About
The Biomass Conference
In 2002, the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) held the Biomass Energy: Heat and Power Workshop at its facilities in Grand Forks,
focused on emerging technologies in biomass for the production of heat and power. This 1-day inaugural event attracted about 50 participants who
learned about the types of biomass and how they provide fuel resource opportunities and discussed new technology, leading to development
opportunities for biomass utilization in their businesses and communities. Other topics of discussion included energy solutions, economic
development opportunities, partnership advantages, and the cost savings of biomass use.
Since 2002, the event has grown from a small workshop with attendees from eight states and two countries to a much larger and industry-recognized
conference, attracting, at one point, more than 400 participants from 28 states and three countries. Attendees represent a wide variety of affiliations,
including community and economic development organizations, government and regulatory agencies, researchers, rural landowners, and media, with more than
60% from private industry. As the event grew, it was expanded to 2 days and moved to a much larger venue, the Alerus Center in Grand Forks. The topics
and scope have also expanded to include not only discussions on heat and power, but also chemicals from biomass and production of biofuels such as
renewable jet fuel. A preevent tutorial was added in 2008, which includes the fundamentals of gasification technologies.
About the EERC
The EERC is recognized as one of the world’s leading developers of cleaner, more efficient energy and environmental technologies to protect
and clean our air, water, and soil.
The EERC is a high-tech, nonprofit branch of the University of North Dakota (UND). The EERC operates like a business; conducts research,
development, demonstration, and commercialization activities; and is dedicated to moving promising technologies out of the laboratory and into the
commercial marketplace.
The EERC provides practical, cost-effective solutions to today’s most critical energy and environmental issues and challenges. The EERC's
research portfolio consists of a wide array of strategic energy and environmental solutions, including clean coal technologies, CO2 sequestration, energy
and water sustainability, hydrogen technologies, air toxics and fine particulate, mercury measurement and control, alternative fuels, wind energy, biomass,
water management, flood prevention, global climate change, waste utilization, energy-efficient technologies, and contaminant cleanup.
Learn more about our organization.