Florida Energy Systems Consortium (FESC) Overview www.floridaenergy.ufl.edu
Florida Energy Systems Consortium (FESC) Created by Florida Statute in 2008 Purpose Unite Florida energy experts - including Florida s 12 Universities - so that the State leads in energy research and develops innovative energy systems giving rise to Improved energy efficiency and Expanded economic development Strategic Activities Research Technology Commercialization Outreach Education FESC involves more than 400 Faculty 100 Centers and Institutes 200 Companies within Florida
FESC Leadership Structure Industrial Board Director Jennifer Curtis Associate Director Canan Balaban Oversight Board University Research VP s Steering Committee Education & Outreach Technology Commercialization Principal Investigators Research 3
Strategic Thrusts 1. Developing Florida s Biomass Advantage for Renewable Fuels 2. Harnessing Florida s Solar Resources 3. Enhancing Energy Efficiency and Conservation 4. Securing Energy Delivery Infrastructure and Energy Storage 5. Capturing Florida s Marine Energy Resources for Power Generation 4
Developing Florida Biomass Resources Florida has ~10% of US biomass resources 51% statewide tree coverage 80% of it is commercial Climate allows year around energy crop growth, high crop yield and conversion efficiency 15 million acres of forest land 10 million acres of farm land #1 in sugarcane and citrus #1 in forest residues #1 in urban wood waste #2 in vegetable (waste) 100MW Biomass Power Plant - Gainesville Renewable Energy Center 1 Full scale Biomass to ethanol plant INEOS Algae to ethanol - Algenol University of Florida cellulosic ethanol biorefinery 5
FESC Bio Energy Research Areas Energy Crops Algal Research Biomass Conversion Technologies Biochemical Thermochemical Catalyst Development Computational Studies 6
Water-Use Efficiency and Feedstock Composition of Candidate Bioenergy Grasses in Florida Environments PIs: L. Sollenberger, J. Erickson, J. Vendramini, and R. Gilbert Energycane Sweet sorghum Elephantgrass Superior grass species and management practices for various Florida environments Comparisons of water-use efficiency and feedstock composition of candidate grass species Carinata field trials by Dr. David Wright Graduate students trained in the ecology, physiology, and chemical composition of bioenergy grasses 7
Energy Intensive Crop Development PI s: Gary Peter, Matias Kirst, Don Rockwood, UF Fundamental research aimed at identifying genes that control growth and biomass chemical composition Applied research aimed at providing important yield and chemical composition (relates to amount of biofuel) information for a variety Eucalyptus and pine which can be grown in Florida. ARPA-E Grant: Develop Loblolly pine to increase turpentine production from 3 % to 20%. The goal is to produce 100M gal/y fuel from 25K acres forestland. 8
Algae Research at USF Dr. George Philippidis Algae photobioreactors and indoor pilot facility Outdoor algae pilot facility with monitoring and control systems A plastic platform with proprietary integrated aeration system floating system with enhanced mass transfer, Patent Application Filed (USF & Culture Fuels Inc.) 9
UF Biofuel Research and Facilities UF Bio Fuel Pilot Plant UF Stan Mayfield Biorefinery 10
Post-Processing of Cellulosic-Ethanol Stillage for Fuel Production and Recovery of Plant Nutrients PI: Dr. Pratap Pullammanappallil, UF Design and operation of process for biogasification of cellulosic ethanol stillage. Biogas used as fuel in the ethanol facility Finding: 25 30% of fossil fuel usage can be displaced by biogas Residual lignin in stillage purified in this process. Design and operation of a process for recovering plant nutrients (Nitrogen and Phosphorus) in the stillage Ammonia and phosphate in stillage precipitated as struvite and recovered Struvite is a slow release fertilizer Treatment of stillage for water reuse or land application 11
U.S.-India Joint Clean Energy Research and Development Center - Biomass PI: Pratap Pullammanappallil, UF Partners: University of Missouri, Virginia Tech, Montclair State University, Texas A&M University, Show Me Energy and Green Technologies; The Indian Institute of Chemical Technology-Hyderabad leads the Indian team. Research Focus: Improve biomass conversion technologies Develop and optimize feedstocks: work with high-yield biomass sorghum, sweet sorghum, pearl millet, bamboo and switchgrass. Utilize waste streams in the cellulosic ethanol conversion process -investigate ways of using spent feedstocks, wastewater and other materials to produce additional bioenergy and products such as fertilizers and bioplastics. 12
High-Temperature Steam Gasification Biomass to Energy System By Dr. Jacob Chung, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Biomass & Solid Waste Energy Conversion Lab, University of Florida Objectives: Convert agricultural biomass and municipal solid waste (MSW) to syngas by high-temperature steam with least negative impact on the environment Developing best methods for converting syngas to electricity, mechanical power and liquid fuels High Temperature Steam Gasification 13
Demonstration/Test Unit, Dr. Jacob Chung Biomass to Electricity Demo Units 14
Summary of Activities/Accomplishments FESC leveraged the initial $38M state funding to obtain additional $425M in energy research funding from third parties Links Florida universities with Florida energy industry Gives Florida a competitive advantage Increased awareness nationally/internationally of FESC and its leadership role MOU with BioFuelNet (BFN) Canada BFN links Canadian universities with industry to collaborate in biomass research and development 15
Technology Commercialization FESC Technology Commercialization Program Funding early stage market research/business plans Phase I Matching funds for companies to leverage their R&D budgets Phase II Startup Companies 30 companies formed based on university developed technologies Technology Licensed 101 licenses Invention Disclosures 459 submitted Job Growth Across all diverse aspects of emerging energy technologies Over 100 new jobs 16
Outreach Focus on Energy Efficiency Targeting the general public & built environment Collaborating with the home builders and construction industry Partnering with utilities to implement performance-based demand-side management Demand Management Much More Cost Effective Than Expanding Supply Outreach to the Public UF Program for Resource Efficient Communities Over 50 Fact Sheets prepared to help Florida citizens better conserve and increase energy efficiency Sustainable Floridians program (8 week training program preparing Florida citizens to be ambassadors for sustainability) 17
Content-Rich Web Site: www.floridaenergy.ufl.edu Communication with FESC network through bi-monthly newsletter, in addition to biannual reports, e-mails, telecons and other meetings 18
FESC Workshops/Summits May 20-21, 2015 Energy Workshop in Orlando Feb 2-3, 2015 Workshop in Orlando: Instructional Workshop on Integration of Renewable Energy to the Grid May 12-13, 2014 Energy Conference in Gainesville Research-oriented and broad based in topics covering all strategic focus areas FESC Annual Workshops were combined with the Florida Energy Summit in 2012 and 2013 FESC Summits in 2009, 2010, and 2011 19
Contact Information Jennifer Sinclair Curtis, Director (352) 392-0946 jcurtis@eng.ufl.edu Janan C. Balaban, Associate Director (352) 392-0899 cbalaban@ufl.edu 20