Ultrasonic receives DOE funding

The U.S. Department of Energy will invest $57 million in American clean energy commercialization projects, and two Gulf Coast companies will be receiving a portion of those funds.

Tampa-based Ultrasonic Technologies will receive $1.4 million to develop solar technology that reduces the cost of photovoltaics, a DOE release said. Photovoltaics represent a method for converting solar energy into electricity using semiconducters.

The other Gulf Coast firm receiving money is Seminole-based FieldMetrics Inc. The company will receive $500,000 to develop a low-cost optical voltage sensor, a release said.

The awards issued by the DOE ranged from $500,000 to $3 million, with 33 companies from 16 states receiving money. Ultrasonic and FieldMetrics were the only Florida-based companies to receive awards.