Author: malbrigh

CERC Accomplishments

Awarded over $9 million in contracts and grants over the past 10 years
Developed the nation’s first 20,000 watt solar/electric charging station for electric vehicles
Achieved a world record efficiency (15.8%) thin film cadmium telluride solar cells for low cost applications
Developed the Rivolta Isigo neighborhood electric vehicle
Created a mobile data acquisition system for the U.S. Department of Energy EV Site Operator program
Constructed a microturbine power plant fueled by landfill gas at the Hillsborough Heights Landfill in Tampa

CERC will achieve its mission and future accomplishments through scientific research, technical development, infrastructure development and information transfer. Collaboration with energy producers and the transportation sector will support the economic development of manufacturing and high technology businesses as well as the nation’s goals of global competitiveness and technology leadership.

Contacting CERC
Director:
Elias (Lee) Stefanakos, Ph.D.
Professor, Electrical Engineering
stefanak@eng.usf.edu
research Associates:
Burton Krakow, Ph.D.
krakow@eng.usf.edu
George C. Moore, P.E.
gmoore@eng.usf.edu
Sesha Srinivasan, Ph.D.
sesha@eng.usf.edu
CERC Engineer:
Matt Smith, M.S.Ch.E.
masmith@eng.usf.edu
Clean Energy Research Center
College of Engineering
University of South Florida
4202 E. Fowler Avenue, ENB118
Tampa, FL 33620
Tel.: (813) 974-4787
Fax: (813) 974-5250
http://cerc.eng.usf.edu

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University of South Florida

“New environmentally
clean energy sources and systems”

“Engineering A Better Tomorrow”

CERC Mission

The mission of the Clean Energy Research Center (CERC) at USF is to develop, evaluate, and promote the commercialization of new environmentally clean energy sources and systems—hydrogen, fuel cells, solar energy conversion, and biomass utilization—that meet the needs of both the electric power and transportation sectors. This mission is accomplished through multidisciplinary research, technical and infrastructure development, and information transfer.
CERC supports regional economic development of manufacturing and high technology business in conjunction with national goals of improving global competitiveness and technological leadership.
Florida has no substantial indigenous supply of fossil fuels. As a result, the state must import virtually all of the energy it uses. However, Florida—known as the Sunshine State—does have abundant solar and biomass resources. Solar and hydrogen resources and technologies, applied both electrically and thermally, can mitigate fossil fuel dependency, improve the environment, and provide the opportunity for substantial economic growth.

CERC R&D FOCUS AREAS

Clean Energy and Systems
Solar energy
Thin film solar cell R&D
Photovoltaic and hybrid systems
Hydrogen fuelled systems
Biomass derived fuel and systems
Distributed Energy Production
Fuel cells
Microturbines
Landfill gas utilization
Energy management systems
Solar “roof-top” systems
Cost analysis
Energy Storage
Hydrogen production and storage
Battery technology
Hydrogen liquefaction
Underground natural gas and landfill gas storage
Transportation Technology
Electric/hybrid vehicles
Fuel cells
Vehicle operational testing
Infrastructure development
Energy management

Nanowires (inset) are playing an integral role in hydrogen sensor development. Deepak Srinivasgupta is shown evaluating an SAW sensor in Dr. Venkat Bhethanabotla's lab.

Key research projects

By-Product Hydrogen Production with an Electrochemical Cell (reverse fuel cell)
Electrochemical Catalytic Cell for the Production of Hydrogen from Various Fuel Stocks
Prototype and Simulation Model for a MEMS Magneto-Caloric Refrigerator
Hydrogen Cryogenic Storage Systems
Hydrogen Sensors for Fuel Cell Applications
Antenna Solar Energy Conversion
Hydrogen Production through Splitting of Water by Photoelectrolysis
Photovoltaic Thin Film Technology
Photocatalytic Bacteria Destruction
Hydrogen Storage in Metal Hydrides and Complex
Hydrides
Fuel Cell Conversion of Feedstock to Electricity

Dr. John Wolan is investigating fuel cells that use hydrogen as a source of fuel.

This page and right: Solar cell/thin film technology is being developed by CERC researchers to utilize the sun’s energy more efficiently.