Dive Brief:

• Florida's advanced energy industry is a $6.2 billion economic engine for the state — larger than agricultural exports from the Sunshine state, according to new research from Navigant.
• The report, completed for Advanced Energy Economy, shows Florida is third in the nation for rooftop solar potential and but is currently just 13th in installed capacity. 
• Florida's advanced energy sector is led by the building efficiency sector, with revenues of $2.9 billion; generation and transmission each generate more than $1 billion.

Dive Insight:

Advanced Energy Economy, a cleantech business group, marked its entrance into the Florida market by commissioning a study from Navigant focused on a broad category of "advanced" technologies in seven major industry segments: building efficiency, electricity generation, transportation, fuel production, industry, electricity delivery and management, and fuel delivery.

Among the report's key findings: Florida ranks third in the nation for rooftop solar potential; has the fourth highest potential for commercial Combined Heat and Power, at 5,339 MW; and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are expected to see significant rise in the next decade. Florida Power & Light Co. has deployed advanced meters to its entire customer base, involving almost 5 million installations.

“Advanced energy companies are creating jobs and contributing to economic prosperity for the state of Florida and our nation,” Graham Richard, CEO of AEE, said in a statement. “From building efficiency to solar power and electric vehicles, Florida has the potential to become a leader in advanced energy technologies and services, with significant benefits for customers and the state’s economy.”

While the advanced energy sector is led by building efficiency, with revenues of $2.9 billion, electricity generation and transportation came in next with revenues of $1.2 billion and $1.1 billion respectively. Natural gas has almost entirely displaced petroleum fuels, AEE said, which supplied a sixth of generation in 2002, and reduced coal’s share from a third to just over 20%.

Florida had advanced energy transportation revenues of more than $1.1 billion in 2014 due to strong sales of electric and hybrid electric vehicles, the report noted. Orlando, Miami and Tampa - designated "clean cities" by the U.S. Department of Energy, "have been strong drivers of advanced vehicle market adoption," AEE said.