The Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) is one of the University of Kentucky's 20 multidisciplinary research centers and institutes within the Research and Graduate Studies sector. It is located in a stand-alone facility approximately 11 miles from campus. The CAER is a non-academic unit that is staffed by professional scientists and engineers, has extensive interactions with faculty, and provides support and facilities for faculty research, and student research and employment.

The Center's research provides a focal point for energy and environmental research at UK and in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Research programs focus on energy resources indigenous to Kentucky with efforts directed to advanced beneficiation, utilization, conversion and process technologies. Environmental issues relating to fuel use and by- product wastes constitute a growing effort, along with the derivation of high added-value materials and chemicals from energy resources.