Nebraska Renewable Energy Systems

Nebraska Renewable Energy Systems is a privately owned company dedicated to bringing renewable energies to individuals and communities throughout Nebraska. Our focus is on quantifying, designing and installing safe, cost effective and durable renewable energy systems that can be operated with minimal training and time.

Nebraska has been blessed with many sources of renewable energy. All renewable energy technologies can find a place in this great state. To date, however, only ethanol has seen any significant growth in the state and most of that has taken place in the past 6 years. Nebraska is currently lagging behind its neighbors in ALL other areas of development of our renewable resources. These include wind, solar, biodiesel and methane systems. The reasons for this are numerous and are not the focus of our effort. Our goals are to change this imbalance by helping individuals to gain their own stake in their energy future by utilizing the resources available to them.

Our children face an uncertain energy future. Many of the resources upon which we depend are not renewable and come from very unfriendly places. Our soldiers are dying every day and untold capital is being spent to safeguard these foreign/environmentally dangerous energy sources. Here in the US, the citizens are forced to pay whatever they are told to because we have no other option. Our goal is to create those options now for us and for our children. I can say from experience, the kids quickly pick up on these things and this exposure to and training on these systems is invaluable. In Nebraska we have a wide variety of resources to choose from which are right at our fingertips. I can't promise the road will be easy, but it will certainly be worth it.

Nebraska Renewable Energy Systems (NRES) erected the first DC charging wind turbine built in the state for several decades. We were also involved in a 10KW grid inter-tie project in Northeast Nebraska last year and is planning to expand on these lessons to enable individuals to capture energy from the wind in a reliable and cost-effective manner. NRES has also erected a small wind turbine on its' business location as a display (photos in wind section). Erection of a DC charging turbine in a commercial zone was also a first in the state. In short, NRES is on the front lines of small wind turbine development within the state with many more being assessed. While many talk, we are building. An additional tower is also due for erection this fall.

NRES is the first registered producer of biodiesel in the state of Nebraska. With production started the end of July 2005, biodiesel produced by NRES at the Energy Farm will be produced using renewable energy from the bean itself (biodiesel generator and wind). Many different types of oilseeds have been crushed and more on the way. Biodiesel produced by NRES in Nebraska will be done using ethanol and other renewable energy inputs. This coupling of ethanol and biodiesel creates powerful synergies in the right locations and NRES is in the forefront of commercial scale operations of this type.

Although an agricultural producer of beef and pork, Robert is an organic chemist by education and an industrial chemist by trade. Having now left the 'day job' to focus on renewable opportunities across the state, Robert is working with biofuels researchers and producers across the state as well as the University and State College/Community College Syatems. There are currently many biodiesel projects being discussed in the state and it is our desire to help provide the most cost effective systems possible. Roberts' work will result in the first commercial operations in the state including the 5million gallon plant at Scribner.

Solar panels have been installed on the renewable farm lab. Nebraska has very good potential in this area and solar technology works well with wind. Typically, cloudy days have plenty of wind and windless days are generally very sunny. They dovetail nicely together. Wind power should be the first choice of strategically placed Nebraskans, but others in town or low areas can consider the silent power of solar energy. Biodiesel fuel produced by NRES will enable our farm energy lab to run completely off-grid using only renewable energy. Imagine, it can be done on a shoestring budget without a grant! The energy farm has been off grid over two and one half years.

At NRES, we practice what we preach. We do not look to sell or advocate anything we are not doing or using ourselves. Our business model includes leading by example, not simply espousing technologies that are politically or economically attractive. We are a completely non-partisan organization and find that those interested in our energy future are a complete mix across the entire political spectrum anyway.

Nebraska based IP in renewable energy has not developed. All of the biofuels facilities operated in Nebraska came from out of state technology until NRES. Despite tremendous research resources from University projects, commercialization of Nebraska renewable IP is lagging. While many other businesses similar to us exist all across the country, there are precious few in this great state. While there are some outstanding individuals in particular areas, we will attempt to put all of the technologies out there under one roof. If we cannot be of service, we will get you in touch with someone who can. From DC powered corn stoves to passive solar systems, we will look to educate Nebraskans in these areas and help those who wish to reach their renewable energy goals and share this goal with the Nebraska Renewable Energy Association, www.nebraskarea.org.

Starting with an energy assessment, the NRES approach will take the whole house approach and quantify both energy usage and opportunities for conservation. Once completed, the findings will include cost estimates for the best renewable energy options for the individual based on available resources.

We believe we will have a bright future in Nebraska and look to do our part in improving Nebraska's renewable energy balance. While many debate and discuss, we will be designing and building. The time is now to prepare for our uncertain energy future and NRES will always be found out front in that struggle.