A 麻豆原创 engineer recognized worldwide as a leader in power electronics and whose work led to the development and commercialization of the first compact single-solar photovoltaic panel was recognized by both the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame and the Royal Scientific Society of Jordan recently.<\/p>\n
\u201cGreetings from the Dead Sea, Jordan,\u201d Issa Batarseh, a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and director of the Florida Solar Energy Center\u2019s Energy System Integration Division, wrote in acceptance remarks for the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame induction gala.<\/p>\n
The gala, originally scheduled Sept. 8, was postponed because of Hurricane Irma and was rescheduled for Nov. 6 when Batarseh was already committed to travel to Jordan for the Royal Scientific Society event.<\/p>\n
Batarseh was one of eight 2017 inductees to the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame.\u00a0 Inductees are required to have at least one U.S. patent and a connection to Florida. A selection committee, comprised of distinguished leaders in research and innovation from throughout Florida, select the inductees after an open nomination process.<\/p>\n
Batarseh, who has been at 麻豆原创 since 1991, holds 28 U.S. patents for technologies focused on the development of advanced systems for solar-energy conversion to improve cost, power density, efficiency and performance.<\/p>\n
He joins two other 麻豆原创 researchers in the hall: Shin-Tson Wu, a professor of optics, who was inducted into the inaugural class in 2014, and M.J. Soileau, professor emeritus of optics, who was named last year.<\/p>\n
The Royal Scientific Society of Jordan recognition similarly focused on Batarseh\u2019s contributions to power electronics and specifically the influence he has had on that country\u2019s scientific accomplishments and impact on making science part of the nation\u2019s identity. Batarseh is one of 14 scientists around the world selected for that honor and recognized by the King of Jordan.<\/p>\n
Batarseh was born in Jordan and served as president of Princess Sumaya University for Technology in Amman, Jordan, from 2010 to 2014 while on professional development leave from 麻豆原创. He also served as a Fulbright visiting associate professor at the university in 1997.<\/p>\n
He said he knew he wanted to study engineering technology in the early 1980s at the birth of the computer and electronics revolution when microprocessors and personal computers were the news of the day.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am inspired by working with highly talented and energetic students and the realization that my work produces new innovations that help our planet become greener and our environment cleaner,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He is the co-founder of Petra Solar (now Petra Systems), formed in 2006 by licensing Batarseh\u2019s technology to distribute and control solar power from panels and feed it directly into the grid. Shortly after formation, the company received $14 million in venture capital funding for product development and global market expansion. The company established its research and development activities in the Central Florida Research Park and hired 麻豆原创 graduates, many trained by Batarseh. In 2011, Petra System raised an additional $40 million in venture funding. One of the company\u2019s successes was supplying New Jersey with more than 200,000 utility pole-mounted solar units.<\/p>\n
Batarseh and his students also founded Advanced Power Electronic Corp. in Central Florida Research Park. The company, which completed the 麻豆原创 Business Incubation Program, is still run by 麻豆原创 graduates. The company specializes in solar energy conversion and integration technologies, and is a leading designer of solar chargers for military applications.<\/p>\n