The School of Energy Resources (SER) Carbon Engineering Lab was recently featured
in the Wyoming Rural Electric News. Their main initiative is to develop new and additional uses for Wyoming coal and
to find ways to expand its uses past biofuel and energy production. The Carbon Engineering
Lab is one of nine research departments in the Centers of Excellence funded by SER.
Former Wyoming Governor Matt Mead sees an opportunity for the Wyoming economy to grow
and diversify through research and outcomes at SER through Carbon Engineering and
other research endeavors. There is a strong connection between the carbon engineering
initiative and the Economically Needed Diversity Options for Wyoming (ENDOW), as the
mission to find new uses for coal would greatly benefit the Wyoming economy.
The focus of Carbon Engineering is to find ways to transform the coal decomposition
products into products that are more valuable than the energy content of the coal
itself. Development of products extends to all forms of coal decomposition products
(solids, liquids, gasses) to create anything from carbon fibers to roofing materials
and more. The products developed through research will benefit both Wyoming and society,
as the natural resource can be used for far more than just energy production.
Diversifying the uses of coal will broaden the market and allow for substantial growth
and development in the Wyoming economy. The potential to create a new market for coal
products outside of energy production is an exciting prospect for the state and will
help promote energy development in Wyoming as well as make Wyoming a leader in sustainable
energy and economic growth and development.
Read more about the Carbon Engineering Lab (pages 17-20).