Faces of Technology
Tinkering with Renewable
Energy Storage
Most people look at a kitchen toaster and
see a device that warms bread. As a child,
Randy Ogg looked at a toaster and saw the
possibility for other machines, taking it apart
and creating something new.
Ogg was born a tinkerer and has seemingly
always been curious about physics and
mechanics. Today, he is chief technology
officer at Encell Technology in Alachua, a
company that creates storage options for
renewable energy helping to make wind, solar,
water and other energy alternatives more
affordable and efficient.
Ever-fascinated with the science behind
Randy Ogg
the way things work, Ogg makes it a point
to always include some aspect of hands-on
research into his job description. When he
started with Encell, he was on the bench doing
Chief Technology Officer | Encell Technology, www.encell.com
research the entire time, continuing to tinker
Education:
B.S. in Chemical Engineering, University of Florida
with new processes and solutions. While bench
time has decreased over the years, Ogg affirms
Company:
Headquartered in Alachua, Encell Technology creates
energy storage solutions that are safe, affordable and
increase the efficiency of generated energy, especially
renewable energy generation
he will never completely walk away.
Most recently, Ogg’s research efforts
challenged Thomas Edison’s and conventional
wisdom held by everyone for the last 100 years
of the nickel iron battery. The battery was
traditionally categorized to have a specific
With wind and solar energy already taking a major portion of the market in
design, but in his research, Ogg found he could
Germany and Spain, Ogg foresees renewable energy rapidly growing in the United
also use a different design for better power
States in the near future. The problem with such energy now is that it demands a
and efficiency. That change allowed him to
storage system to provide energy when the sun doesn’t shine, the wind doesn’t
create a battery that can last for 20-30 years
blow or the ocean is particularly calm.
and remain cost effective because iron is a
relatively cheap metal.
Efficient storage systems have not yet been created to give the industry the
boost that it needs. In fact, the need is what got Ogg interested in the field after
“It’s important to read the research on what
attending an energy conference and hearing the call for better options. Ogg’s
has already been studied, but that shouldn’t
background in batteries gave him a new passion to start using it to help change
stop you from exploring ways to prove
the future of energy.
your own theories,” said Ogg. “Making a
breakthrough by questioning research is my
He feels well-supported completing his work in the Corridor region, noting the
favorite part of the job.”
Sunshine State is a great place for solar energy research, and the nearby University
of Florida has been a close partner for the company. With such resources, Ogg
looks toward a sunny future.
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