Central Carolina Community College
IN-1: Innovation 1

Alternative Energy Technology: Biofuels
Since 2002, CCCC has been a leader in Biofuels education on the east coast. CCCC offers workshops, continuing education, and curriculum programs to suit the needs of students and industry. CCCC's focus on sustainable fuel production is at the heart of the program, offering students the opportunity to learn responsible and sustainable fuel production practices.

Fall 2008 CCCC began offering an associate degree in Alternative Energy Technology: Biofuels. This program is designed to equip students with the skills needed for a career in the growing biofuels industry.

The program has been designed to utilize CCCC's comprehensive biofuels testing lab and production lab to educate students in a wide variety of industry skills.

With support from NC BioNetwork and the NC General Assembly CCCC has constructed a biofuels testing lab capable of performing analysis of:

•Flash Point
•Free & Total Glycerin
•Kinematic Viscosity
•Water & Sediment
•Copper Corrosion
•Sulfated Ash
•Blend Percentage
•Specific Gravity
•Cloud Point
•Cold Soak
•Bound Moisture
•Oxidative Stability
•Carbon Residue
•Methanol Content
•Acid Number
•Ethanol Content
With support from the North Carolina Biofuels Center CCCC opened a a pilot scale plant capable of producing both biodiesel and ethanol from various feedstocks. The plant is designed to produce fuel in a variety of ways to suit training needs. The production facility includes an oilseed crushing facility and side stream management equipment. The fuel produced in the lab will be used to run college vehicles and equipment.