What is the Clean Energy Research and Development Center?

The Clean Energy Research & Development Center (CER&D) in Abingdon, VA, is a non-profit affiliate of the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center (SWVHEC). CER&D was formed with support from the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission (VTC). Since late-2009 CER&D has developed and implemented a process for identifying and evaluating early-stage entrepreneurial companies, and facilitating the establishment of their headquarters in far southwest Virginia (SWVA). The primary incentive for the companies' relocation and commitment to SWVA has been CER&D's innovative application of VTC's R&D grant program, but CER&D's work with the companies goes well beyond that.

To maximize resources of time and money, and leverage SWVA's existing energy industry, CER&D maintains a tight sector focus on the energy industry. As of March 1, 2012, CER&D's portfolio includes:

• WireTough Cylinders, LLC: Start-up manufacturer of patent-pending, innovative fuel tanks for natural gas-fueled vehicles. Relocated from Ohio. Now selling tanks nationally and fielding inquiries from overseas. Sub-leasing space from an existing SWVA manufacturer thus allowing for efficient utilization of manufacturing space and employees. Received a third-party investment from the Commonwealth Energy Fund (Herndon, VA). CER&D assists WireTough with business development, which includes the potential for WireTough products to be used in thousands of Virginia government fleet vehicles.

• OptaFuel US, LLC: Multi-patented process for extracting pure, valuable lignin and cellulose from waste biomass such as forest residue, sawdust and agricultural waste. Spin-off from a French parent company and Virginia Tech. Technology received a French national biotech award in 2011. Building a pilot plant in Wise County, VA. Committed to building first full-scale commercial facility in SWVA to utilize regionally-available biomass.

• CavitroniX Corporation: Early-stage manufacture of patent-pending device for improving the efficiency of fuel-oil fired boilers. Creates a non-chemical, water-and-fuel emulsion right at the point of combustion. Reduces fuel use by 7%-15%. Dramatically reduces emissions. Will be deployed at a SWVA community college with plans to create a workforce training program. Third-party investors include the Commonwealth Energy Fund. Relocated from Maryland. Like WireTough, CavitroniX is sub-leasing space from an existing SWVA manufacturer.

• Renew Fuels, Inc.: New, patent-pending process ("AdvanSorb™") for extracting natural gas pipeline-pure methane from dilute sources such as landfill gas, WWTP biogas, and abandoned underground coal mines. Relocated from Ohio. Jointly developing a LFG purification facility with CER&D and the Tazewell County (VA) Industrial Development Authority at the Tazewell County landfill. This project will result in an 8-mile extension of natural gas service in the county, including service to a new industrial park. AdvanSorb™ technology validation demonstrated by strong interest from private, for-profit LFG facility developers in and outside Virginia.

CER&D is helping create an entrepreneurial ecosystem in SWVA. CER&D's work leads to new white- and blue-collar jobs in the region. None of the companies are dropped into SWVA in isolation; rather, CER&D works to ensure all of them develop relationships across the 14-county SWVA region with industry and other institutions as suppliers, customers and/or collaborators.

CER&D's website is located at www.energyfieldlab.com

Southwest Virginia Clean Energy R&D Center
One Partnership Circle
P.O. Box 1987
Abingdon, VA 24212
276.619.4305