For more than three decades, we’ve partnered with Florida International University (FIU) to help shape the next generation of America’s workforce, conduct cutting-edge research, help advance renewable energy in Florida and make our energy grid even smarter.
FIU-FPL Solar Research Center
In 2016, FIU and FPL unveiled a new solar installation at FIU’s College of Engineering and Computing – the only solar research facility of its kind that FPL has installed at a Florida university.
The 1.4-megawatt (MW) solar array comprises more than 4,400 solar panels on canopy-like structures that provide clean energy to the grid and shade for about 400 parking spaces. The unique solar array incorporates a 24-foot by 12-foot FIU logo that is visible from high above.
Engineering faculty and students from the EPS program at FIU are using the installation to conduct important research that is helping FPL advance solar energy in the state.
FPL-FIU On-Campus Customer Care Center
The FPL-FIU Student Partnership Program, which opened in 2010, was designed to provide hands-on development and immediate career opportunities for FIU students by employing them part-time as customer service representatives at the FIU-based customer care center.
Since its inception, the FPL-FIU Student Partnership Program has employed hundreds of part-time student representatives, providing talent to help FPL continue to grow as a technology company that delivers affordable, reliable, clean electricity to customers. Many student representatives have moved into relevant permanent positions, ranging from supervisors to engineers, at FPL.
Innovative Microgrid and Virtual Power Plant
FPL and FIU engineering faculty and students built a microgrid to supply back-up power to FIU’s engineering campus during extreme weather events – a leading cause of power outages.
The microgrid leverages the existing FIU-FPL 1.4 MW solar canopy and incorporates a large-scale 3 MW battery system and a state-of-the-art research facility – putting the vision of resilient, smart connected communities into action. One of the most modern learning facilities in South Florida, the microgrid offers engineering students and researchers the chance to conduct innovative research studies and gain hands-on experience with a cutting-edge technology, while enabling FPL to expand its study of battery storage technology.
The FPL-FIU microgrid project is located on the Northeast corner of the FIU Engineering & Computing Center and includes an underground conduit of approximately 1,800 feet connecting the battery to the solar array at the FPL-FIU Solar Research Center.
PANDORAS Lab
FPL has also partnered with FIU to conduct unique research through the Proactive Analytics and Data Oriented Research on Availability and Security (PANDORAS) Lab, where faculty and students use high-end computer systems to conduct research using smart grid, weather and telecommunications data.
The PANDORAS lab simulates Advanced Distribution Management Systems (ADMS) used by utilities like FPL. The lab is equipped with ten high-powered workstations, a multi-panel wall screen for monitoring, a machine learning GPU server and more. The PANDORAS lab serves as an invaluable research tool for students and has been an effective training tool for many graduates who have gone on to work at FPL.
FPL’s parent company, NextEra Energy, Inc., employs more than 850 FIU alumni – more than any other higher learning institution.
GENIE Research Lab
The Grid Energy Intelligence Exploration (GENIE) Research Lab is a state-of-the-art virtual power plant. The lab acts as a simulator, allowing students and researchers to gain field experience on-campus.
With real-time modeling and simulation, students and researchers can observe the flow of power, develop predictive control algorithms to better integrate solar and battery, and forecast safe operation periods to increase the longevity of grid equipment.
Key objectives
This joint FPL-FIU research project will provide further insight and breakthroughs into:
- Providing a more resilient energy future in the face of natural disasters
- The design and operation of future microgrids combined with solar
- Factors that degrade batter capacity
- Reducing the variability of solar power’s output using energy storage
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning