FISE Center of Excellence – Energy Technology Incubator

Sustainable, affordable energy is crucial to every aspect of the U.S. economy and way of life. Worldwide we are rapidly approaching a situation where available energy resources cannot meet growing demand. Unless technology is developed (from research through commercialization) to increase our resources (preferably domestic) and energy efficiency, Florida and the U.S. will face dire consequences. In order to address this urgent need the Florida Institute for Sustainable Energy (FISE) was established at UF to develop new domestic energy resources and leading edge energy efficiency technologies.

However, with this urgent need come tremendous opportunities for technology commercialization and job creation. This was recognized by the Board of Governors when they recently awarded the University of Florida a $4.5 million Florida Center of Excellence to establish the FISE Energy Technology Incubator. This energy technology incubator will transition the FISE energy research to commercial products and processes.

The FISE Energy Technology Incubator includes a Prototype Development & Demonstration Laboratory, led by Dr. Eric Wachsman, and a Biofuel Pilot Plant, led by Dr. Lonnie Ingram. The goal is to facilitate commercialization of UF derived energy technology as well as technology developed throughout the SUS system to stimulate Florida's economy and help address its energy needs.

The Prototype Development & Demonstration Laboratory, to be located in Rhines Hall (MSE), will be used to advance energy technology research into commercial prototypes. Energy conversion and energy efficiency technologies involve the creation of engineered devices. The leading edge research at UF results in significantly improved materials and designs for these devices, but rarely results in the fabrication of the entire integrated device or a commercial prototype. This inability to take the next step, due to the lack of necessary prototype fabrication facilities and multidisciplinary expertise, will be addressed by this Lab. In so doing, the Lab will accelerate commercialization of energy technology.

The Biofuel Pilot Plant, to be located in Rogers Hall (Ag. Bio. Engineering) will serve as a platform to accelerate successful commercialization of bioethanol. The pilot plant will be used to develop and improve production processes, test production feasibility from various plant substrates and residues available in Florida, and demonstrate all unit operations needed for commercialization.