The Energy Chronicle – Page 48 – Energy News from FSEC®, Florida's Premier Energy Research Center, at the University of Central Florida

FSEC’s PV Disaster Trailer Powers Vehicles at KSC

Sherri Shields Energy News August 29, 2008Bill Young, Disaster Relief, Kennedy Space Center, Low Speed Electric Vehicles, LSEV, PV generator 0 Comment

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

Sherri Shields Feature Story August 29, 2008CARPATH, Nanoscience, NSF, Romania, UCF, University of Iasi 0 Comment

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.

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

Sherri Shields Press Release August 18, 2008Bob Reedy, Grid-tied PV, PV Inverter, Sandia National Lab, SEGIS, U.S. DOE 3 Comments

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.

FSEC Solar Energy Experts Offer Renewable Education in Aruba

Sherri Shields Energy News, Feature Story August 15, 2008Aruba, Eco-tourism, PV, Solar Thermal 3 Comments

Like most industries throughout the world, the resort industry is seeing a growing trend in the use of renewable energy and “green” practices. More and more hotels in tourist destinations across the globe are trying to be good stewards to their visitors, as well as to the environment, by utilizing renewable energy applications for powering their facilities, rather than passing off the current high energy costs to customers through higher rates. Seeing the industry take such positive strides is what inspired researchers at the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) to develop a program to promote eco-tourism in the Caribbean, one of the most popular tourist destinations, and around the world.

Climate Change Conference Promotes Florida’s “Green” Leadership

Sherri Shields Energy News August 15, 2008California Governor Schwarzenegger, Charlie Crist, Climate Change Conference, Florida Governor, House Bill 7135, Serve to Preserve 2 Comments

The second annual Serve to Preserve Summit on Global Climate Change, hosted by Florida Governor Charlie Crist on June 25-26, 2008, continued to promote Florida’s excellence as a growing leader in alternative fuels and conserving the state’s natural environment. The summit also focused on the need to pursue alternative fuels and renewable energy as a means for economic benefits through a variety of “green” technologies.