USU Biofuels Initiative
INTRODUCTION
Utah State University (USU) has been awarded a grant from the Utah Science Technology and Research (USTAR) Economic Development Initiative to further develop its research facilities and infrastructure for biofuels research and development. USTAR has approved a budget for up to $6 million over five years beginning January 1, 2007. Building on a foundation of established research experiences and new strategic hires, USU aims to establish a sustainable multi-disciplinary research team that will develop new biomass feed stocks, develop highly efficient feedstock production units, maximize product yields, and process the products into commercial biofuels and other commercial products that will provide the basis for economic development activities within the State of Utah.
The major elements of this funding include:
This strategically important initiative promotes achievement of domestic energy independence and rural economic development by efficiently utilizing abundant western sunshine and low valued land to produce ecologically viable, renewable biofuels such as methane, hydrogen and biodiesel.
Biofuels Initiative web presentation
Utah State University (USU) has been awarded a grant from the Utah Science Technology and Research (USTAR) Economic Development Initiative to further develop its research facilities and infrastructure for biofuels research and development. USTAR has approved a budget for up to $6 million over five years beginning January 1, 2007. Building on a foundation of established research experiences and new strategic hires, USU aims to establish a sustainable multi-disciplinary research team that will develop new biomass feed stocks, develop highly efficient feedstock production units, maximize product yields, and process the products into commercial biofuels and other commercial products that will provide the basis for economic development activities within the State of Utah.
The major elements of this funding include:
- Three new faculty members will be hired in key areas to augment existing research expertise in renewable biofuels;
- 4,700 ft2 of new laboratory/office space to conduct fundamental studies for identifying and characterizing new biofuels feedstocks from phototrophic microbes and anaerobic processes;
- Pilot scale research facility to resolve system integration issues and to establish the commercial viability of bioreactor systems for producing biofuels and high value bio-products.
This strategically important initiative promotes achievement of domestic energy independence and rural economic development by efficiently utilizing abundant western sunshine and low valued land to produce ecologically viable, renewable biofuels such as methane, hydrogen and biodiesel.
Biofuels Initiative web presentation