- Energy and Environmental Research Center
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The Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC) in Grand Forks, North Dakota EERC is a research, development, demonstration, and commercialization facility recognized as one of the world’s leading developers of cleaner, more efficient energy technologies as well as environmental technologies to protect and clean our air, water, and soil.
The EERC, a high-tech, nonprofit division of the University of North Dakota (UND), operates like a business and pursues an entrepreneurial, market-driven approach to research and development in order to successfully demonstrate and commercialize innovative technologies. The EERC currently employs more than 340 people and is aggressively expanding its staff. The Center was founded in 1951 as the Robertson Lignite Research Laboratory, a federal facility under the U.S. Bureau of Mines. It became a federal energy technology center under the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in 1977 and was defederalized in 1983. Today, the EERC leverages and enhances government research dollars by developing working partnerships with industry, government, and the research community. Since 1987, the EERC has had more than 1100 clients in 50 states and 51 countries.
The EERC conducts research, development, demonstration, and commercialization activities involving zero-emissions coal conversion; CO2 capture and sequestration; energy and water sustainability; hydrogen and fuel cells; advanced air emission control technologies, emphasizing SOx, NOx, air toxics, fine particulate, CO2, and mercury control; renewable energy; wind energy; water management; flood prevention; global climate change; waste utilization; energy efficiency; and contaminant cleanup.
The EERC is located on more than 15 acres (61,000 m2) of land on the southeast corner of the UND campus in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The EERC houses 245,000 square feet (22,800 m2) of laboratories, fabrication facilities, technology demonstration facilities, and offices. The EERC has a current contract portfolio of over $199 million and, in fiscal year 2011, and the EERC's estimated regional economic impact is $102.7 million.
Contents
Centers of excellence
The EERC's eleven centers of excellence include the following:
- Coal Utilization Technologies Center
- Emission Control Technologies Center
- National Center for Hydrogen Technology
- Center for Climate Change, Carbon Capture, and Storage
- Center for Air Toxic Metals
- Centers for Renewable Energy and Biomass Utilization
- Water Management Center
- National Alternative Fuels Center
- Center for Oil and Gas
- Great Plains Applied Energy Technology Center
- Center for Environmental Chemistry and Reclamation
The National Center for Hydrogen Technology does research in hydrogen and fuel cell technology. In 2006, hydrogen-related contracts at the NCHT totaled more than $20 million. Groundbreaking on the 15,000-square-foot (1,400 m2) NCHT building on the EERC campus took place on April 17, 2006.
See also
Notes
External links
University of North Dakota Academics Athletics Campus Alerus Center | Betty Engelstad Sioux Center | Chester Fritz Auditorium | Chester Fritz Library | Energy and Environmental Research Center | Memorial Stadium | National Center for Hydrogen Technology | North Dakota Museum of Art | Ralph Engelstad Arena (old) | Ralph Engelstad Arena (new) | University VillageMedia School songs Categories:- University of North Dakota
- Greater Grand Forks
- Research institutes in the United States
- Energy research institutes
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