FSEC

FSEC Scientist Earns Honorary Hydrogen Title

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Nazim Muradov, principal research scientist at UCF's Florida Solar Energy Center.

Nazim Muradov, a principal research scientist at UCF’s Florida Solar Energy Center, was awarded the honorary title of International Association for Hydrogen Energy Fellow at the organization’s 18th biennial World Hydrogen Energy Conference.

More than 1,000 scientists and decision-makers in politics, finance and research gathered last month in Essen, Germany, for presentations on cutting-edge research on hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.

Muradov has been involved in hydrogen energy research for the past 30 years. He spearheaded U.S. Department of Energy-funded research efforts on the development, patenting and licensing of a novel process for producing hydrogen.  Under a NASA contract, he led a research and development program on the local production of hydrogen from renewable resources such as landfill gas and citrus waste.

Muradov is the author and co-author of 200 publications and 34 patents, and three of his technologies have been licensed to industry.  He recently received a patent for a new approach to cleaning up oil spills using carbon materials that can soak the oil up like a sponge. He is planning to collaborate with an industrial partner to determine the commercial potential of the technology.

Muradov’s areas of focus include hydrogen production, fuel reformers for fuel cells, catalytic solar energy conversion, hydrogen sensors, carbon nanostructures, fossil fuel decarbonization and hydrocarbon processing.

He is an associate editor of the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy and a member of the international editorial council of the Processes of Petrochemistry and Oil Refining. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the International Association for Hydrogen Energy and the Board of Trustees and Scientific Council of the Madrid Institute of Advanced Studies (IMDEA Energia), Spain. He received a University of Central Florida Research Incentive Award in 2003, and he earned UCF’s Distinguished Researcher of the Year Award for institutes and centers in 1996.

NYC Mayor Bloomberg Visits FSEC

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NYC Mayor Bloomberg Visits FSEC

The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) welcomed the Mayor of the City of New York, Michael Bloomberg, and First Deputy Mayor Patricia Harris for a tour of the facility on Friday, June 20, 2008. Mayor Bloomberg expressed an interest in learning about FSEC’s role in the research and development of large-scale photovoltaic (PV) systems and hydrogen fuel cells, as well as recent breakthroughs related to “green,” energy-efficient building practices.

The mayors’ tour took them through some of FSEC’s laboratories, including the Manufactured Housing Lab, FSEC’s 1,600 square-foot manufactured home that serves as a training center and building science laboratory. They also stopped at the PV testing lab and the thin film PV lab, where researchers are developing the next generation of high-efficiency PV cells, as well as the hydrogen and fuel cell lab.

Photo of NYC Mayor Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor Patricia Harris, and Michael Hopper, Director of Advance Operations
Mayor of the City of New York, Michael Bloomberg (left), First Deputy Mayor, Patricia Harris, and Director of Advanced Operations, Michael Hopper, listen as FSEC Senior Research Scientist, Clovis Linkous, explains how a fuel cell works and points out the challenges this technology faces as an alternative fuel for transportation.Photo: Nicholas Waters

As the mayors walked through the PV testing areas, they learned about FSEC’s testing techniques and requirements. A PV roof-top system, used during FSEC’s PV installer courses, was used to demonstrate how a properly installed PV system operates and show how students in the installer course verify a system has been installed correctly. In the thin film PV lab, researchers spoke with the mayors about the different types of PV cells and the work being performed at FSEC to increase the efficiency of thin film PV cells while lowering their price. In the hydrogen labs, researchers explained the physics behind hydrogen fuel cells and demonstrated FSEC’s patented hydrogen-detection sensor, Smart Paint.

Mayor Bloomberg is the 108th Mayor of the City of New York. Elected to office only two months after the 9/11 attacks in 2001, he helped the city to rebound faster and stronger than anyone expected. He has recently undertaken a campaign to fight global warming while preparing New York for an estimated million more residents by 2030, through the efficient use of land, water and energy.

Reedy Named New Photovoltaics Division Director

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Photo of Bob Reedy
Bob Reedy

Bob Reedy, manager of Transmission Line Design with the Georgia Transmission Corporation, has been named director of FSEC’s Photovoltaics Division.

If you’ve followed FSEC activities over the years, you’ve certainly read a great deal about Bob’s work with the center, especially during his 12 years as Director of the Engineering and Operations Group and manager of Wholesale and Renewable Energy Businesses at Lakeland Department of Electric and Water Utilities.  At Lakeland Electric, he worked closely with FSEC on projects ranging from setting up a utility-sponsored solar water heating program to his leadership of Lakeland Electric’s development with FSEC of the super-efficient home that began the national Zero Energy Home effort.

This work has given him extensive experience in the utility industry and in the field of distributed power systems, with a specialty in energy marketing, financing and business planning.

Bob brings more than 20 years experience in renewable energy to his new position, including administrative positions with The Energy Authority in Jacksonville, Turbec Americas, and Georgia Transmission Corp.  He received a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree and a Master of Science degree from Auburn and an M.B.A. from Florida Southern.  Bob began his new job at FSEC on January 12.