University Coal Research Program Begins

The U.S. Department of Energy has started the 2007 University Coal Research program — its longest running student-teacher grant program.

The program calls on U.S. colleges and universities to propose new projects to advance coal science and enhance the long-term use of coal.

This year, the program’s 29th year, more than $550,000 will available to fund two projects, with a maximum of slightly more than $275,000 per project. Each project will involve one or two colleges or universities and will cover a 36-month period.

Research will be conducted under one broad topic: enabling advanced modeling and simulation for fuel-flexible combustors.

Department officials said since the program’s inception in 1979, nearly 1,760 students have received hands-on research experience working side-by-side with professors to develop clean and efficient technologies for the use of coal.

Past UCR research produced technologies now in commercial practice — including new ways to wash impurities from coal and a spin-off technology that provides more efficient use of carbon inks in office copiers.

Proposals under the 2007 program are due by June 20, with winning projects to be named in November.