The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) is the largest and most active state-supported renewable energy and energy efficiency research, training, testing and certification institute in the United States. An institute of the University of Central Florida (UCF), FSEC functions as the state's energy research, training and certification center.  FSEC is located on a 20-acre research complex on Florida's Space Coast at UCF's Cocoa Campus, 35 miles east of Orlando.

Since moving to its new facility in Cocoa, the educational staff at the Florida Solar Energy Center has given tours to thousands of visitors.  Many were Florida students studying about energy and the environment.  A visit to FSEC generally lasts 2 hours and includes a tour of the facility and hands-on experiments. For a nominal fee of $3.00 per person, groups of 20 or more students in grades four and up are invited to visit.  There is no charge for chaperones, and teachers receive a free packet of educational materials. Tours are generally scheduled for Tuesdays, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Tours of the facility are tailored to meet the interests and objectives of the visitors and include hands-on activities, which help to explain the research happening within FSEC.  Topics include but are not limited to: solar thermal, photovoltaics, building design and energy efficiency, alternative fuel vehicles, and hydrogen technologies. 

If you are interested in expanding your experience, visit the Brevard Museum of History and Science and the Astronaut Memorial Planetarium & Observatory, both are within walking distance of the Florida Solar Energy Center and are part of the Circle of Science.

To schedule your visit of the Florida Solar Energy Center or the Circle of Science, contact Penny Hall at Penny@fsec.ucf.edu  or call 321-638-1018.