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Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. “The center will focus on developing, improving, and advancing technologies to enhance the environmental performance of electricity production“. SAGE: Strategic Approaches to the Generation of Electricity Jochen Lauterbach.
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Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. “The center will focus on developing, improving, and advancing technologies to enhance the environmental performance of electricity production“ SAGE: Strategic Approaches to the Generation of Electricity Jochen Lauterbach
“Power generation is the largest and fastest-growing energy sector. By 2030, power generation will account for 40 percent of all energy demand.” Outlook for Energy – A View to 2030, Exxon Mobil, 2009
Coal and our Energy Future • Lowest cost for base-load electricity generation. • Coal resources are widely distributed around the world.
Direct Impact on SC Population • Electricity usage in SC: #3 in per capita and #5 per GDP1 in the US. • Low electricity cost essential: • Low average income2 • Hot weather • Electric heating • Mobil home energy inefficiency. • Further industrial/manufacturing growth. • New EPA regulations for SOx, NOx, mercury. • CO2 capture and sequestration technologies. 1) http://www.statemaster.com/cat/ene-energy 2) US Cencus Bureau
Economic Opportunities for SC • Global energy economy is developing rapidly. • Estimated 2 million jobs in US new energy economy. • Innovation is first step for SC participating in the new energy economy. • Creation of new technology-based businesses. • Center complements other long-term initiatives at USC: • Solar, hydrogen, nuclear, biomass,… • Excellent nano-technology facilities. University of California Berkley, Clean Energy and Climate Policy for U.S. Growth and Job Creation, October 2009.Breakthrough Institute, 2010
SAGE Research Thrusts • Emissions control technologies • CO2, NOx, SOx, trace metals: Hg, Se, As etc. • Novel measurement technologies for trace metal speciation • Combustion technologies • Air-firing, oxy-firing, gasification of coal
Current Status of SAGE • Full endowment received • Laboratory facilities by March 2012 • New jobs created: • 3 faculty • 2.5 staff • 2 post-docs • 10 graduate students • 9 undergraduate researchers
Example –JP-8 Reforming • Defense Advanced Research Project Agency • Three USC SmartState chairs & Engenuity SC • Goal: Discover material to convert NATO jet fuel to LPG-like fuel for use in portable fuel cell power pack fuel cells http://www.sfc.com/en/man-portable-jenny.html
Discovery of a Novel Material • High-throughput methodology has identified novel materials that exceed the specifications for threshold fuel conversion efficiency for JP-8 • New catalysts offer lower-T conversion above 20% • After 50 hours, we still reach over 8% conversion Within 7 months, a new catalyst was identified and we now exceed the target
Jet Fuel Project • Next steps: • Protect intellectual property (US patent filed) • Partner with local business to design and build prototype • Manufacture commercial system in SC
Electricity Production in SC 2009, Department of Energy
JP-8 Reforming • Objective: Flexible fuels for portable power applications • Production of liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) • Mixture of C1-C4 hydrocarbons, with a high concentration of C3 and C4 • Fuel conversion Efficiency greater 5% (kg LPG out/kg JP-8 in) • No other feed, just air • Challenges • Coking • Sulfur tolerance • JP-8 may contain up to 3,000 ppmw sulfur • Well-defined S-containing product distribution • Adapt existing clean coal technology for removal Dibenzothiophenes Benzothiophenes