Impact on Facilities

Our Shared Energy Future 

Energy is our future. It is the keystone of our state's economy and an area of true distinction for the University of Wyoming.

Part of that energy future is clean coal technology, which aims to reduce the environmental impact of coal energy generation. Peabody Energy is helping ensure that future through its gift of $2 million to create the Energy Clean Coal Technology Laboratory within the Energy Resource Center. 

"Research in the area of clean coal technology is one of the particular emphases for our School of Energy Resources, and this gift provides laboratory space for the expanding work that UW faculty and students are doing in this field," said UW President Tom Buchanan. "This serves as an excellent example of how university research and industry application can work together with support from state government to make Wyoming a leader in clean coal technology. 

Wyoming is investing significant resources in clean coal research and has committed nearly $75 million, which has resulted in partnerships with industry leaders-such as Peabody-who prioritize developing and commercializing clean coal technologies, says Buchanan 

This laboratory will house research facilities and will emphasize the development of next-generation low-carbon and near-zero emissions. These technologies include carbon dioxide capture and storage, synthesis gas conversion, catalyst development, materials research, and laboratory-scale coal gasification research (or hydromethanation, a process that enables the highly efficient conversion of coal into clean pipeline-quality methane) 

Carbon capture and storage compresses carbon dioxide into a fluid-like state and injects it underground to further recover oil or for deep storage into saline aquifers or other geology. Coal gasification can convert coal to natural gas, transportation fuels, and chemicals 

The Energy Resources Center-which houses the lab-is a state-of-the-art research and collaboration facility that will help the School of Energy Resources and its centers of excellence to realize their full potential. It will be the home of the school, which was created by the Wyoming State Legislature in 2006 to enhance the university's energy-related education, research, and outreach and includes nine centers of excellence dedicated to the study of advanced coal technology, enhanced oil recovery, carbon management, wind energy, and other fields of energy research.

During his speech at the Energy Resources Center groundbreaking, Gov. Dave Freudenthal said, "The Energy Resources Center will be an important addition to the campus but the real significance is what will take place inside the walls.  This center will enable, but not guarantee, a world-class teaching and learning environment."

Peabody Energy is the top producer in Wyoming's Powder River Basin, the world's largest private-sector coal company, and a global leader in clean coal solutions. With 2009 sales of 244 million tons and $6 billion in revenues, Peabody fuels 10 percent of U.S. power and 2 percent of worldwide electricity, lighting cities on six continents. Peabody is energizing the world, one Btu at a time.

Photo:
The Energy Resources Center