1 / 26

Campus Solar Projects and Opportunities for Student Involvement

Campus Solar Projects and Opportunities for Student Involvement. By Caitlin Bonney, Bryan Cosgrove, Kelsey Martin, & Kate Workman . http://solar-winds.info/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/solar_energy.jpg. Global Warming and CO2 Assessment.

gili
Download Presentation

Campus Solar Projects and Opportunities for Student Involvement

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Campus Solar Projects and Opportunities for Student Involvement By Caitlin Bonney, Bryan Cosgrove, Kelsey Martin, & Kate Workman

  2. http://solar-winds.info/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/solar_energy.jpghttp://solar-winds.info/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/solar_energy.jpg

  3. Global Warming and CO2 Assessment • Greenhouse gases contributing to climate change: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide • Rising sea levels, major flooding, storms, losses of certain ecosystems, global health problems, increased mortality, and large reductions in the gross national product of many countries • 7 billion tons of CO2 released into atmosphere every year

  4. U.S. Energy Information Administration, Annual Energy Review 2009, Tables1.3, 2.1b-2.1f , 10.3, and 10.4.http://www.eia.doe.gov/aer/pecss_diagram.html

  5. What is solar power? • Nuclear diffusion • Solar energy travels to earth at the speed of light of 186,000 miles per second.

  6. Why is solar power better than fossil fuels? • Free (not considering technologies) • Limitless • Less CO2 emitted • No international relation problems (as there are with oil)

  7. Why is solar energy better than other renewable energy sources? • Can be used in a variety of locations and sizes • Small- and large-scale settings • Works well with other forms of energy  • Energy from the sun can heat water and create electricity

  8. Future Prospects of Solar Plants • Solar energy can supply 40-80% of a sector’s energy demand • 2005: 92% reduction in carbon emissions • 2015: CSP electricity prices at $0.10/kWh • 2050: 69% of electricity needs and 35% of total energy needs • 2100: 90% of U.S. energy demand

  9. Harnessing Solar Energy Photovoltaic Cells (PV) Solar Thermal Systems http://spectrum.ieee.org/image/46370

  10. How do photovoltaic (PV) cells work? • Semiconducting material is attached to a panel and installed in a sunny area • Photons in sun's rays cause electrons in PV material to move electrical current • Inverter changes the current to a usable form of energy

  11. Photovoltaic Cells

  12. A collector is mounted in a sunny area • Liquid is run through the pipes and the heat from the panel is transferred to water • The hot water goes into the home's hot water storage tank and used when needed How do solar thermal systems work? http://www.homecoenergy.co.uk/images/pic4.jpg

  13. Solar Thermal Systems

  14. Small-Scale Solar Systems • Efficiency is not limited by the number of panels • Individual solar collectors can be directly installed on buildings • Minimal space required to implement solar collectors http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3420/3886816095_f86c8ef4f0.jpg

  15. Benefits of Domestic Solar Systems • Eliminates excess expenses of transporting hot water • Water is more likely to retain heat due to small travel distance • Can be used in remote locations • Although homeowner must purchase system, tax rebates are available

  16. Large-Scale Solar Systems • Photovoltaic systems • Applicable for large scale buildings and structures • Can be mounted and positioned in many different ways to achieve optimal sunlight

  17. Taiwan Solar Stadium • First 100% solar powered stadium in the world • 8,844 solar panels • Seats 55,000 • Can generate 1.14 million kilowatts of power http://www.flickr.com/photos/forwardthismessages/4643578316/sizes/m/in/photostream/

  18. http://www.flickr.com/photos/forward2friends/4653327826/sizes/m/in/photostream/http://www.flickr.com/photos/forward2friends/4653327826/sizes/m/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/forwardthismessages/4643578434/sizes/m/in/photostream/

  19. The University of Richmond Pursuit of Solar Panels for the Robins Stadium • Research  fitting the Robins Stadium with photovoltaic solar panels • Could offset energy expenditures of scoreboard and lighting • Potential locations of panels: roof of press box and angled on sides of towers • May influence higher LEED certification for stadium

  20. Student Involvement in Solar Energy Initiatives http://wildcat.arizona.edu/polopoly_fs/1.1712581!/image/3401266483.jpg

  21. “Experiential, Project-Based Learning” Bardaglio and Putman 171 . In this type of environment, students will “internalize the concept of sustainability, and carry it in practice beyond academia into a greater society.” Dawson 21.

  22. The University of Richmond A Solar Pilot Project • Installation of one 80-gallon solar thermal system (two panels) and one 2-kW solar electrical system (ten panels) on the roof of a University Forest Apartment in the 1600-block • Location chosen due to its southwest direction and clear skies for unlimited access to sunlight • University’s in-house electricians may install systems • Project will be complete before the 2011-2012 school year

  23. Project Proposal from One Contractor - *Project design has not been finalized

  24. An Interdisciplinary Approach to Student Involvement http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/.a/6a00d8341c630a53ef0120a5de5317970b-600wi

  25. The University of Richmond Student Involvement In Solar Pilot Project • Promotion & Installation Phase • Students in the arts – publications and creative projects to spark students’ interests in solar energy • Students in the sciences – participate in fieldwork • Academic group or class to learn about solar and renewable energy • Energy monitoring system for research across multiple disciplines (i.e. economics, environmental studies, physics and other natural sciences)

  26. Works Cited Bardaglio, Peter, and Andrea Putman. Boldly Sustainable: Hope and Opportunity for Higher Education in the Age of Climate Change. Washington D.C.: National Association of College and University Business Officers, 2009. Bullis, Kevin. "Solar's Great Leap Forward." Technology Review (Cambridge, Mass.: 1998) 113.4 (2010): 52-7. General Science Full Text. Web. 8 Nov. 2010. Dawson, Ashley. "Greening the Campus." Radical Teacher. 78 (April 2007): 19-23. Print. Department of Energy, 20 Oct. 2010. Web. 10 Nov. 2010. <http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/water_heating/index.cfm/mytopic=12850>. Gore, Albert. Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis. Emmaus, PA: Rodale, 2009 Roeb, M. (2010). "Concentrating on Solar Electricity and Fuels". Science (New York, N.Y.) (0036-8075), 329 (5993), p. 773.

More Related