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KCFC is an active partner with the Kentucky Rural Energy Consortium (KREC). The consortium funded several research and development projects now being undertaken at the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky, which have direct links to alternative fuel technologies.

Please visit KREC for more information: http://www.kppc.org/krec/

Kentucky Alternative Energy Research Receives National Notice

(December 2007) Researchers from the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville are receiving additional funding and national attention for their work with alternative fuel research projects.

The initial funding for the research was provided through the Kentucky Rural Energy Consortium (KREC). There were seven research projects with five directly involved with alternative fuel and energy use.

Additional funding of $2,015,000 from EPSCor was received by researchers for the next phase of Photocatalysts for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Production. A Sun Grant of $250,000 was awarded additionally for Differentiating Microbial Pathway and Membrane Adaptations for Enhanced Performance in Extreme Environments.

Research is being presented to experts across the country on Production of Biomass Briquettes as an Alternative Fuel Source, Novel Catalytic Approaches for Bio Oil Upgrading and the Development of an Ethanol Pilot Scale Facility to Evaluate the Effect of Collection, Storage and Pre Treatment of Corn Stover.

Current KPPC Research Projects

Project entitled, “Development of an Ethanol Pilot Scale Facility to Evaluate the Effect of Collection, Storage, and Pretreatment of Corn Stover,” Dr. Michael Montross - University of Kentucky, $219,989 - The overall goal of this research is to reduce the cost of corn stover (the stalks and leaves left after the corn is harvested) as a feedstock to a biorefinery by reducing collection, handling, and storage costs; and increasing the efficiency of various types of pretreatment. The project will allow for the evaluation of corn stover, a residue available on Kentucky farms, to be converted to a higher-value product in rural communities and may ultimately reduce the cost of ethanol fuel for cars.

Project entitled, “Novel Catalytic Approaches for Bio-Oil Upgrading,” Dr. Czarena Crofcheck, University of Kentucky, $128,385 - Crude bio-oil, which comes from thermally treating biomass, could be used as a renewable replacement for crude petroleum oil. However, it is not stable for long periods of time, which makes it difficult to store and transport. We will look at two new ways to increase the stability of the bio-oil, so that it can be shipped to refineries to be made into fuels and chemicals.

Project entitled, “Photo-catalysts for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Production,” Dr. Gerold Willing, University of Louisville, $377,136 - This project looks at creating materials of specific shape and size for a new type of low-cost solar cell, called a Photo-electrochemical cell. These cells are capable of producing electricity and hydrogen from water for home use, which will help reduce pollution and lower energy costs.

Project entitled, “Production of Biomass Briquettes as an Alternative Fuel Source,” Dr. Michael
Montross, University of Kentucky, $161,457 - This project focuses on producing a solid fuel from biomass in the form of a durable briquette. These briquettes will be made from agricultural and wood wastes and can be used in industrial coal-fired boilers and/or in our homes. The benefit of this project will be a reduction the cost of using renewable solid fuels in our industries and in our homes.