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Kentucky Rural Energy Consortium (KREC)

ADVANCING RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY

FOR THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY

VISION

The Kentucky Rural Energy Consortium (KREC) supports, coordinates, promotes and advances research, development and deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies, practices and outreach activities of importance to Kentucky agriculture, rural communities and related industries. KREC also works to build public and private partnerships that support Kentucky’s communities through the wise use of energy.

MISSION

The Kentucky Rural Energy Consortium (KREC) sponsors research and development in renewable energy resources and bio-based products as well as energy efficient technologies and practices. KREC also develops educational and demonstration programs to encourage implementation and facilitates energy efficiency and renewable energy efforts throughout the state.

BACKGROUND

The Kentucky Rural Energy Consortium (KREC) is designed to conduct and facilitate research and educate the public about problems and issues that relate to efficient energy use, renewable energy production and other activities of importance to Kentucky.

U.S. Senators Mitch McConnell and Jim Bunning secured KREC’s $2 million in funding through a federal appropriation to the University of Louisville (U of L) that established and organized KREC in collaboration with the University of Kentucky (UK) and the Governor's Office of Energy Policy (GOEP). The Kentucky Pollution Prevention Center (KPPC) at U of L’s J.B. Speed School of Engineering serves as KREC’s clearinghouse and provides support for ongoing activities of the consortium members and state and federal programs that support KREC’s goals.

KREC pursued its research objectives by conducting a competitive grant program with Kentucky’s public universities to develop resource-responsible technologies and practices significant to the energy sector. The research goals for the consortium include dramatically reducing the U.S. dependency on foreign oil and creating an economically viable bioenergy industry in the Commonwealth. KREC received 14 proposals for funding and awarded $1.148 million for projects.

GOEP provided an additional $295,000 in state matching dollars from a fund established in legislation passed by the Kentucky General Assembly and signed into law by former Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher. Together, these federal and state funds support seven research projects that will be conducted by faculty from U of L and UK.

KREC complements the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s Comprehensive Energy Strategy by leveraging state and federal funds to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy research and development by Kentucky’s colleges and universities that will benefit Kentucky’s citizens, communities and industries.

PROJECTS AND AWARDS

KREC supports seven research projects conducted by faculty from U of L and UK that focus on developing resource-responsible technologies and practices specific to the energy sector. The project lead is listed first for each project and their contact information is provided in the next section.

PROJECT NAME	KREC FUNDED AMOUNT	GOEP COST SHARE	TOTAL FUNDING	PROJECT DIRECTOR(S)
Development of an Ethanol Pilot Scale Facility to Evaluate the Effect of Collection, Storage and Pretreatment of Corn Stover (UK/U of L)	$173,627	$46,362	$219,989	Dr. Michael Montross Dr. Czarena Crofcheck Dr. Scott Shearer Dr. Sue Nokes Dr. Eric Berson
The overall goal of this research is to reduce the cost of corn stover as a feedstock to a biorefinery by reducing collection, handling and storage costs and increasing the efficiency of pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation into value-added fuels and chemicals. The project will allow for the evaluation of corn stover, a residue available on Kentucky farms, to be converted to a higher value product in rural communities.
Development of an Integrated Solar Heat Pipe System for Improving Building Energy Efficiency (U of L)	$162,531	$39,483	$202,014	Dr. M. Keith Sharp Dr. Ellen Brehob
This project encompasses the development of a solar heat pipe system particularly suited to climates, such as Kentucky, with moderately cold and moderately sunny winters. The system transfers energy into the building on sunny days and avoids losses during the night and cloudy days by using heat pipes, which have the ability to transfer heat in one direction only with virtually no losses in the reverse direction. Compared to traditional passive solar heating systems, the solar heat pipe system provides a greater improvement in efficiency in Kentucky’s cloudy climate than it does in sunny climates.
Differentiating Microbial Pathway and Membrane Adaptations for Enhanced Performance in Extreme Environments (UK)	$160,763	$51,389	$212,152	Dr. Sue Nokes Dr. Barbara Knutson Dr. Herbert Strobel Dr. Bert Lynn
Few bacteria can convert biomass to ethanol directly, but C. thermocellum has this ability. However, to be commercially viable, this microorganism must tolerate more ethanol in the fermentation broth. This project will explore natural adaptations this organism has made to ethanol in order to use this information to further improve the organism.
Novel Catalytic Approaches for Bio-Oil Upgrading (UK)	$101,083	$27,302	$128,385	Dr. Czarena Crofcheck Dr. Mark Crocker
Crude bio-oil, which can be obtained from the thermal processing of biomass, is a potential renewable replacement for crude petroleum oil. However, it is not stable for long periods of time, which makes it difficult to store and transport. The objective of this project is to examine two novel processes to increase the stability of bio-oil so that it can be shipped to refineries for conversion to fuels and chemicals.
Photocatalysts for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Production (U of L)	$314,280	$62,856	$377,136	Dr. Gerold Willing Dr. Mahendra Sunkara Dr. Thomas Starr
This project, which provides seed funding for a new research initiative, looks at a new, low-cost solar cell with dramatically improved efficiency. The solar cell technology that is proposed here, if successful, could be used for generating electricity or for producing hydrogen from water. It would also be scaleable for household use and commercial application.
Production of Biomass Briquettes as an Alternative Fuel Source (UK)	$125,759	$35,698	$161,457	Dr. Michael Montross Dr. Darrell Taulbee Dr. Rodney Andrews Dr. Scott Shearer
The goal of the project is to produce a durable briquetted biomass fuel from agricultural and wood wastes that is an attractive alternative energy source for coal-fired boilers for industrial process heat and steam generation, and could potentially be utilized in residential applications. Corn stover, fescue and wood waste will be investigated as feedstocks for the briquettes.
Weather Responsive Ventilation for Residential Energy Efficiency and Indoor Air Quality (UK)	$109,988	$31,873	$141,861	Dr. Donald Colliver James Bush, MS EIT
Between one-third and one-half of the cost of heating and cooling a well-insulated house is due to air leaks. Indoor air quality concerns become important when buildings are built tighter to reduce these leaks in order to reduce the heating and cooling bills. This project will determine the optimal amount of air to bring into the house in order to maintain adequate indoor air quality while minimizing the energy used for ventilation. It will then develop and test a prototype fan control system, which will adjust the amount of ventilation in the house. The control will be based on outside temperature and wind velocity.
TOTALS	$1,148,031	$294,963	$1,442,994

LEAD PROJECT DIRECTORS

Contact information for the lead project directors as listed above is provided in this section. Please contact KPPC toll-free at (800) 334-8635, extension 8520965, direct at (502) 852-0965 or by email to KREC@kppc.org for a complete contact listing for all project directors.

Project Lead Contact Info	Project Lead Contact Info
Dr. Michael Montross Assistant Professor Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering University of Kentucky College of Agriculture University of Kentucky College of Engineering Phone: (859) 257-3000, ext. 106 E-mail: montross@bae.uky.edu	Dr. M. Keith Sharp Associate Professor Department of Mechanical Engineering University of Louisville J.B. Speed School of Engineering Phone: (502) 852-7280 E-mail: keith.sharp@louisville.edu
Dr. Sue Nokes Associate Professor Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering University of Kentucky College of Agriculture University of Kentucky College of Engineering Phone: (859) 257-3000, ext. 215 E-mail: snokes@bae.uky.edu	Dr. Czarena Crofcheck Assistant Professor Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering University of Kentucky College of Agriculture University of Kentucky College of Engineering Phone: (859) 257-3000, ext. 212 E-mail: ccrofche@bae.uky.edu
Dr. Gerold Willing Assistant Professor Department of Chemical Engineering University of Louisville J.B. Speed School of Engineering Phone: (502) 852-7860 E-mail: gerold.willing@louisville.edu	Dr. Donald Colliver Associate Professor Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering University of Kentucky College of Agriculture University of Kentucky College of Engineering Phone: (859) 257- 3000, ext. 211 E-mail: colliver@bae.uky.edu

KREC PARTNERS

Kentucky Pollution Prevention Center (KPPC)

Governor's Office of Energy Policy (GOEP)

University of Louisville, J.B. Speed School of Engineering

University of Kentucky, Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

University of Kentucky, Center for Applied Energy Research

MEETING MINUTES & PRESENTATIONS

Please contact KPPC toll-free at (800) 334-8635, extension 8520965, direct at (502) 852-0965 or by email to KREC@kppc.org to request a copy of any of the following meeting minutes or presentations:

November 29, 2007

Comprehensive Final Project Report Summary

September 28, 2007

Kentucky Rural Energy Consortium Update - Goals & Objectives
The Future of Ethanol Production
National 25x'25 Update
United Soybean Board Update

June 29, 2007

Kentucky Rural Energy Consortium Update
25x'25 Renewable Energy Initiative: Uniting Leaders
Kentucky 25x'25 Roadmap

March 2, 2007

Kentucky Rural Energy Consortium Update
Novel Catalytic Approaches for Bio-Oil Upgrading Update
Development of an Integrated Solar Heat Pipe System for Improving Building Energy Efficiency Update

September 28, 2006

Kentucky Rural Energy Consortium Update
Novel Catalytic Approaches for Bio-Oil Upgrading Update
Commonwealth Agri-Energy - Integrated Agriculture
Alltech - Who Are We?
Differentiating Microbial Pathway and Membrane Adaptations for Enhanced Performance in Extreme Environments Update
Development of an Integrated Solar Heat Pipe System for Improving Building Energy Efficiency Update
Photo-catalysts for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Production Update
Owensboro Grain - Processors of Quality

June 28, 2006

Kentucky Rural Energy Consortium Update
Development of Heterogeneous Catalysts for Improved Biodiesel Production
Advanced Scalable Clean Aluminum Melting Systems
Biofuels Production from Corn and Vegetable Oil
CAER - Resolution of the Technical Obstacles of Impeding the Commercial Development of Briquetted Fuels from Coal and Biomass Wastes
Directed Evolution of Enzymes for the Conversion of Corn-Fiber for Biofuel Production and High-Level Production of Multiple Cellulolytic and Hemicellulolytic Enzymes in Plants for the Improvement of Biomass Conversion

March 17, 2006

Kentucky Rural Energy Consortium Update
BioFuels - Biodiesel and BioEthanol. A Growing Consumer of American Cereals and Oilseeds
Weather Responsive Ventilation for Residential Energy Efficiency and Indoor Air Quality
Novel Catalytic Approaches for Bio-Oil Upgrading
Development of an Ethanol Pilot Scale Facility to Evaluate the Effect of Collection, Storage, and Pretreatment of Corn Stover
Production of Biomass Briquettes as an Alternative Fuel Source
Differentiating Microbial Pathway and Membrane Adaptations for Enhanced Performance in Extreme Environments
Development of an Integrated Solar Heat Pipe System for Improving Building Energy Efficiency
Photo-catalysts for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Production

December 14, 2005

Kentucky Rural Energy Consortium Update
KREC Competitive Grants Program

August 17, 2005

Kentucky Rural Energy Consortium

QUARTERLY REPORTS

Please contact KPPC toll-free at (800) 334-8635, extension 8520965, direct at (502) 852-0965 or by email to KREC@kppc.org to request a copy of any of the following quarterly reports:

KREC Quarter 4 Progress Report - 2007
KREC Quarter 3 Progress Report - 2007
KREC Quarter 2 Progress Report - 2007
KREC Quarter 1 Progress Report - 2007
KREC Quarter 4 Progress Report - 2006
KREC Quarter 3 Progress Report - 2006
KREC Quarter 2 Progress Report - 2006
KREC Quarter 1 Progress Report - 2006
KREC Quarter 4 Progress Report - 2005

25x'25 ACTION PLAN

The 25x’25 Action Plan: Charting America’s Future is a renewable energy initiative backed by businesses, organizations and individuals united by a common interest in making America’s energy future more secure, affordable and environmentally sustainable. Former Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher was among 23 current and former U.S. governors to support the 25x’25 Action Plan.

25x’25 is a rallying cry for Kentucky to use renewable energy and energy efficiency as a means to get at least 25 percent of our energy from improved technology and renewable resources, such as solar, biomass and biofuels, by the year 2025. Visit KPPC's 25x'25 web page for more information.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Please contact KPPC toll-free at (800) 334-8635, extension 8520965, direct at (502) 852-0965 or by email to KREC@kppc.org for more information about:

KREC projects
Project directors
Meeting minutes
Meeting presentations
Quarterly reports
25x'25 Action Plan
Member organizations
Joining KREC's email distribution list

University of Louisville

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