Research

In the past five years, the Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment has awarded more than $24 million to nearly 170 projects. IREE funding has leveraged an additional $45 million from a variety of government and industry sources. In all, these resources have been used to support some 430 researchers across the University of Minnesota.

Download IREE's 2009 Annual Report. Search our Projects Database for more information on all IREE-funded research.

IREE research areas include:

POWER PLANTS

Bioenergy and bioproducts, including an emphasis on algae, catalysis and next-gen feedstocks; projects range from thermo-chemical conversion of biomass to sustainable polymer production.

HARNESSING THE SUN

Solar, including solar thermal energy and photovoltaics; projects range from biofuels production using concentrated solar to next-gen materials development. 

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Wind, hydro and geothermal power; projects range from improved energy production for large wind turbines to geothermal and carbon sequestion for electricity generation.

SMART SAVINGS

Conservation and efficient energy utilization; projects range from developing more fuel efficient engines to evaluating small-scale renewable energy systems for homes and businesses.

THE H2 SOLUTION

Hydrogen production, storage and utilization; projects range from producing hydrogen from waste biomass to supporting an innovative wind-to-hydrogen facility at the U of M, Morris.

TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE

Policy, economics and ecosystems; projects range from studying the emission impacts of renewable fuels to life-cycle assessments of different energy sources.