Institute coordinates UF's sustainable energy efforts

October 23, 2007

Energy may be the defining issue of this century. Our quality of life, economy, standard of living and security depend on clean, affordable and reliable energy. The limited supply of fossil energy, its accelerated consumption, and a dependence on unstable countries for fossil fuel supply are major U.S. economic and security issues. Moreover, due to Florida’s unique coastal geography and southern latitude, it is the state with both the most to gain by harnessing its abundant renewable energy resources, and the most to lose if it doesn’t.

We are rich in renewable energy resources, particularly biomass and solar, yet we’re currently dependent on fossil fuels. This dependency contributes to global warming and the associated increased risk of violent weather and rising ocean levels that threaten the residents living near our 1,350 miles of coastline.

More than 150 University of Florida faculty are hard at work each day developing new technologies — from fuel cells, batteries and solar cells, to biofuels, nuclear power and green building construction, to name just a few — in order to provide a sustainable energy future for Florida and the world. This year, the Florida Institute for Sustainable Energy (FISE) www.energy.ufl.edu was created to coordinate and promote the vast energy research across campus.

In addition, we were able to secure a $4.5 million Florida Center of Excellence award to create the FISE Energy Technology Incubator. This incubator, currently under construction in Rhines and Rogers Halls, is a user facility for faculty, staff and students, to accelerate commercialization of UF’s energy research so that it can have the greatest impact on society.

It is my hope that someday soon we will be driving hybrid cars based on UF’s fuel cell and battery technology, and operating on biofuel created from UF technology.

Eric D. Wachsman, Director
Florida Institute for Sustainable Energy