Energy is a grand challenge problem facing society today. Petroleum and natural gas supplies have peaked,
or will in the near future, and environmental, political, and cost issues challenge their use.
Over the next few decades, we must efficiently use the world's available petroleum and natural gas resources and invent clean coal technologies for use over the next few centuries. At the same time, we must prepare to transition from fossil fuels to a mix of solar, wind, bio (renewable), and nuclear energy sources.
Purdue's Energy Center at Discovery Park is a multidisciplinary academic community of over 185 researchers, scientists, engineers, political scientists, and economists. Our goal is to make significant contributions to the energy solutions needed by our State, Nation, and the World. Please take a few minutes to visit our key initiatives web pages and consider joining our center or attending one of our upcoming events.
The Energy Center (EC) was officially launched in August of 2005 with $2.5 million in start-up funds made available from the January 2005 Lilly Endowment grant for expanding Discovery Park. EC and three other centers won a campus wide competition conducted by Discovery Park administration following receipt of the Lilly Endowment grant. EC faculty had been meeting and developing energy related activities for approximately 18 months as is evidenced by the immediate high level of activity generated in the Center.
The EC launched with nine major research initiatives and an Executive Board of 21 faculty members, each assigned to a particular area of responsibility for advancing the EC agenda. Seventy-five (75) faculty members signed the original EC proposal. Currently approximately 185 faculty and staff members representing nine colleges, Purdue and Discovery Park administration as well as Purdue Physical Facilities are actively engaged in Energy Center activities. Forty-five (45) research projects with a total value of $12 million are currently active in the EC. The EC currently supports 13 major initiative areas: Advanced Vehicle Ground Power, Batteries and Advanced Electrochemical Systems, Bioenergy, Clean Coal Technologies, Global Partnerships, Green Buildings, Hydrogen Systems, Materials Under Extreme Environments, Nuclear Energy, Social, Economic, and Political Aspects of Energy Use (SEPAE), Solar, Wind and Water.
Enable a smooth energy transition with novel: ideas, innovations, technologies, analysis and policies.
Help Purdue educate the next generation of energy specialists.
Contribute to energy literacy among the American people.
Encourage K-12 students towards science, technology, engineering and mathematics majors for priming a part of the energy specialist pipeline.
The Energy Center at Discovery Park will facilitate high-impact, multidisciplinary projects in support of Purdue's vision to be one of the global leaders in energy.
Potter Engineering Center,
Room 322
500 Central Drive
West Lafayette, IN
47907-2022
