Penn State researcher scores $1.2 million DOE award to work on fuels for next gen engines

In Pennsylvania, Penn State Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Yuan Xuan and researchers at Yale University will work together to identify clean-burning biofuels for next-generation internal combustion engines thanks to a $1.2 million award from the Energy Department’s Co-Optimization of Fuels and Engines Initiative (Co-Optima).

The project is part of Co-Optima’s ground-breaking research in powertrain technology in partnership with universities, industry stakeholders and national laboratories. Co-Optima has two goals: to bring new engines and fuels to market within a decade and to demonstrate new combustion technologies by 2030 with the potential for a 30 percent reduction in petroleum consumption and a 14 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emission nationwide.