Originally published April 18 2005
Biomass laboratory will help scientists turn plants, waste materials into fuel
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The Biomass Surface Characterization Laboratory is a $2.85 million facility in Golden, Colorado, designed to give researchers tools and equipment to study the processes involved in the use of biomass fuels at the atomic and molecular levels. The laboratory was opened in March of 2005. The laboratory's research tools will be used to study biomass conversion technologies, and will support the development of new techniques for bio-refineries, facilities that produce transportation fuels and other products from renewable sources of plant and waste matter instead of petroleum. The lab is funded by the Department of Energy's National Renewable energy Laboratory.
--- A new integrated facility designed to give scientists unprecedented insights into the chemical and biological reactions which can transform renewable plant and waste materials into useful sources of energy was dedicated yesterday at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
Called the Biomass Surface Characterization Laboratory (BSCL), the $2.85 million facility features an array of electron and optical microscopes, and other advanced research tools, to probe biomass-to-energy processes at the most basic atomic and molecular levels.
"This unique laboratory will further enhance the capabilities of our world-class biomass research team," said Michael Pacheco, director of the National Bioenergy Center, located at NREL.
The new laboratory will support development of new technologies for bio-refineries---which will produce transportation fuels and a range of other products, much as a conventional oil refinery does today.
Bio-refineries are to use renewable plant and waste materials instead of petroleum.
Officials from DOE's Office of Biomass Programs and NREL participated in a dedication event for the new laboratory, which is housed within the Field Test Laboratory Building on NREL's South Table Mountain campus.
"The leading edge tools, the advanced research and the skills and techniques that will be developed in this laboratory will allow technology developers to take biomass conversion technologies to the next level," said Douglas Kaempf, manager of DOE's Office of Biomass Programs.
"The investment required to develop this facility is testament to DOE's commitment to integrating renewable energy into our nation's energy infrastructure," Kaempf said.
The highly sensitive instruments employed in the new laboratory must operate in a stringently controlled environment, and the BSCL includes systems to monitor and maintain temperature, humidity, acoustical vibration and cleanliness to the most exacting standards.
This story has been adapted from a news release issued by National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
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