Return to: U of M Home |
|
|
myU | One Stop | Directories | Search U of M | |
|
|||
|
|||
|
|
|
Expert Alerts |
|
|
|
Federal grants will boost biofuels research at the University of Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL ( 3/5/2008 ) -- Three ongoing research projects at the University of Minnesota have been awarded approximately $2.27 million over the next three years as part of a joint effort by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to encourage biomass research and development. The agencies said the awards, part of a national $18.4 million investment, are aimed at addressing barriers to making production of biomass more efficient and cost-effective, with the eventual goals of reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil and mitigating climate change. The University of Minnesota was the only institution to receive more than two grants. The Minnesota projects include: * Developing scalable distributed biorefining processes for conversion of cellulosic biomass to bio-oils with microwave-assisted pyrolysis and other systems, which will receive up to $975,676. The project leader is Roger Ruan, a professor in the department of bioproducts and biosystems engineering. * Exploring sustainable pathways to achieving U.S. bioenergy policy goals, identifying economically viable and environmentally benign options for biofuel development, and identifying potential technological bottlenecks and policy instruments to meet the national bioenergy goals. The project, which will receive up to $715,340, is led by Sangwon Suh, an assistant professor in the department of bioproducts and biosystems engineering. * Researching how brown rot fungi extract and metabolize carbohydrates from biomass without destroying lignin, which has implications for biorefining plant tissues. The project, which was awarded up to $576,368, is led by Jonathan Schilling, an assistant professor in the department of bioproducts and biosystems engineering. All three principal investigators are from the university's College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. The research projects have also received significant financial support from the University of Minnesota's Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment (IREE). "These investments in bio-based technologies and bio-resource use will greatly strengthen our pursuit of innovative research in renewable energy" said Allen Levine, dean of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. "The selection of these projects by the USDA and DOE reflects the leadership of our university and state in this arena." "This is indeed a recognition of outstanding research by our faculty and it will help propel Minnesota's efforts to be a leader in developing a sustainable bio-based economy," said Shri Ramaswamy, head of the department of bioproducts and biosystems engineering. Funding for the projects is contingent on Congressional approval and on each project matching 20 percent of the award through other funding sources. ---------- |
|
||||
|
