The Advanced Conversion Technologies and Clean Coal Research Program was created to stimulate research and development in the area of low-emissions and advanced coal technologies.
Commerically successful deployment of these technologies was the ultimate goal of the program along with the following objectives.
- Enable and accelerate demonstration and early commercial deployment of technologies that have the potential to enhance and improve the use of sub-bituminous coal at high altitudes, specifically in Wyoming.
- Generate and test new ideas for significant improvement and cost reductions in next-generation low-emissions and advanced coal technologies.
- Support collaborative research and development in accomplishing these objectives.
- Broadened the scope of the Clean Coal/Advanced Conversion Technologies to value-added product conversion technologies.
The In-Situ Recovery of Uranium program focused on optimizing the economic recovery or uranium through ground water restoration and research on waste water management. In 2011, SER developed a competitive research program from the ISRU appropriation focused on optimizing the economic recovery of uranium through ground water restoration and research on waste water management. In 2011 and 2012, SER funded a total of seven research projects related to aquifer restoration, groundwater treatment, identification of uranium deposits and risk assessment modeling.
The Minerals to Value Added Products Facility study reflected the Advanced Conversion Technologies research to include conversion of other minerals besides coal into value-added fuels and projects.
The Rare Earth Elements research focused on these areas:
- Characterization, quantification and production of rate earth element supplies from "unconventional" sources in sustainable quantities.
- Identification of novel processes to refine, concentrate, convert, and purify "conventional," or mined, rare earth deposits known to exist in sustainable quantities in Wyoming.
- Use and application of rate earth element resources mined and processed in industrial applications and functional products that could seed new industry and manufacturing in Wyoming.
The Center for Photoconversion and Catalysis worked to promote and support photoconversion and catalysis research at the University of Wyoming as well as to create and support educational opportunities with renewable energy-related content.
The School of Energy Resources supplied the research funding for the Wyoming Restoration and Reclamation Center. The Wyoming Reclamation and Restoration Center (WRRC) helps to maintain and protect Wyoming’s land, air, water and wildlife by promoting restoration of the complex components and functions of disturbed ecosystems. With a special emphasis on energy and natural resource development activities in the arid west, WRRC educates new professionals, provides information about ecological restoration and land reclamation, creates new knowledge, and addresses the concerns of industry, government and the public.
