At Progress Energy we're working to develop tomorrow's energy sources today. We're currently involved in several projects that are helping to further the research or development of cutting-edge technologies that may hold important answers for tomorrow's energy needs. Some of the most significant of these projects include:
Solar power: We're involved in an innovative program of placing solar panels on select Florida schools. This program is helping to advance solar research while at the same time saving money by lowering energy costs for the schools.
Hydrogen and Solar-powered systems: Combining state-of-the-art hydrogen fuel-cell and solar technologies, we created a new fully sustainable system that powers the Wildlife Pavilion at Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park in Florida. The hydrogen fuel cell and 5-kilowatt photovoltaic system require only sunlight and water; the only byproduct is oxygen, which is released harmlessly into the atmosphere
Hydrogen fuel cells. Progress Energy recently announced a commitment of $1 million to Microcell Corp., a company working to bring commercially available fuel cell applications to industrial, commercial and consumer markets. Fuel cells are electrochemical devices that convert chemical energy directly into electrical energy.
Biomass: Progress Energy has signed a long-term contract to purchase electricity from the world's first commercial-scale biomass power plant. This environmentally friendly power plant will burn a crop known as E-Grass, eliminating the need to burn nearly 9 million tons of coal over the life of the contract and reducing carbon emissions by more than 20 million tons. The power plant will generate about 130 megawatts.
