Patrick Miller, Communications CoordinatorWork Phone: (701) 777-5113Home Phone: (701) 772-6518
Energy & Environmental Research CenterUniversity of North DakotaPO Box 9018Grand Forks, ND 58202
DATE APRIL 12, 2001 -- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Clean, Renewable Energy for UND from Sunflower Hulls
GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- What was once considered a waste material can now be used to produce clean energy from an alternative, renewable fuel source.
The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) at the University of North Dakota (UND) has conducted two tests at UND's steam plant to demonstrate the feasibility of burning a combination of subbituminous coal and sunflower hulls to produce heat for the campus. Five tons of sunflower hulls from agricultural processing facilities in the Red River Valley were mixed with 15 tons of coal and burned in the plant's boiler last week.
The experiment is part of a $100,000 project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory, the North Dakota Division of Community Services and UND. As part of the same DOE program, the EERC is conducting a similar demonstration at the North Dakota State Penitentiary in Bismarck where waste wood and North Dakota lignite coal will fire a boiler providing energy to the state facility.
Darren Schmidt, the EERC research manager who heads the project, says if the tests show that burning sunflower hulls with coal is technically and economically feasible, UND might seriously consider burning the hulls regularly to achieve a number of benefits. By replacing just 20 percent of the coal it uses each year with sunflower hulls, the university could save up to $100,000 annually, he says.
Schmidt also says that the environmental benefits of using sunflower hulls can be significant. When coal is burned, sulfur dioxide (SO2), mercury and other hazardous pollutants are released into the air. SO2 contributes to acid rain, and mercury causes toxins to accumulate in fish. Replacing coal with the sunflower hulls reduces those types of emissions. Additionally, because agricultural processing waste is often disposed of in landfills, using it as a source of renewable energy can help reduce the burden on landfills, Schmidt says.
Sunflower hulls are a form of biomass fuel. Essentially, any plant that can be burned is a potential biomass fuel. Garbage and even human and animal waste can be used as biomass fuels. Schmidt said that as part of the DOE project, a variety of biomass fuels were considered for use in the UND steam plant, but sunflower hulls were considered the most promising because they were economical, more environmentally friendly and easier to handle.
While biomass fuels are not well-known sources of energy at the moment, as the world looks for solutions to its energy and environmental problems, they are expected to play a larger role in producing cleaner, more efficient energy to meet increasing global demands for energy. Using sunflower hulls for energy production creates a market for and adds value to locally produced agricultural products, contributing to job creation and economic development.
Recognizing the potential of biomass as a clean, renewable source of alternative energy, the EERC created the Center for Biomass Utilization, which develops partnerships between government, industry and research organizations to resolve the technical challenges associated with biomass use.
"We are leading the nation in addressing many of the challenges facing the widespread use of biomass fuels," says EERC Director Gerald Groenewold. "Biomass will be critical for meeting future energy demand and achieving the goals of green' initiatives launched by federal and state governments."
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For More Information Contact:
Gerald Groenewold, EERC director, at (701) 777-5131 or[email protected]
Darren Schmidt, EERC research manager, at (701) 777-5120 or[email protected]
Phillip Hutton, EERC research scientist, at (701) 777-5204 or[email protected]
Larry Zitzow, UND director of facilities, at (701) 777-2591
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