 80C, University of Massachusetts

         Small Farm Integrated Energy System, Cornell University

         Biomass Feedstock Production in the Northeast: Economic and Environmental Implications, Penn State University Collaborating Institutions: Michigan State, Cornell, USDA-ARS, Univ. Maryland - Eastern Shore    READ MORE

 

Morrisville State College, NY     Associate Degree, Renewable Energy     The A.A.S. degree program in Renewable Energy Technology prepares students to become entry-level installers and service technicians for small renewable energy systems, including small wind, solar photovoltaics, solar hot water, micro hydroelectric, and biofuels systems. This flexible program is designed to give students opportunities to choose coursework that supports their intended career path in renewable energy.  READ MORE

 

North Carolina

Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina   Undergraduate Program in Appropriate Technology   Consistently ranked among the top 15 southern regional universities since 1986, Appalachian offers a variety of academic programs and campus activities to challenge you; all located in a unique mountain setting.

The concentration in Appropriate Technology provides the most general technological background that the technology department offers.  Students will develop knowledge and skill in many technological areas; including drafting and design, wood and metal working, computers, architecture, construction, graphic arts as well as renewable energy technologies,  energy efficient solar building design and construction,  waste management, research methods and  contemporary technological problems facing society.  This background would be useful in many fields of endeavor.

Concentration Classes include:

Renewable Electricity

Sustainable Building Design & Construction

Solar Thermal Technology

Contemporary Problems in Appropriate Technology

Sustainable Transportation

Sustainable Resource Management

Environmental Physics

Introduction to Sustainable Development

Society & Technology

Environmental Economics

Intro to Agroecology

Building Science

Sustainable Development  READ MORE

 

Central Carolina Community College  Since 2002, CCCC has been a leader in Biofuels education on the east coast. CCCC offers workshops, continuing education, and curriculum programs to suit the needs of students and industry. CCCC’s focus on sustainable fuel production is at the heart of the program, offering students the opportunity to learn responsible and sustainable fuel production practices.

Fall 2008 CCCC began offering an associate degree in Alternative Energy Technology: Biofuels. This program is designed to equip students with the skills needed for a career in the growing biofuels industry.

The program has been designed to utilize CCCC’s comprehensive biofuels testing lab and production lab to educate students in a wide variety of industry skills.

With support from NC BioNetwork and the NC General Assembly CCCC has constructed a biofuels testing lab capable of performing analysis of:

  • Flash Point

  • Free & Total Glycerin

  • Kinematic Viscosity

  • Water & Sediment

  • Copper Corrosion

  • Sulfated Ash

  • Blend Percentage

  • Specific Gravity

  • Cloud Point

  • Cold Soak

  • Bound Moisture

  • Oxidative Stability

  • Carbon Residue

  • Methanol Content

  • Acid Number

  • Ethanol Content

With support from the North Carolina Biofuels Center CCCC is currently constructing a pilot scale plant capable of producing both biodiesel and ethanol from various feedstocks. The plant will be designed to produce fuel in a variety of ways to suit training needs. The production facility will also include a oilseed crushing facility and side stream management equipment. The fuel produced in the lab will be used to run college vehicles and equipment.  READ MORE

 

North Carolina’s Southeastern Community College  North Carolina’s traditional tobacco farms are switching to other crops, so the state’s Southeastern Community College in Whiteville, has initiated a program to educate farmers on the ins-and-outs of biodiesel manufacturing, anticipating producers will be growing more oilseeds in the future. Southeastern Community College will be using a mobile biodiesel processor built by Jerome, Arizona-based Verde Biofuel for this program.  READ MORE

 

North Dakota

University of North Dakota Energy and Environmental Research Center International, Center for Applied Energy Technology, Centers for Renewable Energy and Biomass Utilization    The production of fuels from agricultural products is paramount to the national security of the United States and is a value-added opportunity for North Dakota agriculture producers.

Areas of EERC Expertise

* Development of new tactical fuels for the U.S. Department of Defense, including a renewable domestic jet fuel to replace the current JP-8 jet fuel
* Biodiesel production and value-added ultrahigh cetane diesel additives
* Ethanol production from corn and cellulosic materials
* Conversion of biomass feedstocks into other valuable fuels and chemicals such as ethanol, methanol, dimethyl ether, and Fischer-Tropsch distillates using thermochemical processing

Related Program:  The EERC National Alternative Fuels Laboratory (NAFL®) builds collaborations with industry to overcome technical, economic, and social barriers to commercial utilization of alternative fuels. NAFL has been working for the past 18 years developing essential technologies to produce economical fuels and chemicals from renewable agricultural resources.  READ MORE

 

Oklahoma

Oklahoma State University Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources   Today, the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station (OAES) stands as the research leg of the three agency group comprising the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources which also includes teaching (the College) and outreach (Cooperative Extension).  Over 100 Ph.D. level faculty members are funded at least partially by the OAES to conduct research in areas ranging from cattle and wheat production to cell wall biology and mechanisms that affect conversion of plant materials to biofuels.  Research labs are located primarily in Agricultural Hall, Noble Research Center, Food & Agricultural Products and Animal Science buildings on campus.  Additionally the OAES operates field, greenhouse and lab facilities at 18 research stations and/or centers located from the southeast to the northwest corners of the state.  READ MORE and articles about sorghum research: 1  2

South Central Regional Center for Sun Grant Initiatives at Oklahoma State University    Oklahoma State University is the South Central Regional Center for Sun Grant Initiatives.   Current funded projects include: 

  • Critical Analysis of Syngas Fermentation Reactors for Biological Alcohol Production, Oklahoma State and Brigham Young University
  • Development of Winter Safflower as a Biodiesel Feedstock, Texas Tech University and Texas AgriLife Research, New Mexico State University
  • Farmers’ Willingness to Produce Cellulosic Biofuel Feedstocks Under Alternative Contractual, Pricing and Harvesting Arrangements, Kansas State University and Oklahoma State University
  • Cellulosic feedstock production and environmental benefits from agroforest systems established on marginal lands, University of Arkansas, University of Louisiana and LSU AgCenter.
  • Selection of Hybrids and Optimization of Planting to Facilitate Just-in-Time Harvest for Sweet and Energy Sorghum, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Texas Cooperative Extension, Soil and Crop Sciences, LSU AgCenter, Iberia Research Station    READ MORE

 

Oregon

Western Regional Center for Sun Grant Initiatives at Oregon State

 Funded projects include:

         A Forest Residue-Based Pyrolysis Biorefinery,  Washington State University

         New Concept to Obtain Higher Yields of Pyrolytic Sugars for Ethanol Production,  Washington State University

         Camelina Improvement for Insensitivity to Residual Herbicide Activity, Washington State University

         Exploring Field Crop Biomass Sources for Use in Pacific Ethanol’s Boardman, Oregon Cellulosic Ethanol Plant, Oregon State University

         Life Cycle, Sustainability and Economic Analysis of Cellulosic Ethanol from Grass Straw in the Pacific Northwest, Oregon State University

         Arid Land Development of Sweet Sorghum as a Renewable Feedstock, University of Arizona

         Feasibility of Biopolymer Production in Poplar, Oregon State University    READ MORE

 

 

Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon   Sustainability Coordinator Certificate     The Advanced Technology Division provides professional technical training to prepare individuals for the rapidly changing demands of “high tech” industries. Every Advanced Technology program offers “hands on” experience in business, industry and government agencies through Cooperative Education. Two-year associate of applied science degrees and/or two-year certificates of completion, and/or one-year certificates of completion are offered in these programs.

This certificate will prepare students for careers as sustainability coordinators, resource management technicians, corporate social responsibility coordinators, environmental specialists, recycling coordinators, pollution prevention specialists and energy or waste reduction analysts.  Graduates may work for public agencies, school districts, colleges or universities, non-governmental organizations, nonprofit organizations, private businesses or corporations.

Sustainability Coordinator is an emerging occupation.  Market surveys of regional and statewide employers indicate job growth potential is significant and expected to increase.   READ MORE

 

Oregon Institute of Technology    B.S.  Renewable Energy Engineering    In 2005, Oregon Tech furthered its commitment to sustainable power by introducing the first Bachelor of Science in Renewable Energy Systems in North America (now known as Renewable Energy Engineering).  Oregon Tech’s renewable energy program establishes the engineering principles graduates will need to develop, promote, and implement sustainable energy technologies. 

The degree program begins by establishing a solid foundation of physics, chemistry and mathematics, which pave the way for coursework in electrical and mechanical engineering.  Upper-division courses in renewable-energy specific courses include photovoltaics, energy management and auditing, wind power, biofuels, renewable-energy transportation systems, green building and fuel cells.  READ MORE

 

Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock University, Pennsylvania    M.S.  Sustainable Systems     The Masters of Science in Sustainable Systems (MS3) program is designed to produce environmental leaders with the skills to address our rapidly increasing environmental problems. Each graduate will learn to critically evaluate our society’s current interactions with the environment and will have the knowledge and experience to lead others as we find ethical and equitable solutions to our environmental challenges.

MS3 graduates will develop the skills to:

         Understand the relevant concepts and methods of economics, politics, ethics, design, and environmental geography pertaining to the sustainability of environmental resources and quality of life.

         Critically evaluate the sustainability of energy systems, technology, the built environment, and environmental regulations and policy.

         Work effectively within the private and public sector to develop and implement sound and equitable strategies for achieving sustainability   READ MORE

 

South Dakota

North Central Center fo Sun Grant Initiatives at South Dakota State University     Funded projects include:  

 

Tennessee

University of Tennessee Biofuels Initiative    The University of Tennessee Biofuels Initiative (UTBI) is a state sponsored plan to decrease our dependency on foreign oil while simultaneously increasing rural economic development and domestic energy production within Tennessee.

The UTBI proposes to jump-start a new bioenergy industry in the state by building and operating a pilot scale cellulosic ethanol biorefinery in East Tennessee. The principal product of the refinery will be Grassoline, ethanol fuel that is derived from plant material such as switchgrass, wood chips and other forest and agricultural biomass.  READ MORE

 

Southeastern Regional Center for Sun Grant Initiatives at University of Tennessee    University of Tennessee is the Southeastern  Regional Center for Sun Grant Initiatives.  Current funded projects include:

  • Bacterial adaptations for enhanced cellulose utilization: a systems approach, University of Kentucky
  • Enzymatic and Multiphase Solution Processing of Lignocellulosic Biomass, Florida State, Florida A&M, Lafayette College
  • Mechanisms of Surfactant Effects on Biomass Conversion, Virginia Tech    READ MORE

 

Virginia

Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium   VCERC was created by the VA legislature in 2007 and first received funds from the Commonwealth in fiscal year (July 1st 2007-June 30th 2008). Since July 2007 VCERC has developed coastal energy technologies and the Virginian knowledge base to assist the Commonwealth in meeting the targets set out in the VA Energy Plan. VCERC’s ongoing efforts impact three key VA Energy Plan objectives: creation of renewable energy resources; improving the environment; and economic development.

Specifically, VCERC provides the research and development required for the commercialization and implementation of renewable energy by using algal biomass, wind and wave resources available in Virginia. Algal biomass energy removes pollutants from Chesapeake Bay, represents an innovative win-win wastewater remediation-biofuel production technology, and avoids utilizing food crops, trees, and other valuable natural resources to produce fuel. Project expansion in algal biofuels and wind power will lead to spin-off industry, creating jobs, investment and lowering fuel prices in Virginia.

The Consortium is governed by a board which consists of fourteen members - with representatives from each of the eight partner universities (Old Dominion University, Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences, Virginia Tech Advanced Research Institute, James Madison University, Norfolk State University, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Virginia and Hampton University) and six government and industry partners. The Consortium is located at Old Dominion University in Norfolk.  READ MORE

 

Washington

Washington State University’s Bioprocessing and Bioproduct Engineering Laboratory   The Bioprocessing and Bioproduct  Engineering  Laboratory (BBEL) contributes to the College of Agriculture, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences and the College of Engineering and Architecture at Washington State University in serving the State of Washington as the land grant university in the state.  BBEL conducts research, development, education, and technology transfer addressing bioenergy, bioproducts, and environmental issues.  In doing so, the BBEL advances related sciences and technologies that benefit the broader society.  READ MORE

The Bioprocessing & Bioproducts Engineering Laboratory’s biodiesel research focuses on second generation biofuel system using algae as the main feedstock. Our target product is high quality Jet fuel. We are one of the few programs in the US specializing in heterotrophic processes although we currently have on-going research projects on both phototrophic and autotrophic processes. In addition to feedstock, we also study the oil extraction process from algae and conduct research on biodiesel quality. Our past and current main research efforts include:

* Development of high density heterotrophic culture systems
* Screen cold water species for special fatty acid profiles
* Use organic waste for co-production of hydrogen and biodiesel feedstock
* Investigating the effect of minor compounds in biodiesel upon fuel quality
* Develop process models as decision support tools for evaluating second generation of biofuel   READ MORE

 

Bainbridge Graduate Institute   BGI’s pioneering MBA and certificate programs prepare diverse leaders to build enterprises that are financially successful, socially responsible and environmentally sustainable.   Our innovative curriculum preserves the rigor of a traditional MBA program, while infusing sustainability—environmental and social responsibility—throughout every course.

The MBA program combines distance learning with monthly, intensive, face-to-face classroom sessions.  Students build a strong, cooperative learning community with each other, the faculty and staff. Our faculty includes distinguished business school professors and business innovators from around the U.S. and Canada with a passion for sustainability.   READ MORE  

 

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Bioenergy Initiative   Created in 2007 by University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the Wisconsin Bioenergy Initiative (WBI) seeks to cultivate bioenergy expertise among UW-Madison, UW-System and Wisconsin stakeholders to anchor the innovative research that is being conducted within our great state. We are a university-based coalition that helps the talent across Wisconsin create, commercialize and promote bio-based solutions.  READ MORE

 Wisconsin Mid-State Technical College   Associates Degree, Biorefinery Program      One of the Wisconsin Technical College System’s 16 colleges, MSTC is a leading provider of higher education offering more than 50 career opportunities through associate degrees, technical diplomas and certificates. Student-focused and community-based, MSTC serves a resident population of approximately 165,000 in central Wisconsin. The college has campuses in Marshfield, Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids, and a learning center in Adams.

The Biorefinery Technology program prepares technicians to perform operations and maintenance tasks in the expanding biofuel and biogas production and biorefining industries.

The curriculum emphasizes learning and performing the mechanical processes of biofuel production and biorefining, as well as plant operations, systematic troubleshooting, logical problem-solving and safety.    READ MORE

 

Online Energy Degrees

 Marylhurst University, Oregon  M.S.  Sustainable Business, Concentration, Renewable Energy   Marylhurst University is a private liberal arts university located 10 miles south of Portland, Oregon, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as professional certificates.

Marylhurst’s online Master of Business Administration degree in Sustainable Business prepares you to make a positive footprint in your office and in the world around you. When you choose a concentration in Renewable Energy you’ll gain a fresh perspective on business while learning how to address environmental regulations and policy that incorporate important decisions impacting energy use, business strategy and operational management.  READ MORE

 

Miles Community College, Milwaukee    Online Associates Degree, Energy Technology;  A.A.S Biofuels     Miles Community College has collaborated with The University of Montana College of Technology in Missoula to offer an online degree in Energy Technology. The Energy Technology Program introduces students to the full suite of energy technologies—traditional, emerging, renewable, and alternative—and prepares them for careers in the energy industry.  READ MORE

 

 Sun Grant Regional Centers and Associated Research Projects

 The Sun Grant Initiative is a national network of land-grant universities and federally funded laboratories working together to further establish a biobased economy.

These institutes are at the forefront of research and innovation involving bioenergy and biofuels production. They have the history, technology and resources available to lead the nation towards a renewable, sustainable, domestic energy industry.

Sun Grant Centers are also charged with reviving America’s farming communities by placing an emphasis on rural economic development through the production of biobased renewable energy feedstocks.

 Sun Grant Centers and Representative Grants

The Centers are located at Cornell University, Oklahoma State University, Oregon State University, South Dakota State University, and the University of Tennessee.  See information in main entries above.    READ MORE

 

 

Asia/Pacific Rim

China

Biofuel Research Center at City University of Hong Kong

The Biofuel Research Centre will be the first of its kind in Hong Kong and will be a key component of City Univerity of Hong Kong’s new School of Energy and Environment to address both the rising global demand for sustainable and non-fossil-based fuels and Hong Kong’s urgent need to develop sustainable solutions to accommodate the ever-increasing volume of waste matter.The newly established School of Energy and Environment of CityU, aspires to be a leading school in the Asia-Pacific region specialising in professional education and cutting-edge research in energy and environment, with focus on renewable energies, energy storage, energy efficiency and conservation, climate change and air pollution.

Edinburgh Napier University will initially work with CityU’s School of Energy and Environment in acquiring the necessary equipment and recruiting academic and research personnel for the Centre. Collaboration between the two universities will then be extended to the development and application of joint research projects, student and faculty exchange programmes and joint partnerships with private industries in Hong Kong and Mainland China.   READ MORE

 

India

 

PRAJ   Alcohol Technology and Plant Design is constantly evolving. Practices world over vary according to the regions, but the basic science remains the same. It is important to create a platform to share and enhance the knowledge base in keeping with the times. Also, some of our customers have shared from time-to-time that they would like to have structured inputs that will resolve their queries on worldwide practices as well as keep them in line with the developments.

With its experience of designing and installing ethanol plants across 5 continents, Praj has designed a programme which will help you do just that. Moreover, we will give you a glimpse of the future wherein you will get a feel of second and third generation technologies. So be future ready and join the PRAJ Alcohol School for MASTERCLASS ON FERMENTATION.


Praj has arranged series of Training Programs on Alcohol Technologies & Systems covering Fermentation, Distillation and Wastewater Treatment including Evaporation with Zero discharge plants.

 

The programs are designed to be interactive programs and are meant specifically for “Plant operating personnel” i.e. the Distillery Managers, Plant Chemists, Shift Supervisor, Alcohol Technologist, Process Chemical Engineers etc.

A special interactive session on “De-Risking Business Model’ will be organized for senior management. The dates for this special session will be announced shortly.

The training programs will share Praj’s vast experiences in design and supply of plants for different grades of ethanol. The objective is to provide latest, up-dated, information based on real time situations so as to make it applicable for performance improvements at your plants. The program will also impart information on analytical procedures, hands-on-approach for better process monitoring & trouble shooting.

The first training program of the Praj Alcohol School is on Advanced Fermentation Technology. The Program, to be held from February 25th -27th, 2010 is specially designed for Distillery Managers, Plant Chemists, Shift Supervisors, Alcohol Technologists, Process Chemical Engineers etc . Upon completion of the program participants will be awarded Praj Alcohol School 2010 certificates.  READ MORE

 

The PK Sinha Center for Bioenergy at Indian Institute of Technology aspires to be the nation’s leading ce nter for Bioenergy research – comprises of faculty and scientists from IIT-Kharagpur’s existing departments such as Agriculture & Food Engineering, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science & Engineering, Geology & Geophysics, Intellectual Property Law School, Mechanical Engineering and Physics. The center fits into the new Department of Energy Engineering to be set up shortly at IIT-Kharagpur, which will have several verticals in conventional and non-conventional energy, with Bioenergy being one of them. Established in 1951, IIT-Kharagpur is the first and the largest IIT, with 19 academic departments, 11 academic centers and schools, and 16 R&D cells for interdisciplinary research. IIT-Kharagpur is the only IIT that has unique capabilities in agricultural engineering, biotechnology, plant genetics, geology, chemical engineering, medical science & technology, entrepreneurship, and IP Law, and has access to land for plantings experimentation – big assets for bioenergy research. The center’s faculty members are currently working in the areas of Bio-ethanol, Bio-diesel, Bio-hydrogen, Algal and Microbial Biofuels and genetic prospecting of energy crops.  READ MORE

 

Canada

Ontario

Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre Opens at University of Guelph

The University of Guelph officially opened the Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre researchers will use agricultural products, turning soy, wheat, corn and other crops into everything from car parts and furniture to fuel. “This discovery centre is a nexus where physical and engineering scientists and plant biologists will work together on viable solutions to some of today’s most pressing problems,” said president Alastair Summerlee.   READ MORE

 

Europe

Belgium

Bio Base Europe   Bio Base Europe, the Biopark Terneuzen and Ghent Bio-Energy Valley joint initiative launched in April 2009, has said its new bio-focused Training Centre is on course to open in early 2011. The Bio Base Europe initiative will be the first of its kind to include both a Pilot Plant and a Training Centre dedicated to bio-based industry and aims to support and accelerate the development of a sustainable bio-based economy in Europe. It is the largest Interreg project ever granted to the Dutch-Flemish border region and is set to transform the region into the main bio-economy gateway in Europe.

Training and education will be at the heart of the new centre’s activities with plans to run standard and custom-tailored multi-language courses in English, French, Dutch and German. Courses will be designed to complement existing courses offered in schools and technical colleges, but will provide added depth and focus and ultimately aims to address the current industry-wide shortage of qualified bio-based process operators and technical maintenance specialists. Participants for the training course will include people currently working in the bio-based industry, students from the surrounding region looking to supplement their education with a bio-focused specialization and also trainers and teachers from secondary and vocational technical schools. The facility will include an extensive array of testing and production apparatus for bio-fuel and renewable energy production including bio diesel, bio ethanol, bio gas, wind turbines, photovoltaic cells and heat exchange pumps offering students expanded possibilities to train more extensively with operating equipment.  READ MORE

UK

Aston University, Birmingham, UK  Bioenergy Research Group

The Bioenergy Research Group (BERG) is one of the largest university based research groups in thermal biomass conversion in the world. It was formed in 1986 as a focus for a range of inter-related activities in biomass conversion and environmental studies related to global warming and has grown into a substantial multi-disciplinary research effort.

The objective of the BERG is to apply chemical-engineering science and technology to help provide the world with sufficient energy, fuels and chemicals from renewable and sustainable resources to meet tomorrow’s needs To this end BERG is developing novel thermal processes whereby agricultural wastes, fast-growing wood, annual crops and biogenic wastes can be thermally converted in a biorefinery, using both fast pyrolysis and intermediate pyrolysis, into oils and gases which can, in turn, be used to generate electricity and produce transport fuels and chemicals.  READ MORE

 

Aston University in Birmingham, UK is involved in a € 3.73m (£3.4 million) research project, which will transform organic residues from biofuel production processes into a renewable biofuel that can reduce reliance on fossil diesel imports. … This project is based on second generation products from whole biomass with higher yields and which do not compete with food.  In particular we will be processing the residues from these processes which will further improve performance and minimise waste disposal. ”We want to bring together a global network of experts and researchers, who are able to build upon existing biofuel technologies. This will help to pave the way for large scale biofuel production by 2020, in a way that doesn’t impact on land usage and similarly helps solves the problems of growing amounts of organic waste.”  The scheme is set to strengthen research collaboration between Europe and Latin America, with a Scholarship Scheme enabling PhD and post doctoral researchers to undertake biofuel production. A series of public lectures and presentations are also planned to engage the general public with the DIBANET scheme.  READ MORE

 

Germany

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology , Germany 

The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is one of Europe’s leading energy research establishments: The KIT Energy Center pools fundamental research with applied research into all relevant energy sources for industry, households, services, and mobility. Holistic assessment of the energy cycle also covers conversion processes and energy efficiency. The KIT Energy Center links competences in engineering and science with know-how in economics, the humanities, and social science as well as law. The activities of the KIT Energy Center are organized in seven topics: Energy conversion, renewable energies, energy storage and distribution, efficient energy use, fusion technology, nuclear power and safety, and energy systems analysis.  READ MORE