PPM Solar Powers the Sustainable Vision of San Felasco Tech City
Contact UsAbout San Felasco Tech City
San Felasco Tech City (SFTC) is a sustainable and innovative community in Alachua County, Florida, designed to accommodate businesses and homes prioritizing sustainability and technology. A walk through the campus quickly shines a light on SFTC’s commitment to clean energy through its cutting-edge solar technology. The facilities include an extensive promenade array of bifacial solar panels and solar trees installed by PPM Solar, a Gainesville, Florida-based company specializing in solar energy system design and installation. These solar components provide clean energy for the community and add to its aesthetic appeal, making SFTC an inspiring place to live and work.
What is San Felasco Tech City (SFTC)?
Mitch Glaeser, CEO of the Emory group companies and co-developer of the San Francisco Tech City, explains that SFTC is a forward-thinking community in Alachua County, Florida, dedicated to innovation and sustainability. The campus, spanning over 82 acres, features a variety of amenities, including more than 270,000 square feet of cutting-edge tech space, recreational facilities, cafes, daycare, residential living, and more. SFTC is dedicated to providing a sustainable living environment that prioritizes clean energy, powered by an extensive solar energy system installed by PPM Solar.
SFTC’s energy-efficient office buildings, 250 homes, and public spaces are all designed to be powered by solar energy, providing an inspiring environment for the growing number of great minds and innovative ideas streaming from the University of Florida and other entrepreneurial startup incubation programs. In addition to promoting sustainability, San Felasco Tech City encourages a culture of innovation and collaboration with shared spaces for meetings and events, along with access to resources and mentorship opportunities. A philosophy where ideas and creativity can thrive, potentially contributing to the region’s economic growth and beyond.
During an interview, Mitch Glaeser highlighted the importance of understanding the needs and preferences of different generational groups in developing a sustainable community. He specifically mentioned Gen Z, Gen X, and Millennials and how they are looking for service qualities beyond just the type of company they work for. These groups want a culture of cooperation and care about the surroundings, amenities, and outdoor spaces where they live and work. Mitch explained that SFTC had “considered these needs and has created a flexible and fluid community that perfectly blends technology, residential living, and outdoor amenities.”
Overall, SFTC provides a unique and inspiring community that promotes innovation, collaboration, and sustainability, creating a place where the brightest minds can develop their ideas and shape the future while reducing their environmental impact.
San Felasco Tech City’s Solar Energy Vision
Mitch Glaeser, the CEO of SFTC, is a well-known real estate developer in Florida involved in many successful projects throughout the state. He is the founder and CEO of Emory Group Companies, a full-service real estate development firm specializing in mixed-use and commercial projects. Glaeser and his partner, Richard Blaser of The Laser Investment Group and co-founder of Infinite Energy, strongly advocate for sustainable and innovative development, evident in San Felasco Tech City’s mission and commitment to clean energy with solar.
One of SFTC’s main goals is to have the entire campus operate on clean energy powered by the sun, making solar energy a crucial component of this vision. To accomplish this, SFTC partnered with PPM Solar, a leading solar energy installation company, to achieve this goal. PPM provided SFTC with a custom solar solution that met the community’s energy needs while aligning with SFTC’s mission of sustainability and innovation.
Incorporating cutting-edge technology and sustainable practices into SFTC’s infrastructure and operations sets an example for others by showcasing a modern and technically advanced approach to development. The SFTC team worked closely with PPM Solar to pre-design the office buildings to maximize solar production, provide promenade shading, and incorporate natural airflow convection. Further planning included strategically placing air conditioners and other components to maximize the building’s rooftop area.
In a recent video interview, Mitch Glaeser discussed the benefits of going solar with PPM Solar. He highlighted the importance of sustainability and clean energy for the SFTC community and how PPM Solar provided the solar solution that met the needs of SFTC while aligning with its mission and values. He also praised PPM Solar’s expertise and professionalism throughout the installation process, scaling the transition to solar with the community’s overall business plan.
System Size & Technology
The 4-Megawatt solar system at San Felasco Tech City (SFTC) is a massive step forward in energy sustainability. The array now operates at 2-Megawatts, as the subsequent phases are soon slated to begin. The solar system, consisting of about 5000 panels right now and closer to 10-12,000 once fully operational, can generate enough power to serve approximately 500 homes. The 12,000+ solar panels installed on the roofs of the buildings, in parking lots, and on solar trees throughout the campus provide clean and renewable energy to the residents and businesses within the community.
It’s also worth noting that this solar system is a significant step toward reducing the community’s environmental impact. The energy produced by solar panels can save approximately 4.5 million pounds of burned coal annually, equivalent to the amount of carbon dioxide emissions from around 880 vehicles driven 15,000 miles in a year. This significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions helps to mitigate climate change and aligns with SFTC’s commitment to sustainability.
”Rather than conforming the solar system to typical building plans regarding air conditioners and other operational components mounted on the rooftop, we decided to work collaboratively with PPM Solar to proactively design the most efficient layout,” explains Mitch. He says that doing this meant that SFTC could more effectively scale larger arrays in the same amount of space.
PPM Solar also guided the selection to place a shaded promenade between buildings by installing bifacial solar panels. A bifacial solar panel is a type of solar panel that has a unique design, allowing it to absorb sunlight from the top and bottom sides. Unlike traditional solar panels, which only absorb sunlight from one side, bifacial solar panels can take advantage of reflected and diffused light on the rear side, making them more efficient. This technology increases the solar system’s energy, making it more cost-effective and creating natural ventilation between buildings.
“We are celebrating solar,” says Mitch. Yes, the decorative solar trees on campus produce energy, but the trees also attract many inquisitive travelers to stop at the facilities for a few photo ops. Each tree contains several bifacial solar pads collecting energy that helps operate parking and outdoor lighting. The striking view of the bright red trees adds a genuinely eye-catching, high-tech look that is photographed by travelers several times a day. He adds that new solar tree ideas are also sprouting up and are planned for installation soon.
Mitch Glaeser, the CEO of SFTC
