FSEC to Host Workshop for National Alternative Fuel Vehicle Day

Cocoa, FL – The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) will host an alternative fuel workshop on October 3, 2008, as part of the National Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Odyssey Day.

The National AFV Odyssey Day is a nationwide event being held in 86 different locations throughout the U.S. this year. Coordinated by the National Alternative Fuel Vehicle Training Consortium (NAFTC) in a partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Clean Cities Program, the goal of this national program is to promote the awareness and use of AFVs, as well as promote energy conservation and independence for the U.S.

The Space Coast Clean Cities Coalition, a Florida chapter of the U.S. DOE Clean Cities Program, has coordinated and organized the Advancing the Choice alternative fuel workshop locally as part of this national event. The workshop will feature presentations and discussions about AFV ownership opportunities, biodiesel production, quality standards for fuel grade, utilizing biodiesel in current vehicles, and construction of biodiesel fueling stations. Guests will also be able to test drive AFVs and speak with auto manufacturers and industry experts at this event.

The workshop will run from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., and the cost to attend is $10. Space is limited, so please register early at www.floridaenergycenter.org/go/afv4.

For more information about this workshop please contact FSEC researcher Bill Young at (321) 638-1443, or visit www.clean-cities.org.

www.MyFloridaGreenBuilding.info

MyFloridaGreenBuilding.info Web Site

The MyFloridaGreenBuilding.info Web site offers energy-efficiency tips for new construction and existing homes, information on local green building programs, green rating systems, rebates and incentives, calculators, and case studies on certified green buildings in Florida.

This  Web site was developed by FSEC, directed by the Florida Building Commission and the Department of Community Affairs, to give Floridians a green buildings Web site that promotes energy efficiency and the benefits of building green.

FSEC’s PV Disaster Trailer Powers Vehicles at KSC

The PV trailer successfully charged each of KSC's Low Speed Electric Vehicles (LSEV), one at a time. These LSEV’s support shuttle processing operations, launch pad modifications and everyday support requirements.
The PV trailer successfully charged each of KSC's Low Speed Electric Vehicles (LSEV), one at a time. These LSEVs support shuttle processing operations, launch pad modifications and everyday support requirements.

The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) recently lent its photovoltaic (PV) generator trailer to Kennedy Space Center (KSC) to power a Low Speed Electric Vehicle (LSEV) charging station on site. The fleet coordinator, Bruce Chesson, wanted to take energy efficiency and conservation at KSC one step further by adding a solar-powered charging station to the two existing stations, both already powered by electricity from the utility grid.

FSEC’s PV trailer is typically used to provide power for emergency operations during disaster relief, but KSC fleet officials wanted to determine if the LSEVs could be effectively powered by the 440-watt trailer system. These LSEVs support shuttle processing operations, launch pad modifications and everyday support requirements. FSECs stand-alone trailer PV system successfully charged each of the six LSEVs in the fleet, one at a time.

Although KSC already uses PV technology to power several systems around the site, it has never been used to support electric vehicle transportation. KSC would like to partner with local energy providers to construct similar charging stations around the  Space Center.

FSEC and UCF Researchers Traveling to Romania to Participate in NSF-Funded Workshop

Through collaboration between the University of Central Florida’s (UCF) Nanoscience Technology Center (NSTC) and the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), a group of researchers from both UCF institutes will travel to Romania in June 2009 to participate in a five-day workshop exploring new developments in nanoscience and solar energy. The goal of this workshop is to formulate ideas about how to stimulate and give direction to future research collaborations between Romanian and UCF research teams.

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FSEC to Lead Team for DOE Project, Making Solar More Practical

COCOA, Fla. – The University of Central Florida’s Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) will lead one of 12 research and development teams that will work on the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Sandia National Laboratories’ Solar Energy Grid Integration Systems (SEGIS) projects. DOE plans to invest up to $24 million over a number of years to provide funding for the research and development of new solar electricity, or photovoltaic (PV), technology resulting in more versatile, higher-performing products. This research will make PV systems more practical for home and business owners, as well as for utilities, by improving the operational characteristics of the systems. These newly planned PV systems will allow solar electricity to become a more fundamental part of household and commercial energy systems while simultaneously serving a vital role in the utility portfolio of generation resources.

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