University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research

Kentucky took another step forward in its pursuit of next-generation nuclear development last week, as the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority (KNEDA) appointed its first executive director, Sean Schaub. Sean arrives with a strong background in energy development and policy, specifically nuclear energy. Schaub most recently worked as the nuclear industry coordinator for the Wyoming Energy Authority, helping that state expand its own nuclear ecosystem.

According to Rodney Andrews, director of CAER and chair of KNEDA: “Sean brings a valuable combination of technical knowledge, industry experience and state-level nuclear development expertise [… and] his leadership will help strengthen Kentucky’s efforts to grow a safe, collaborative and economically beneficial nuclear energy ecosystem.”

KNEDA was established by KY General Assembly in 2024, and the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research was charged with its administration. KNEDA’s purpose is to act as a nonregulatory advisory agency, supporting the growth of nuclear energy in the commonwealth.

Read more about Sean and KNEDA on UK NOW: https://lnkd.in/etigGB22

The World of Coal Ash represents the University of Kentucky's decades-long investment in and innovation with coal combustion products — the inorganic, solid materials that remain after coal is burned in coal-fired power plants to generate electricity.

This year, UK President Eli Capilouto served as a plenary speaker, reinforcing UK’s position as a leader in energy research through CAER and interdisciplinary partnerships.

“The World of Coal Ash Conference reflects the power of bringing together research, industry and public partners to tackle complex challenges with rigor and shared purpose,” Capilouto said. “At the University of Kentucky, we are proud to host conversations that advance innovation and support responsible stewardship, strengthening Kentucky’s role in shaping solutions with global impact.”

Since its inception, WOCA has grown from a niche technical gathering into what the industry now recognizes as the premier global forum on coal ash, where environmental science, policy, engineering and beneficial use converge. WOCA 2026 attracted 1,273 attendees from around the world, a conference record, to Lexington in May.

Read more on UK NOW: https://lnkd.in/eemNySwv

Eight elementary school teams from across Kentucky hit the track at Kroger Field for this year’s GEN‑EV electric car race!

Maxwell Elementary swept first and second place, followed by Cassidy Elementary in third. Teams from Rise STEM Academy for Girls, Duff-Allen Central, and East Calloway also competed.

Students spent the semester designing and building their own electric vehicles—learning hands-on engineering, teamwork, and even how to pitch for team sponsorships.

Programs like GEN‑EV are helping shape Kentucky’s next generation of innovators.

Learn more at gen-ev-racing.org

Students, and those who work with students—hear us out!

We’re searching for the next Lee T. Todd, Jr. Scholar—a student ready to lead, innovate, and make an impact.

The Lee T. Todd, Jr. Student Innovation Award offers undergraduate entrepreneurs a unique opportunity to develop their ideas alongside UK CAER scientists and engineers in a collaborative research environment. Awardees will receive:

- $10,000 Scholarship
- Full access to UK CAER laboratories and equipment
- Hands-on collaboration with leading researchers
- One-on-one mentorship focused on commercialization

🔗 Apply here: https://uky.scholarshipuniverse.com/student/scholarship/550651
📅 Deadline: July 1
🎥 Hear from inaugural recipient Lucas Bertucci:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AHzt6rO19k
🎥 Watch the full conversation with Dr. Todd:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciAxA2FFTzg&t=42s
Help us spread the word and support the next generation of energy innovators!

Congratulations to Matthew Weisenberger and his Carbon Materials team on being featured by KET - Kentucky Educational Television on Kentucky Edition. Dr. Weisenberger discussed the conversion of coal into high-value graphite for use in batteries and other advanced applications. hashtag

https://lnkd.in/e4BsMvkN

Thanks to St. Leo School in Versailles for visiting us last week! Hope you enjoyed checking out our labs!

WOCA is making headlines this week!

University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research's Bob Jewell and American Coal Ash Association's Thomas Adams were featured on KET - Kentucky Educational Television's Kentucky Edition last night.

https://lnkd.in/e9Jj2eVR

ICYMI, WOCA was also featured on local Lexington news, WKYT-TV: https://lnkd.in/esWNgXWN

Our own James Hower sat down with our friends at Kentucky Geological Survey for a chat on the Big Blue Rock Pod last week.

They discuss the UK CAER, coal petrology, coal research, the Fire Clay coal, sampling coal, sampling coal-fired power plants, fly ash, rare earth elements, and the future of applied energy research.

Check it out!

https://lnkd.in/eVsEg9BD
https://lnkd.in/ekptBiNp

CAER is leading the way in domestic graphite materials. Dr. Matthew Weisenberger and the CAER team are converting coal into battery-grade synthetic graphite for lithium-ion batteries, addressing a critical gap in the U.S. supply chain.

What sets CAER apart is the ability to manage the entire process in one location. As Dr. Weisenberger explains: "We have here, under one roof, the capacity to take an earth resource like coal, process that through to a synthetic graphite, fabricate and integrate that into lithium-ion batteries and then test those batteries." This is CAER's mission in action.

Read more on UK NOW from an article by Christian Honce:

UK researchers bridge Kentucky’s energy past with world’s energy future Coal has long been the fuel at the heart of energy production in the Commonwealth. Kentuckians often grow up with stories of their grandfather’s days in the mines. But researchers at the University of Kentucky are finding ways to repurpose coal for energy storage — in the form of lithium-ion bat...

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