research – Page 3 – The Energy Chronicle

FSEC Cited by National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners in Energy Future Resolution

Sherri Shields Press Release March 7, 2005domestic energy sources, research, utlity commissioners

The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) was recently singled out as one of the country’s “pre-eminent organizations” conducting research today on ways to ensure adequate domestic energy sources in the future.

The resolution, adopted by the board of directors of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) on February 16, included FSEC in a group of leading national research organizations that deserve continued public and private support to continue their important missions. NARUC directors agreed to pursue their efforts to obtain further support for FSEC and the other organizations “to improve our nation’s energy supply and delivery infrastructure to help secure the United States’ domestic energy future.” The NARUC board additionally directed its executive director “to pursue a formal lobbying strategy that will achieve these research and development objectives.” Read more

Early Holiday Gifts for Universities as Florida Solar Energy Center Awards $4.85 Million to Continue Hydrogen Research for NASA

Sherri Shields Awards, Press Release December 22, 2004flight, fuel cell, hydrogen, research

Cocoa, December 22, 2004 The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) has awarded $4.85 million to Florida universities to conduct hydrogen research. As welcome as any holiday gift, the new awards will allow university researchers to continue work on existing projects and begin research on fuel cells for flight. Universities participating in the program are Florida A&M University, Florida International University, Florida State University, University of Central Florida, University of Florida, University of South Florida and University of West Florida. Read more

FSEC Receives Contract to Improve Efficiency of Central Air Conditioners

Sherri Shields Press Release October 1, 2004central air conditioners, energy use, reduce, research

The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), under funding from the State Technologies Advancement Collaborative, will participate in a research project to reduce the energy use of residential air-conditioning systems. The project will focus on the development of next-generation central air-conditioning performance ratings, development of a central air conditioner specifically for hot/humid climates, and contractor training. Southern Company Services will also contribute funds toward FSECs portion of the project. Read more

Florida Solar Energy Center Researchers Receive Honor at the 15th World Hydrogen Energy Conference

Sherri Shields Press Release July 25, 2004development, energy, hydrogen, hydrogen production, NASA, research

Dr. Ali T-Raissi and Dr. Cunping Huang of the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) received the Innovative Technology Award at the 15th World Hydrogen Energy Conference in Yokohama, Japan earlier this month. The award was presented to the hydrogen research scientists for their work on “A New Solar Thermochemical Water-Splitting Cycle for Hydrogen Production.” It was the only award presented to research scientists from the U.S.

The World Hydrogen Energy Conference provided a setting for scientists to present their research on methods to provide the world with clean energy, including a new paradigm featuring hydrogen. The budding hydrogen economy will be brought about by emerging science and technologies such as those featured at the conference.

The research conducted by Drs. Huang and Raissi was initially supported by the U.S. Department of Energy. It is now part of a multi-year, multi-million dollar grant for a hydrogen research and development program funded by NASA Glenn Research Center, involving research at several Florida universities. The program is managed by FSEC.

Dr. Huang, principal investigator for this project, said, “I am honored to receive this award. To have my work recognized by the leaders of this conference is, indeed, an honor.” Dr. Raissi added that “This is a real honor for us since our work was recognized by the scientific committee of WHEC-15 and especially the committee’s chair Professor Hideo Kameyama, who is the world-renowned researcher in the thermochemical hydrogen production arena and the inventor of the famous UT-3 cycle.”

Hydrogen is the most common element in the universe, but on earth, it is chemically reactive and exists at normal conditions in combination with other elements such as oxygen in water or carbon in natural gas. This leads to a technical problem with hydrogen: it must be produced or extracted from the compound in which it is contained. In the long term, hydrogen must be produced from sustainable resources such as solar energy and water. In their research, Drs. Raissi and Huang address the production of hydrogen through high-temperature thermochemical water-splitting cycles.

The use of thermochemical water-splitting cycles (TCWSCs) employing solar energy as a heat source is an innovative approach to produce hydrogen. It presents a viable option for the future production of hydrogen. TCWSCs can be highly efficient processes compared to other hydrogen production methods based on water splitting.

Several presentations submitted by FSEC researchers were presented at the conference. To view their presentations, please visit http://www.hydrogenresearch.org/WHEC15.htm The Florida Solar Energy Center is the largest and most active state-supported renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development organization in the United States and functions as the State’s energy research and training center. For more information about FSEC’s hydrogen research programs, visit http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/hydrogen or call FSEC Public Information Office at (321) 638-1015 or go to http://www.fsec.ucf.edu.