WTVM.com and WTVM News Leader 9, Columbus, GA | Auburn University researchers convert wood into energy

Auburn University researchers convert wood into energy

May 30, 2008

AUBURN, Ala. (WTVM) -- For the past two years, researchers at Auburn University have been developing a form of energy from nature.

Auburn University Researcher, Larry Fillmer explains, "We're putting it into wood chips, then we're taking it and going through a process where we're actually gasifying under high pressure the wood chips, which then break down into gases which then are transformed into energy through an engine we have on the other side of the unit."

Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions attended the demonstration and is thrilled with the research, "What's exciting to me is they can come in below cost. You take waste wood where you cut your forests for lumber or paper wood and you can take that waste that's left in the woods and create energy out of it."

Researchers tell us the device produces enough energy to power a small business. But there are a few adjustments to be made.

"Still it's a little bit too expensive to take into a small business operation. The work we're doing on the research side is to find ways, in all aspects of the process, is to bring the overall cost down for the conversion process," Fillmer told News Leader Nine.

The biomass gasification unit could very well be used in the future.

"They're on the verge of proving this can be done economically. And I don't think that's a stretch," said Sen. Sessions.

Auburn University actually won an award for their work in bioenergy. Researchers will travel to Washington D.C. on June 19th to share their ideas with the nation.