Clarkson University researching renewable fuels

General Motors is providing a Chevrolet Silverado and a GC Sierra pickup truck to Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York for renewable fuel research.

Clarkson professor Dr. Philip Leveson is developing biomass gasification and gas-to-liquid systems that allow a range of biomass feedstocks and municipal waste streams to be converted to carbon-neutral transportation fuel. The technology, which is exploring gasifying virtually any plant-derived material and convert the resultant gas into electricity, valuable fuels and other chemicals, has the potential to empower every community to create its own biomass energy infrastructure.

The goal of the project is to fuel the donated vehicles with 100% bio-derived diesel-like fuel.

Initially, the GM vehicles will operate using several blends of the biomass-derived fuel and conventional petroleum-derived diesel fuel, while monitoring energy throughput and emissions to demonstrate the performance of the system. Using facilities available through Clarkson’s Center for Air Resources Engineering and Science, Professor Philip K. Hopke and Suresh Dhaniyala will lead the energy and emissions monitoring activity.

Greg Schaffer, manager of a local GM plant, gave the keys to Clarkson University President Anthony Collins at a ceremony today at the university's campus.

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