SDSU, Mines cooperate on bioenergy center

By Journal staff | Sunday, September 07, 2008

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South Dakota State University scientists will collaborate with peers from the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology and elsewhere in a new National Science Foundation Industry/ University Cooperative Research Center in bioenergy: The Center for Bioenergy Research and Development.

The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology will be the host institution for the center, a consortium of universities, industrial partners and governmental agencies.

The center will receive substantial funding at the multimillion-dollar level from the National Science Foundation and sponsoring industries.

"SDSU is pleased to be a founding member of this Bioenergy I/UCRC, which will be the only biomass energy related center funded by NSF," SDSU professor Bill Gibbons said. "South Dakota has a long track record of leadership in biofuels, dating back to the late 1970s, when we operated the first corn ethanol research facility. With investments from our commodity groups, farmers and investors, South Dakota has grown to be one of the nation's leading corn ethanol producers. Research in the bioenergy center will focus on creating similar breakthroughs in converting lignocellulosic biomass into ethanol."

The idea of proposing a bioenergy research center has been brewing for at least two years. Duane Abata, dean of the College of Engineering at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, said it is the only bioenergy center in the country funded by the NSF.

SDSU Vice President for Research Kevin Kephart said one advantage the center will have is that it will pool the expertise of South Dakota researchers at two institutions with that of researchers from other institutions and from private industry.

"Under the leadership here at SDSU of Dr. Gibbons, collaboration involving SDSU, the South Dakota Schools of Mines & Technology and other institutions is advancing further. The recent award from the National Science Foundation will solidify the unique relationships that each campus has with private industry, and the collaboration will provide synergy," Kephart said.

Each university pledges, as part of the membership agreement, to bring five industry or governmental partners on board, yielding an industry commitment of more than 30 members.