FORT WAYNE – Indiana Tech and Steel Dynamics officials gathered Friday to celebrate the opening of a new energy engineering laboratory on campus.

The lab, made possible by a $300,000 grant from Steel Dynamics Foundation Inc., will allow engineering students to study alternative energy sources, including wind, solar, geothermal, hydrogen fuel cells, ethanol and other biofuels.

Indiana Tech planned to spend $100,000 each year for three years to buy equipment for the lab, which replaces an older lab in the Zollner Engineering Center.

The goal of the lab is to train students on the kind of energy technology they might encounter in the workplace.

Dave Aschliman, dean of the college of engineering and computer science, called the foundation’s donation “tremendous.”

“Students need to be strong in theoretical skills, but I also need students with good hands-on skills,” he said. “We purchased equipment very similar to what a homeowner or company might have.”

When school starts Aug. 25, students will already be able to use two solar-powered water heaters and a photovoltaic troubleshooting system, which allows them to charge batteries and connect to an electrical power grid. The university plans to buy wind-power equipment next year for the lab and biofuels the next.

This is the third year that Indiana Tech has offered a bachelor of science degree in energy engineering. About 10 third-year energy engineering students will have regular access to the lab.

The lab equipment will support coursework for students in other engineering disciplines such as electrical and mechanical.

Josh Johnson, a 22-year-old intern in the engineering department, said he’s been getting to know the equipment all summer.

“It’s really neat,” he said. “Instead of looking at a book, we get to work with the valves and troubleshoot.”

Richard Teets, executive vice president for steelmaking at Steel Dynamics, spoke at the dedication. He congratulated Indiana Tech for including business courses as part of the energy engineering program.

“In the real world, energy solutions must be technically practical and economically viable,” he said.

dhaynie@jg.net