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
Ongoing Outreach Activities
Public Private Partnerships
The Energy Institute administers three public-private partnerships in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (DOE/NETL).
- Consortium for Premium Carbon Products from Coal – CPCPC is focused on producing high-value carbon products from coal. Current research activities include projects producing graphite, activated carbon, pitch, carbon fibers, carbon black, carbon foams, and carbon from coal-fired power plant ash.
- Gas Storage Technology Consortium - The mission of the GSTC is to assist in the development, demonstration and commercialization of technologies to improve the integrity, flexibility, deliverability, and cost-effectiveness of the nation's underground natural gas/hydrocarbon storage facilities.
- 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 Working Group – The PA Biomass Working Group is a collection of businesses, universities, government agencies, foresters, economic development partners and environmental advocacy groups working together to help residents of PA and the Northeast learn how renewable fuels can reduce costs and build community self-reliance in an environmentally sound way.
Short Courses – One emerging initiative under the Office for Energy Outreach is the offering of short courses as a way to provide further insight and understanding on particular topics in the energy field.
Educational Outreach – 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.