Hydrogen battery: Storing hydrogen in coal may help power clean energy economy
The quest to develop hydrogen as a clean energy source that could curb our dependence on fossil fuels may lead to an unexpected place — coal. A team of Penn State scientists found that coal may represent a potential way to store hydrogen gas, much like batteries store energy for future use, addressing a major hurdle in developing a clean energy supply chain.
Penn State and onsemi partner to boost silicon carbide research in the U.S.
Penn State and onsemi, a leader in intelligent power and sensing technologies, have announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding toward an $8 million strategic collaboration that includes the establishment of the onsemi Silicon Carbide Crystal Center (SiC3) at Penn State’s Materials Research Institute. Over the next 10 years, onsemi will fund SiC3 with $800,000 per year.
Particle size is key factor in coal mining-related respiratory disease
One of the major occupational health hazards for coal workers in the U.S. is coal mine dust-related respiratory diseases. New findings by Penn State researchers shed light on the causes of respiratory diseases related to coal mine dust.
Mining PA Conference offers outlooks from leaders in mining
Pennsylvania mining industry leaders, government representatives and faculty will speak at the inaugural Mining PA Conference, to be held Aug. 14-16 at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center in State College.
Energy, environmental seed grants awarded to interdisciplinary research teams
Nineteen interdisciplinary research teams received funding through the Institutes of Energy and the Environment’s Seed Grant Program for 2023. This includes more than 75 researchers who are affiliated with 10 colleges and research units across seven Penn State campuses.
Shi awarded DOE grant to study corrosion in nuclear salt reactors
FeiFei Shi, assistant professor in the John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, received a $400,000 research and development award from the Nuclear Energy University Program in the U.S Department of Energy to develop foundational research on the corrosive damage caused by molten salt in nuclear salt reactors.
Sen. Casey touts PSU rare earth element research as critical to competing with China
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D) stopped by the Penn State Center for Critical Minerals on Thursday to highlight the federal funds they received to further develop a "novel" technique to recover rare earth elements from acid mine drainage.
Sen. Robert Casey tours lab
U.S. Sen. Robert Casey was given a tour on April 6 of Penn State's Coal Utilization Laboratory, led by Sarma V. Pisupati, director of the Center for Critical Minerals. The Coal Utilization Lab is part of the University's Earth and Mineral Sciences Energy Institute and is focused on solving challenges related to fossil fuels and the exploration of new energy technologies. // Photo credit: Patrick Mansell
Sen. Casey visits Penn State, highlights $2.1 million drainage research
U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) visited Penn State University’s Center for Critical Minerals to showcase the $2.1 million of federal funding for the fiscal 2023 year. During his visit, he was joined by Sarma V. Pisupati, Director of the Penn State Center for Critical Minerals, Jesse Gill, Penn State Master’s Degree Student in Energy and Mineral Engineering, and Lora Weiss, Senior Vice President for Research at Penn State.
USGS scientist to discuss critical mineral commodities at 2023 Shoemaker Lecture
Elisa Alonso, a physical scientist at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), will give the 2023 G. Albert Shoemaker Lecture in Mineral Engineering at Penn State. Her talk, “Rare Earth Elements are not the only critical mineral commodities,” will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, April 14, in the Hub-Robeson Center’s Freeman Auditorium and online via Zoom. A reception will follow the lecture at 4 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.