Reliable Plant Magazine, OK
04-10-07
ConocoPhillips establishes biofuels research program
ConocoPhillips will establish an eight-year, $22.5 million research program at
Iowa State University dedicated to developing technologies that produce
biorenewable fuels. The grant is part of ConocoPhillips’ plan to create joint
research programs with major universities to produce viable solutions to diversify
America’s energy sources.
ConocoPhillips will make an initial $1.5 million grant in 2007 to support Iowa
State researchers, with additional grants of $3 million per year for seven years.
Biorenewable fuels are produced from organic materials and help reduce
pollution and greenhouse gas emissions while diversifying the energy supply.
Conventional biorenewable fuels include ethanol from corn starch and biodiesel
from soybean oil. Advanced biofuels are expected to be made from fibrous
biomass such as the stalks and leaves from corn plants and switchgrass.
“I’m pleased Iowa State University and ConocoPhillips will partner to research
and develop new technologies for producing biofuels,” said Iowa Governor Chet
Culver. “These kind of public-private partnerships are an important part of my
plan to fuel Iowa’s future. Private sector investments will be the driving force
behind the development of new industries and technologies, and I’m encouraged
that Iowa State and ConocoPhillips are working together to create the right
research programs for our state’s energy future.”
“We believe the key to a secure energy future is the efficient and effective use of
a diverse mix of energy sources,” said Jim Mulva, chairman and chief executive
officer of ConocoPhillips. “ConocoPhillips is developing long-term relationships
with respected academic institutions such as Iowa State to research extensions
of traditional energy sources that ultimately will benefit consumers.”
“We are excited to work with ConocoPhillips to develop a research program that
applies Iowa State University’s strengths in renewable energy,” said Iowa State
president Gregory Geoffroy. “The emerging consensus is that a very big part of
increasing the nation’s energy security will be producing fuels from plants. Iowa
State scientists and engineers are well positioned to put science to work
advancing biofuels technologies.”
Robert C. Brown, the Iowa farm bureau director of Iowa State’s Office of
Biorenewables Programs, said ConocoPhillips is especially interested in
converting biomass to fuel through fast pyrolysis, a process that uses heat in the
absence of oxygen to decompose biomass into a liquid product. This so-called
bio-oil can be used as a heating oil or can be converted into transportation fuel at
petroleum refineries.
Brown said ConocoPhillips also will sponsor studies of other thermochemical
technologies that produce biofuels.
ConocoPhillips will fund research to understand and support environmental
sustainability and rural economies. Studies will emphasize crop improvement and
production, the harvesting and transportation of biomass and the impacts of
biofuels on economic policy and rural sociology.
According to Brown, the details of specific projects have yet to be determined. He
estimates the research program will involve 10 faculty members plus graduate
students in the first year with additional researchers added in subsequent years.
He noted that ConocoPhillips turned to Iowa State as a research partner, in part,
because of Iowa State’s expertise in a wide range of biorenewable technologies.
Iowa State’s Office of Biorenewables Programs includes 145 faculty members
with ties to 18 academic departments and 19 research centers and institutes
across campus. Those researchers have attracted more than $57 million in
sponsored research funding since 2002. The ConocoPhillips research program
will add to that total.
“Iowa State University, with its central location in the agricultural belt and rich
traditions of research and service, is uniquely positioned to set the standard for
biorenewables research, education and technology transfer,” Geoffroy said.
“Contributing to the development of the bioeconomy is directly in line with our
mission: ‘Create, share and apply knowledge to make Iowa and the world a
better place.’”
For more information on Iowa State’s Bioeconomy Initiative, visit
www.biorenew.iastate.edu.