NETL's AVESTAR Center is dedicated to the safe, reliable, and efficient 
operation of advanced energy plants with carbon capture, utilization, and 
storage (CCUS).
 
More Info: www.netl.doe.gov/avestar 

Morgantown, W.Va. -- The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Energy 
Technology Laboratory (NETL) has launched the Advanced Virtual Energy 
Simulation Training and Research (AVESTAR) Center with a first-of-a-kind 
dynamic simulator for an integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) 
power plant with CO2 capture.  The goal of the world-class AVESTAR Center 
is to provide comprehensive workforce training, enhanced education, and 
collaborative research and development (R&D) on the operation and control 
of high-efficiency, near-zero-emission energy plants.  
 
The next major AVESTAR development, nearing completion, extends the IGCC 
dynamic simulator or operator training system (OTS) from the control room 
to outside plant operators, or field operators, using 3D virtual reality 
technology in an immersive training system (ITS).  The environment is 
fully interactive with the real-time dynamic simulator, enabling field and 
control room operators to be trained to coordinate their activities and 
perform collaboratively as a team.

The AVESTAR training program offers a variety of IGCC courses, ranging 
from introductory level to advanced operations.  Delivered by experienced 
trainers, each course merges classroom learning, hands-on simulator-based 
OTS learning in a control-room operations environment, and immersive 
learning in the interactive 3D virtual plant environment or ITS.  Designed 
to ensure work force development, the importance of teamwork and 
communication is reinforced, and training is offered for control room and 
plant field operators, engineers, managers, and trainers.  
 
With support from the NETL Regional University Alliance (RUA), the AVESTAR 
Center is also being used to enhance graduate and undergraduate 
engineering education in the areas of process simulation, dynamics, 
control, and safety.  To further leverage the AVESTAR facilities and 
simulators, NETL and its RUA partners are pursuing innovative R&D programs 
across various areas with leading experts in the operation and control of 
clean energy systems.  R&D collaboration is conducted through cooperative 
research and development agreements (CRADAs) with the private sector, 
academia, and other government entities.
  
To learn more about the Center’s training, education, and R&D programs, 
please visit the AVESTAR website at www.netl.doe.gov/avestar.