Primary Purpose

Researchers in the Center for Energy and the Global Environment (CEAGE) strive to find environmentally compatible methods of power generation and use in all parts of the world. CEAGE is particularly interested in working with the developing countries and the emerging economies in Europe. The Center's personnel offer seminars, workshops, training programs and joint research activities in collaboration with scientists and researchers from the U.S. and international institutions. The goal is to formulate regional and global solutions for energy development and environmental sustainability through mutual understanding.

Background

In developing countries, progress in power generation and transmission is normally dictated by the country's need for industrial and social expansion. Many countries can not enforce the types of stringent regulations aimed at curbing harmful emissions from power and industrial plants that are mandatory in the U.S., Japan and European Union countries. The problem of acid rain, global warming and the loss of biodiversity is of a worldwide nature. Consequently, if only a select group of wealthy nations reduce their unhealthy emissions through the use of less pollution fuel, advanced technologies and efficient operating practices, the results will be most inadequate.

 

Solution

Successful transfer of technologies and appropriate system operating practices is a key to protecting the global environment and job creation. Dialogues, discussions, interactions, and most importantly, agreements with developing countries are needed to bring about effective technology and skills transfer. For the agreements to be sustained, there must be an understanding at the technical level on the part of the competent and informed people on the both sides of the issue. Without sacrificing power development, environmental safeguards must be enforced.

 

Center Operations

CEAGE offers its clients seminars, workshops, joint studies and training activities that do not involve substantial financial commitments. The Center conducts these services in the regional countries of Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe in order to allow broader participation. Institutions in more than 30 countries on six continents have existing linkages with the Center. In addition, other universities and corporate and government research laboratories are liaisoned to CEAGE. These relationships foster technical discussions and hopefully bring about energy development and use in conjunction with environmental protection.

 

Teaching and Research Mission

The activities of the Center help strengthen Virginia Tech's undergraduate and graduate teaching and research missions in several ways:

Students are exposed to the problems and challenges of countries that are attempting to balance their energy development needs while they are improving the quality of the natural environment. Issues include business concerns and facilitation of international projects.

CEAGE personnel develop tools to analyze complex and inter-related problems dealing with energy development and its environmental impacts. Since many of the developing countries are expanding their power sector at a much faster rate than the U.S., many unique challenges exist.

Many expanding power systems overseas are new and use advanced technologies. Operated on smaller margins with high reliability, these practices may prove more valuable to the U.S. power industry as it takes efficiency measures to strengthen operations and to improve service.

Since long-term historical data in developing countries is often not available, solutions need not be based on artificial intelligence and expert systems. New analytical techniques must be created to accommodate these scenarios.