7 July 2008, ORLANDO, FL –  University of Central Florida experts in energy efficiency will help Floridians struggling to contain rising fuel and energy prices by working with a new
statewide consortium aimed at exploring feasible renewable energy options. 

Fueled with a $50 million state investment, the Florida Energy Systems Consortium (FESC) is bringing together expert researchers, unique facilities, and technology transfer and incubation programs in energy from throughout the state university system.
 
Gov. Charlie Crist signed the energy bill creating the consortium into law at the second annual Serve to Preserve Summit on Global Climate Change in Miami last month.

“The energy future is here today,” said Jim Fenton, director of UCF’s Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC).  “For 35 years we have conducted the research and established a framework for helping Floridians to become more energy independent.  With this consortium we can work with other Florida universities to help the state as a whole become more energy efficient.”

The consortium will strengthen landmark efforts enacted by Crist at the inaugural summit in 2007.  Crist’s plan includes setting firm deadlines for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions,  mandating that public utilities work generate 20 percent of the state’s power from renewable energy sources by 2020 and increasing efficiency for consumer appliances among other measures.

The consortium will address those goals by bringing together the state’s experts in particular areas of expertise.

UCF will receive $8.75 million to work in areas including the use of technology to make new and existing construction projects more energy efficient, developing advanced solar energy conversion and integration technologies, carbon-free fuels, and expanding use of super high-efficiency solar cells for power production.

While much of the work is done by researchers at the Florida Solar Energy Center, UCF engineers and industry partners working at the UCF Florida Power Electronics
Center (FloridaPEC) are developing innovative new approaches for the design and use of such energy saving devices as solar panels, and solar charges.  A company that has licensed power conversion technology developed by a professor at the center has already located in the state, bringing with it an estimated $14 million economic impact. 

“The research is only the beginning,” said Fenton. “Through the consortium we want to develop and attract new industries and technologies to support renewable energy and generate a solid workforce to support those industries.”
    
The state’s ten other public state universities will contribute researchers in areas including ocean energy, nuclear energy, power generation, transmission and distribution, fuel cells, power electronics, and building conservation and efficiency. 

The University of Florida will receive $15 million to administer the effort and Florida State University, the University of South Florida and Florida Atlantic University will also receive $8.75 million apiece.

Contact:

Dr. Jim Fenton, Director, Florida Solar Energy Center, 321-638-1002, jfenton@fsec.ucf.edu

Barb Abney, Director, Marketing and Communications, Office of Research and Commercialization, 407-823-5139, babney@mail.ucf.edu.

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