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Inside Iowa State, a newspaper for faculty and staff, is published by the Office of University Relations.

April 13, 2007

ConocoPhillips establishes $22.5 million biofuels research program at Iowa State

by Mike Krapfl, News Service

Ryan Lance

Ryan Lance, senior vice president, technology, for ConocoPhillips, was on campus April 10 to announce the company's eight-year, $22.5 million research grant to Iowa State. Funded research will focus on developing technologies that produce biorenewable fuels. Others speaking at the announcement included (l-r) president Gregory Geoffroy; Board of Regents, State of Iowa member Ruth Harkin; Gov. Chet Culver; and Robert C. Brown, director of Iowa State's Office of Biorenewables Programs. Photo by Bob Elbert.

ConocoPhillips will establish an eight-year, $22.5 million research program at Iowa State dedicated to developing technologies that produce biorenewable fuels.

The grant, announced April 10, is part of the company's plan to create joint research programs with major universities to diversify America's energy sources. ConocoPhillips will make an initial $1.5 million grant in 2007 to support Iowa State researchers, with additional grants of $3 million per year for seven years.

Biorenewable fuels are produced from organic materials and help reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions while diversifying the energy supply. Conventional biorenewable fuels include ethanol from corn starch and biodiesel from soybean oil. Advanced biofuels are expected to be made from fibrous biomass such as the stalks and leaves from corn plants and switchgrass.

"We are excited to work with ConocoPhillips to develop a research program that applies Iowa State University's strengths in renewable energy," president Gregory Geoffroy said. "The emerging consensus is that a very big part of increasing the nation's energy security will be producing fuels from plants. Iowa State scientists and engineers are well positioned to put science to work advancing biofuels technologies."

"We believe the key to a secure energy future is the efficient and effective use of a diverse mix of energy sources," said Jim Mulva, chairman and chief executive officer of ConocoPhillips. "ConocoPhillips is developing long-term relationships with respected academic institutions such as Iowa State to research extensions of traditional energy sources that ultimately will benefit consumers."

Biofuels research

Robert C. Brown, director of the Office of Biorenewables Programs, said ConocoPhillips is especially interested in converting biomass to fuel through fast pyrolysis, a process that uses heat in the absence of oxygen to decompose biomass into a liquid product. This so-called bio-oil can be used as a heating oil or can be converted into transportation fuel at petroleum refineries.

Brown said ConocoPhillips also will sponsor studies of other thermochemical technologies that produce biofuels.

ConocoPhillips will fund research to understand and support environmental sustainability and rural economies. Studies will emphasize crop improvement and production, the harvesting and transport of biomass, and the impacts of biofuels on economic policy and rural sociology.

According to Brown, the details of specific projects have yet to be determined. He estimates the research program will involve 10 faculty members plus graduate students in the first year with additional researchers added in subsequent years.

Quote

"Iowa State scientists and engineers are well positioned to put science to work advancing biofuels technologies."

-President Gregory Geoffroy