Energy Research

Montana University System researchers across the state are actively investigating ways to increase energy efficiency, alternative technologies for producing energy and ways to lessen the environmental impact of current energy sources. For example, Montana Tech researches mercury-removal methods for coal-fired power plants as well as improvements to the reliability of our electricity grid. At MSU, researchers are exploring ways to store vast amounts of carbon dioxide deep underground. Along with other areas of energy-related research, such work holds the promise of improving the energy outlook for Montana, the nation and the world.

Montana State University

MSU Energy Research Institute: The Montana State University Energy Research Institute is an umbrella for MSU's energy research and education programs.

Big Sky Carbon Sequestration Partnership: MSU leads the Department of Energy’s Big Sky Carbon Sequestration Partnership, one of seven regional DOE partnerships testing technologies to store carbon dioxide deep underground or through farming practices.

High Temperature Electrochemistry Center (HiTEC): HiTEC is a federally funded program at MSU researching solid oxide fuel cells.

Zero Emissions Research and Technology: MSU is home to ZERT, which examines some of the basic chemical and physical science behind storing carbon dioxide underground as well as testing monitoring technologies.

Montana State University Billings

Center for Applied Economic Research-Energy Research: The center provides research services in energy markets and technology.

The University of Montana

Shafizadeh Rocky Mountain Center for Wood and Carbohydrate Chemistry

Montana State University

Biobased Products Institute: MSU’s Biobased Institute researches and develops biofuels and energy alternatives.

MSU Extension Agricultural Marketing Policy Center – Energy Information: A clearinghouse of information on biofuels.   

MSU Extension Wind Energy Program: A huge resource on wind to help Montanans make informed decisions about wind energy.

Wind Applications Center: Funded by the Department of Energy, MSU’s Wind Applications Center promotes wind-related coursework for MSU students, as well as outreach to Montana schools and industry.

Montana State University-Northern

Bio-Energy Innovation and Testing Center: The center provides independent fuel, performance and emission testing for all bio-fuels, additives and bio-lubricants in both automotive and diesel engines. The center also offers resources to foster and grow bio-energy businesses.

The University of Montana

Montana Biotechnology Center: The center conducts research into applied environmental microbiology, including environmental monitoring and remediation as well as wood products and biomass utilization.

Montana State University

Ecoystem Restoration: Provides ecological restoration tools to designers, managers and practitioners through the Web. Contained within the site are case histories, images, educational guides, links to literature and supporting websites.

MSU Extension Water Quality Program: Montana State University is part of the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) National Water Quality Program. The goal of this program is to protect or improve the quality of water resources throughout the United States and its territories, particularly in agriculturally managed watersheds. The CSREES program seeks to address this goal at national, regional, state, and local levels.

Montana University System Water Center at MSU: Established in 1964 by an act of Congress, the Montana Water Center advances water research, information, education, and problem-solving partnerships throughout the state of Montana and beyond. It is one of 54 Centers in the nation collectively known as the Water Resources Research Institutes.

Montana Water: A clearinghouse for water information.

The University of Montana

Applied Forest Management Program: The program develops, tests, and demonstrates innovative approaches to silvicultural management that restore fire-excluded and high-graded forests, create disturbance-resilient, ecologically sustainable landscapes, and better serve society’s resource needs.

Center for Environmental Health Sciences: The primary research mission of the center is to advance knowledge of environmental impacts on human health.

Division of Biological Sciences: Research programs include studies on small-scale molecular and cellular mechanisms to the most expansive ecological and evolutionary processes.

Flathead Lake Biological Station: The station conducts basic and applied research in ecology, with an emphasis on freshwater. The station also provides scientific data, interpretation and outreach to help resolve environmental problems and inform public policy locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.

Hazard Reduction/Ecosystem Restoration Study in Pine/Fir Forest: Research aimed at reducing hazard and mitigating wildfire impacts.

Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group: A lab pioneering new approaches for addressing regional ecological problems.

River Center: The center researches river restoration and management the wake of mining, industrial effects and dams.

Montana State University

MSU Center for Biofilm Engineering: Petroleum: Biofilms are implicated in a wide range of petroleum process problems, from the production field to the gas station storage tank.

MSU Extension Water Quality Program: Coal Bed Methane: Information on water as related to coal bed methane.

Research on the Economics of Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Mitigation: A collection of research on climate change and the cost of dealing with carbon dioxide.

Montana Tech

Center for Advanced Separation Technologies project at MT Tech: This project is researching filters to remove mercury from the emissions of coal-fired power plants.

Coal Lands Resource Program: The primary source of coal-related scientific data for Montana. Users of the program include coal mining companies, electric utilities and other industries, owners, regulators, and individuals or organizations involved in coal development decisions and issues.

Department of Energy research at MT Tech: Mode-meter research for electrical power system.

Intelligent Control for Reliable Electric Energy: A Department of Energy project to help improve the nation’s electrical-power grid.

Mercury Removal from Clean Coal Processing Air Stream

Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology: The bureau collects and publishs information on Montana's geology to promote orderly and responsible development of the energy, ground-water, and mineral resources of the state. A non-regulatory state agency, the bureau provides extensive advisory, technical, and informational services on the states' geologic, mineral, energy, and water resources.