A unique research opportunity

10 projects at EERC funded under new State Energy Research Center

The first contract awards through the new State Energy Research Center (SERC) have researchers at the UND Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) hopeful about new technologies they can develop for the state of North Dakota.

“The researchers here are excited to not only think outside the box, but then to actually test their ideas and see where they go to develop new technologies,” said Scott Ayash, EERC assistant director for research management.

Ten projects led by EERC researchers will receive $1.1 million in the first round of funding through the program created by the North Dakota Legislature earlier this year, which designated EERC as SERC. SERC receives $5 million per biennium to conduct exploratory, transformational and innovative research that advances future energy opportunities to benefit North Dakota’s economy and environment.

Ayash said EERC researchers submitted 26 proposals for consideration, which went through a rigorous review process. Each proposal included a scope of work, timeline and budget. The review teams scored, discussed and debated the pros and cons of each project and how well it fit within the goals of SERC.

“The projects selected cover everything from rare earth elements to electromagnetic pulses that could disrupt electrical transmission on the grid to energy storage,” he said. “They look at better uses for our coal resources and how we can produce more oil in an environmentally friendly way. It really runs the gamut of energy types in North Dakota.”

Better energy production

The goal of the research, Ayash noted, is not only to produce more energy using North Dakota’s fossil and alternative resources, but also do it in an efficient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly manner.

“The hope is that the technologies developed under the State Energy Research Center can be used in North Dakota now and 10 to 15 years in the future,” he explained. “We’re really starting at the fundamental basics of technology development.”

Former EERC CEO Tom Erickson, who became SERC director on Aug. 1, and others spent nearly five years working to provide the Center’s scientists and engineers with critical funding for exploratory, innovative and transformational research. In addition, SERC will also engage in education and outreach activities related to energy resources, as well as provide research assistance to state government when needed.

“This type of funding at the EERC is unique,” he said. “We’re a contract research facility, and unless we have a client that’s going to pay for research, we don’t get an opportunity to try some of our most exciting ideas. I was very pleased with how many proposals were submitted just in this first round.”

SERC projects approved

The research projects approved for SERC funding and the ERRC researchers who will lead the projects are:

• Critical Minerals Assessment of North Dakota Shales
  (Carolyn Nyberg, senior analytical chemist, and Bruce Folkedahl, senior research engineer)
• Evaluation of High-Value Solid Carbon Products from North Dakota Coal and Gas Resources
  (Alexander Azenkeng, senior scientist)
• Power Production and Distribution Resilience to Electromagnetic Pulses
  (John Kay, principal engineer)
• Identification of the Most Efficient and Least Cost Process for Conversion of Wellhead Gas to Transportable Liquid Products
  (Steven Schlasner, research engineer)
• Evaluation of Energy Storage Technologies and the Benefit to North Dakota Utilities
  (John Brunner, research engineer)
• Solvent Extraction of Rare-Earth Elements from Lignite Coal In Situ
  (Ian Feole, geological engineer, and Folkedahl)
• Waste Utilization for Bio-Based Alternatives to Chemicals and Fuels
  (Jasmine Oleksik, research engineer)
• Crude Oil Swelling with Injected Rich Gas and CO2 as a Potential Mechanism for Enhanced Oil Recovery in the Bakken
  (Bao Jia, reservoir engineer, and Steven Hawthorne, distinguished scientist)
• Enhancing Reservoir Productivity Through a New Hydraulic Fracturing Approach
  (Agustinus Zandy, research specialist)
• Bench-Scale Extraction of Rare-Earth Elements from Lignite Coal Ash
  (Folkedahl and Nyberg)