Tampa Electric and USF leadership announced the TECO Clean Energy Research Center at the University of South Florida on Friday, April 26.
Safely providing power that is reliable, affordable and sustainable is a challenge the bright minds at TECO take on every day. And to achieve Tampa Electric’s vision, including our transformative plan for a cleaner-energy future, we need to innovate and collaborate. That’s why we’re proud of our commitment to build upon our longstanding partnership with the University of South Florida (USF) – a partnership first established in 1974.
On April 26, USF announced TECO as the new namesake of the university’s Clean Energy Research Center. The TECO Clean Energy Research Center at the University of South Florida leads a number of groundbreaking renewable energy projects, such as the creation of solar energy applications for electrical power – all in an effort to increase the use of clean energy and improve the environment.
Tampa Electric President & CEO Archie Collins expressing the value of innovation and collaboration at the April 26 event.
“Tampa Electric knows the value that the USF family of educators and students brings to the field of power generation,” said Archie Collins, President & CEO of Tampa Electric. “The Clean Energy Research Center at USF is a tremendous opportunity for TECO and USF to strengthen our relationship through collaboration on the future of energy generation. There is certainly no shortage of challenges in this field - the synergies between our teams will shape and accelerate our drive for a cleaner future that is both reliable and affordable.”
The TECO Clean Energy Research Center offers a variety of engineering courses, including the design of solar power plants.
Center Director Dr. Yogi Goswami is a distinguished university professor of chemical, biological and materials engineering. He holds nearly 40 patents and has licensed several inventions, such as hydrogen energy storage and technology to disinfect indoor air.
“The strong legacy of this partnership, of its commitment to clean-energy solutions and a healthier environment, is among the reasons that USF attracts high-caliber students from around the country and the world,” said Center Director Dr. Yogi Goswami. “Together with Tampa Electric, we are providing them with the tools to become problem-solvers and energy leaders. It also helps us attract world-class faculty, because that support creates greater opportunities to find solutions to the many environmental issues we are facing here at home, across the nation and globally.”
Over the last 50 years, Tampa Electric has worked with the university on various clean-energy solutions, such as electric vehicles, smart grid technology and solar array efficiency. TECO also provides students with hands-on experience as the main sponsor of the USF College of Engineering’s Annual Engineering Expo and through internships, new degree programs, talent development programming and thought leadership. Another fun fact? About one in 10 TECO team members attends or graduated from USF.
USF President Rhea Law unveiling the TECO Clean Energy Research Center at the University of South Florida.
“USF and Tampa Electric are solving significant challenges, improving lives and building a resilient, healthy environment for future generations,” said USF President Rhea Law. “This is a great example of why I place such a high priority on partnerships: We are better together.”
And together, we are proud to share a commitment and passion to innovate in the field of energy. Go Bulls!
More pictures from the April 26 event unveiling the new namesake of the TECO Clean Energy Research Center at the University of South Florida:
