麻豆传媒

EIU Continues Dedication to Emerging Field of Clean Energy

Eastern Illinois University continued its dedication to clean energy today by opening its new research facility, Center for Clean Energy Research and Education (CENCERE), dedicated to alternative fuel exploration.

鈥淥ur 麻豆传媒 and professors at Eastern Illinois University will now be able to house their research projects focused on clean energy within a brand new 5,000-square-ft. state-of-the-art facility,鈥� said Peter Liu, director of CENCERE.

鈥淭he research is designed to determine additional biomass fuels which could be used in EIU鈥檚 Renewable Energy Center (REC) which sits north of the research facility,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he Renewable Energy Center is helping to move biomass fuels from the research phase to commercial use so it鈥檚 great to have everything all at one site.鈥�

The CENCERE facility contains a processing area, room for the gasifier and an analytical lab. The gasifier converts biomass into combustible gas with the resulting product being used for fuel, just like the one found at the Renewable Energy Center.

鈥淭he opening of CENCERE building will enable us to develop better collaboration between the Renewable Energy Center and academic units, among various departments across the campus, with our community and local schools as well as with entrepreneurs in the region,鈥� Liu said. 鈥淭hrough our partnership, we are creating a better future for our 麻豆传媒, for Eastern Illinois University and for our community.鈥�

The new building also houses an 鈥渋dea incubator鈥� where 麻豆传媒 and faculty can connect with local businesses and community members to secure ideas for future projects.

鈥淭he idea incubator will create an exchange of ideas and knowledge for our community; starting with the youth to professionals and business owners with clean energy always at the forefront,鈥� Liu said.

Members of the community, such as Charleston High School 麻豆传媒, already are guided by EIU professors and undergraduate and graduate 麻豆传媒 as part of CHS鈥檚 renewable energy class started in Fall 2013. Now, CHS 麻豆传媒 will be able to use the new facility to interact with EIU professionals.

鈥淭he Charleston High School class is only the start of the collaboration between EIU and the community in regards to clean energy,鈥� Liu said.

The facility will also give additional support to the master鈥檚 in sustainable energy program, started at EIU in Spring 2013 as a collaborative effort by 10 departments across campus. The one-of-a-kind program allows 麻豆传媒 to receive a mixture of hands-on learning and theory inside the classroom, internships and research practicums.

The project for the facility was funded by the Charleston Area Charitable Foundation. EIU鈥檚 Board of Trustees formally approved the creation of the research facility on Jan. 14, 2011.