|  | | CFANS biofuels research gets $2.7 million
12/10/2007 1:40 PM MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL ( 12/10/2007 ) -- Five renewable energy
projects led by University of Minnesota researchers have been selected
to receive more than $4.5 million from the Xcel Energy Renewable
Development Fund.
An advisory board with representation from
Xcel Energy and its customers, environmental groups and the Prairie
Island Indian Community recommended to the Minnesota Public Utilities
Commission that a total of $8,223,922 be awarded to projects for energy
production and $14,397,817 for research and development.
Nearly
100 renewable energy proposals were reviewed during the current funding
cycle. The projects chosen from the University of Minnesota are:
•
Evaluating and addressing of economic and technical issues related to
biomass integrated gasification combined cycle technology in
electricity generation at ethanol-producing plants. Led by professor
Vance Morey, department of biosystems and bioproducts engineering,
College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. Amount
awarded: $819,159.
• Providing of biomass fuel stock suppliers
with accurate guidelines for management of biomass harvesting and
maintenance of soil quality. Led by Renewable Energy Coordinator
Michael Reese, West Central Research and Outreach Center, Morris.
Amount awarded: $979,082.
• Development of an efficient system
for the production, pre-processing and delivery of biomass feedstock
for energy production that minimizes feedstock cost for energy
facilities, while maximizing landowner income and the environmental
benefits of biomass production. Led by research associate Dean Current,
Center for Integrated Natural Resource and Agricultural Management,
College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. Amount
awarded: $992,989.
• Development of a new paradigm for
controlling the microstructure of thin-film silicon, which will improve
stability and efficiency and lower the cost of nanocrystal silicon
photovoltaic cells. Led by professor Uwe Kortshagen, department of
mechanical engineering, Institute of Technology. Amount awarded:
$732,032.
• Development and testing of a high resolution virtual
wind simulator for accurate prediction of local wind and turbulence
with the purpose of optimizing the turbine siting design of wind energy
projects. Led by associate professor Fernando Porte-Agel, department of
civil engineering, Institute of Technology, and sponsored in part by
the Prairie Island Indian Community. Amount awarded: $999,999.
In addition, University of Minnesota researchers are partnering with Xcel Energy on the following project:
Testing
of the hypothesis that battery storage technology will enable effective
storage of wind energy, and therefore enable firming of wind energy to
reduce impact from the variability and limited predictability of wind
generation resources. Led by Xcel Energy. Amount awarded: $1 million.
Detailed information on the projects selected is available on Xcel Energy’s Web site at www.xcelenergy.com/rdf.
Money
for the Renewable Development Fund, which was created in 1999, comes
from Xcel Energy customers. Each year the company transfers $16 million
to the fund in accordance with state statute. All selected projects are
subject to final approval by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission.
Several
of the awarded projects were initially established and supported by the
University of Minnesota’s Initiative for Renewable Energy and the
Environment (IREE). A public/private partnership designed to promote
sustainable energy in Minnesota, IREE has provided financial and
administrative support for 135 renewable energy projects since its
inception in 2003.
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