Our Services

• Provide technical assistance
• Manage public/private partnerships
• Perform site visits
• Participate in technology transfer sessions
• Host workshops
• Provide fact sheets and other print resources
• Develop and deliver energy courses
• Participate in energy camps and visits to schools

Consortia

As part of our outreach initiative, the EMS Energy Institute administers several consortia. Most of these partnerships focus on industry-driven research. Some include government participation and funding.

1. Electricity Markets Initiative - The goal of the EMI is to engage our industry and regulatory partners in research studies that examine important questions in electricity restructuring and electricity markets. Our research emphasis is on issues facing the state of Pennsylvania, but we intend our work to have broader value across the United States and in other countries considering or active in electricity restructuring.
2. Gas Flooding Program  - The goal of this program is to generate innovative research in gas flooding and closely related areas as well as recruit and train graduate students in petroleum engineering for careers in the oil industry. In addition to student recruitment and shared to research outcomes, technology transfer is one of the major benefits for gas flooding members.The group's research falls into several key areas, including gas flooding processes such as CO2 gas flooding and rich gas flooding, thermodynamics & phase behavior, geo-chemistry, petrophysical properties, and numerical simulation of gas floods.
3. Rare Earth Elements  - The Penn State Research Group on Rare Earth Elements and Sustainability focuses on the complex issues of rare earth elements and sustainability. We take a multi-disciplinary approach and assemble Penn State expertise in mineral engineering, material science, economic and policy analysis, and international politics. The issues to be examined include the impacts of China's near monopoly on rare earth markets, green technology development and the environment, future scenarios in rare earth markets, and possible policy recommendations
4. Stripper Well Consortium - The mission of the SWC will focus on developing and deploying technologies to improve the production performance of the nation’s natural gas and petroleum stripper wells.

Additional Outreach Services

West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund – Penn State coordinates the WPPSEF, which invests in the deployment of clean energy technologies throughout the West Penn Power service region in Pennsylvania. Investments are made to: 1) Promote the use of renewable and clean energy; 2) Promote energy conservation and energy efficiency; and 3) Promote the attraction, establishment, and retention of sustainable energy businesses.

Coal Sample Bank –  Penn State has collected over 1400 samples since 1967, of which over 1100 are still available for distribution. Data for all samples are available from the Penn State Coal Database. The newest and best preserved samples, in the DECS- series, are stored in argon in foil/polyethylene laminate bags under refrigeration.

Hardgrove Grindability Index (HGI) Standard Reference Samples – The HGI Standard Reference Sample is a sample of coal used to calibrate instruments that are designed to determine the ease with which coal can be pulverized. Penn State is the world’s sole producer and supplier of HGI reference samples.

Center for Quantitative Imaging –  CQI is a unique organization, combining state-of-the-art X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) equipment with advanced computational facilities and data-mining expertise to provide three-dimensional internal maps of materials and processes.

Pennsylvania Biomass Energy Association (PBEA)  – PBEA is an industry-driven nonprofit association that will promote sustainable biomass use for heat and power applications and advocate for state and federal programs to support biomass thermal and power projects.PBEA will center its activities on three broad focus areas:Sustainable Biomass Feedstocks,Technology and Project Development, and Outreach and Public Policy.

Short Courses – As part of Energy Outreach, the Instiute offers of short courses as a way to provide further insight and understanding on particular topics in the energy field.

Office of Student Development

The Office of Student Development (OSD) was created to foster research and other educational opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. OSD sponsors orientations at the beginning of the academic year and holds meetings, forums, and social events for students engaged in research at the Institute.

Energy camps and other learning oportunities are provided throughout the year for K-12 students to explore and learn about the field. Visit the Office of Student Development page for more details. Teachers searching for energy-related experiments and curriculum can browse resources online at the GREATT Web site and E-21: Energy Education for the 21st Century web site.