Biofuels research moves on at UMM

By Tom Hintgen (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Thursday, April 17, 2008

Energy alternatives are in the news these days, and on Tuesday Fergus Falls Kiwanis members learned about a biomass gasification system being built at the University of Minnesota, Morris campus. Addressing the group at the noon gathering in the YMCA was Michael Reese, renewable energy director at the U of M West Central Research and Outreach Center in Morris.

UMM uses corn stover, the dried stalks and leaves left over after corn has been harvested, as their biomass.

“When stover is heated, without oxygen, it turns into a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas,” Reese said. “This gas burns far more cleanly and efficiently than the raw plant material. It’s then used as a fuel to generate electricity or steam.”

Many legislative leaders and members of Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s administration see the production of biofuels from biomass, like corn, as a great step forward.

However, much research remains.

Biofuel experts say that if use of biofuels is to increase, scientists will have to find different sources. In the coming years, as the world population grows, more food and more energy is going to be needed. It's not possible, they say, to produce enough corn, wheat or soybeans to feed both humans and livestock and fuel refineries.

Pawlenty's plan addresses this concern by calling for funding to assist and encourage the growth of the next generation of biofuels, such as cellulosic ethanol. Cellulosic ethanol is produced from prairie plants or waste from agricultural sources.

Minnesota is the fifth largest ethanol-producing state, and the third-largest producer of biomass.

“So the future of these alternative fuels seems bright,” Reese told Kiwanis members. “Since it first became an issue, Minnesota and its farmers have been at the focal point of renewable energy discovery and innovation.”

Reese’s visit to Fergus Falls Tuesday was part of the University of Minnesota Alumni Association's year-long, state-wide speakers tour which has already traveled more than 2,000 miles. The purpose is to help people understand that the university touches and belongs to each and every one of the five million people in the state.

“These tour presentations help show the people of Minnesota that the U of M trains the leaders of the state and nation who solve problems and do their part of meeting energy needs for future generations,” Reese said.

He said that Minnesota needs to be proactive when it comes to energy issues.

“Fuel flexibility is what we’re emphasizing at the University of Minnesota, Morris,” he said. “Along with our work in biomass is a wind turbine, installed in 2005. It’s rated at 1.65 megawatts and produces 5.4 million kilowatt-hours of electricity for our campus on an annual basis. That’s close to 50 percent of our electrical needs at the college.”

Reese also spoke about hydrogen that can be produced from a variety of renewable sources of energy. An assessment of options for wind, hydrogen and electricity systems at both central and distributed scales are being addressed in Morris.

He explained that a fuel cell is an electrochemical device which converts hydrogen directly into electricity. A fuel such as oil, gasoline, natural gas or coal is burned in air and generates heat. The heat is used to heat water which is then used to rotate a device such as a generator. It’s the generator which produces the electricity.

“Renewable energy is a boost to the agricultural economy on west central Minnesota,” Reese said. “This also provides for potential for more careers, in this area, in the energy field.”