EERC News

[sioux34]

The problem with the EERC is the fear-based management method. Too many doors are shut, so there's too little group interaction. The place could really step out in the forefront if they just allowed some creativeity to flow from the bottom from among its oppressed and fearful employees.

Maybe State Sen. Connie Triplett could lead a few seminars on how to deal with management by intimidation.

Late to the party on this one, but are you a current or former employee of the EERC? I myself am a former employee. I think you hit the EERC climate right on the head.

[GeauxSioux]

EERC to start $7 million expansion

UND’s Energy and Environmental Research Center is set to embark on a $7 million project to expand its hydrogen lab.

The National Center for Hydrogen Technology, completed in winter 2008, needs more room for more research projects, specifically focusing on different kinds of renewable fuels.

Of the $7 million, $4 million would go toward construction of the building, including site preparation, landscaping, parking and furnishings, according to state board documents. Another $3 million would go toward test equipment.

Nice to see the Hydrogen Center growing. Does this addition impact athletics long range plans?

I like how they made sure everyone knew that site work and furnishings are included in this price.

[GF_siouxfan]

U.S. Military Mandate for Diesel and Jet Fuel from Renewable Feedstocks Underscores Accelergy and EERC Partnership

EERC

[GeauxSioux]

Looks like NDSU thinks UND is doing biofuels wrong....

Gustafson, who has been at NDSU since 1986, took on this role in 2007.

Gustafson often is on the road, but his office is in the newly refurbished and expanded facility, now known as Barry Hall, in downtown Fargo.

"We're fostering closer ties to the college of business and are blending with the economics department. We have a dual mission to serve agriculture and to serve businesses broadly, in all economic aspects," he says.

"I'm the one in the state who has been asked to look at these projects objectively and help foster the development of the industry as well as provide the research," he says, noting there is collaboration with the Energy and Environmental Research Center at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks.

"They do a wonderful job of looking at specific research aspects, but they don't have the outreach mission -- looking at local groups, helping them to think through their opportunities and organizing the tools to move forward."

In your corner -- NDSU economist helps sort out biofuel's future

[GeauxSioux]

Major Building Expansion Projects at the EERC to House Additional Offices and Technologies for Renewable Fuels and Energy Production

To accommodate the ever-increasing need for space, an addition is planned north of the EERC’s office facilities. The proposed expansion would encompass approximately 60,000 square feet of laboratory and office space and cost approximately $14 million.

“This expansion is an investment in the future of the EERC and is absolutely essential to the continued success of the EERC, which is a key economic engine for the Grand Forks region and, indeed, all of North Dakota,” said EERC Director Gerald Groenewold. “On average, we are hiring approximately one new employee a week, a trend which we expect to continue into the foreseeable future. This new building will accommodate office space for about 100 new employees,” he said.

The EERC is also proposing a significant expansion to its National Center for Hydrogen Technology (NCHT) facility, which was already at full capacity when it opened in late 2008. The EERC plans to add nearly 7000 square feet (including an area equivalent to a six-story building) of high-bay technology demonstration space and laboratories to the south side of the NCHT building.

“This is the cornerstone facility for advancing what we call ‘Fuels of the Future’ into commercially marketable products,” Groenewold said. “This is not intended for research and development alone but also for working with key corporate partners to commercially deploy innovative technologies,” he said. The total cost of the new Fuels of the Future facility will be approximately $4 million.

[star2city]

Major Building Expansion Projects at the EERC to House Additional Offices and Technologies for Renewable Fuels and Energy Production

Now is the perfect time to build - with so little ongoing with construction. Hopefully the EERC and Memorial Stadium area will have a number of construction projects simultaneously: EERC expansions, old REA demolition, and a new indoor training center.

[GeauxSioux]

[url=http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20100526006053&newsLang=en] Gr

[GeauxSioux]

EERC Announces Fiscal Year-End Financials: 2010 Marks Seventh Consecutive Record Year for the Center

The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) at the University of North Dakota (UND) announced today that it has achieved its seventh consecutive record year of contracts.

In the 12-month period ending June 30, 2010 (FY10), the EERC had $43.6 million in new contracts, a 5.8% increase over the previous year. Total expenditures topped $37.5 million. The EERC's contract funding represents 45% of all externally funded research contracts at the university.

Good news, but is it accurate? The following is from last year...

The Energy & Environmental Research Center at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND, announced today that it has achieved its sixth consecutive record year of funded contracts. In the 12-month period ending June 30, 2009 (FY09), the EERC was awarded more than $43.9 million in funding. Total contract expenditures topped $39 million. The overall research portfolio, which is the total value of all active contracts during FY09 (including multiyear awards), has jumped to nearly $237 million, an increase of more than

Am I missing something?

[The Sicatoka]

Am I missing something?

EERC math.

[dakotadan]

Maybe they switched to metric?

[GeauxSioux]

EERC Process First to Produce Jet Fuel Exclusively from Coal and Biomass Combined

The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) at the University of North Dakota announced that its unique refining technologies have produced jet fuel from a combination of both coal and biomass feedstocks. The EERC technology centers on a unique direct liquefaction process utilizing a coal

[SiouxVolley]

The EERC may be on to a breakthrough for making methanol from fuel cells:

http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?hpf=1&a_id=141182&utm_source=DailyNewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=2015-10-20&utm_content=&utm_campaign=feature_2

Now, methanol is made from methane at very high temperatures with some oxygen added, partially oxidizing the methane.  Very capital and energy intensive, so if a fuel cell can make it, potentially the EERC could save industry billions.  Other companies have made massive royalties on their patents, so the EERC could gain potentially hundred of milliions on this technology if it proves out.  Honeywell has patents for other processes that save billions, and they have used the royalties used to invest into other industries.

Methanol is used as a feedstock for a lot of products, including some plastics and gasoline oxygenates, so its a huge market.   If this proves out, the EERC wouldnt have any financial issues.

 

 

[UNDBIZ]

The EERC may be on to a breakthrough for making methanol from fuel cells:

http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?hpf=1&a_id=141182&utm_source=DailyNewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=2015-10-20&utm_content=&utm_campaign=feature_2

Now, methanol is made from methane at very high temperatures with some oxygen added, partially oxidizing the methane.  Very capital and energy intensive, so if a fuel cell can make it, potentially the EERC could save industry billions.  Other companies have made massive royalties on their patents, so the EERC could gain potentially hundred of milliions on this technology if it proves out.  Honeywell has patents for other processes that save billions, and they have used the royalties used to invest into other industries.

Methanol is used as a feedstock for a lot of products, including some plastics and gasoline oxygenates, so its a huge market.   If this proves out, the EERC wouldnt have any financial issues.

If this was to pan out, how does the relationship with FuelCell Energy Inc. work in terms of royalties allocation?  Any clue?

[SiouxVolley]

If this was to pan out, how does the relationship with FuelCell Energy Inc. work in terms of royalties allocation?  Any clue?

Depends on their contract.  Since this under DOE ARPA funding, would imagine EERC gets a big slice of the patent, but could be wrong.  Under the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980, work done under a government contract doesn't necessarily revert to the federal government, but to the research organization.  For example, courts just awarded the U of Wisconsin over $200 mill because Apple infringed Wisco's patents which were funded by the government.  FuelCell Energy would benefit either way, as demand for their fuel cells would skyrocket. 

But it could have big repercussions for North Dakota too, as methane to methanol could be proved out here first with a commercial plant.

[Fetch]

So the EERC is doing good without u know who

[SiouxVolley]

But Senator Connie Triplett said the EERC was doomed without her fired abusive husband.  

So the EERC is doing good without u know who

 

Edited October 23, 2015 by SiouxVolley

[UNDBIZ]

College of Engineering rather than EERC, but http://www.valleynewslive.com/home/headlines/Treasure-worth--billions-buried-in-North-Dakota-362483511.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_Valley_News_Live

[jdub27]

UND gets a cut right??  Here we come on-stadium campus!!   

[The Sicatoka]

It's amazing what you find in core samples in exploring the Bakken.

[SiouxVolley]

10 hours ago, UNDBIZ said:

College of Engineering rather than EERC, but http://www.valleynewslive.com/home/headlines/Treasure-worth--billions-buried-in-North-Dakota-362483511.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_Valley_News_Live

Rare Earth's is a very tricky business.  The Chinese have most of the mines and supplies, but they periodically dump prices, causing worldwide calamity to other countries mines.

A US company, Molycorp, declared bankruptcy just this year, after investing billions in rare earths.

There are some seams of potassium under the Bakken too under Crosby and Columbus that can be mined with water injection.  But Saskatchewan has strip mines of potassium very near the surface, giving rise to some major fertilizer companies there, like Mosaic.