technical capabilites
- Biomass Production
Large-scale production of bioenergy will require development of new crops and appropriate production and harvest, and storage strategies. Penn State has extensive research programs in annual and perennial biomass including agricultural and forest resources, feedstock management technologies, basic plant biotechnology, and biomass characterization.
View list of Penn State researchers with expertise in biomass production. - Sustainable Bioenergy Systems
Managed agroecosystems offer enhanced opportunities for a more sustainable bio-based economy, but will require appropriate technology, environmental assessment, and social, economic, and policy incentives. Penn State has active research programs in agroecosystem modeling, carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, soil dynamics and soil ecology, water quality, policy issues including emissions and carbon trading, and social and economic impacts.
View list of Penn State researchers with expertise in sustainable bioenergy systems. - Biomass Conversion Technologies
Pennsylvania has the goal of obtaining 25% of our total energy from biomass by the year 2025. This goal is credible, as the DOE and USDA estimate that there are over 1 billion tons of biomass available annually in the USA. Penn State has strong research programs on the conversion of biomass to electricity, transportation fuels and co-product chemicals, stationary power, and heat, through thermal, chemical, and biological mechanisms.
View list of Penn State researchers with expertise in biomass conversion technologies. - Outreach and Technology Transfer
Large, medium, and small scale biomass energy systems and corollary business models need to be developed and demonstrated with Pennsylvania agricultural producers and industry. State and local agencies, industry and our agricultural producers have shown a high interest in bringing this technology to farm, business, and industrial scales. Penn State Cooperative Extension is playing an increasing role in the training, planning and implementation necessary for these projects to succeed.
View list of Penn State researchers with expertisein outreach and technology transfer.
