On Sept. 6, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf joined Penn State President Eric J. Barron at the groundbreaking ceremony for a 70-megawatt, utility-scale solar project that will provide 25% of Penn State’s purchased electricity over the next 25 years. The project, a partnership between Penn State and Lightsource BP, will advance energy security and sustainability goals for the University and commonwealth.
Pennsylvania is well situated to lead the country into the next age of energy development with clean, renewable solar photovoltaic energy, a topic that will be discussed during a web-based seminar to be offered by Penn State Extension.
When Hurricane Sandy hit the eastern seaboard in 2012, entire city skylines went completely black with the curious exception of a few small areas still emitting light, thanks to their use of combined heat and power systems, a key component to microgrids. Jim Freihaut, professor of architectural engineering in the Penn State College of Engineering, sees these microgrids not as exceptions but as the norm of the future.
Beyond the benefits of renewable energy and habitat restoration, Penn State's new 70-megawatt solar array near the Mont Alto campus will create many student internship and research opportunities to help train the next generation of solar power leaders and familiarize students with utility-scale solar projects.
For energy engineering student Nikhil Bharadwaj, sustainability is something he can use to inspire others to find their passions and leave a positive impact on the world.
In 2014, Penn State’s Office of Physical Plant (OPP) was awarded a $75,000 grant from the Sustainability Institute’s Reinvention Fund to purchase new 100 percent electric vehicles and build a solar array on campus to power them. At the time, OPP had four vehicles dedicated for staff use in the University Park vicinity. The vehicles ranged from an SUV to smart cars, and averaged less than 22 mpg. In October, OPP staff, technicians and student volunteers installed the solar array on campus by the Laundry Building to allow OPP to immediately reduce environmental impact without depending on the relatively “dirty” local power grid.
Penn State’s GridSTAR Center and multiple industry partners will be exploring and demonstrating an innovative and collaborative approach to improve the performance of solar photovoltaic systems. By using weather data and images of the sky to “train” a control system to operate solar photovoltaic and energy storage systems, the variability of a solar system’s output will be “smoothed” and, at the same time, responsive to variations in the price of electricity throughout the day.
Penn State Hazleton’s new engineering program is leading the way in sustainable energy education. The bachelor’s degree program in general engineering with an alternative energy and power generation track prepares students to enter into sustainable energy positions with careers in design, research and development, experimentation and testing, manufacturing or technical sales.
Eleven Penn State engineering students left March 2-3 for Honduras to spend spring break designing, building and installing a solar photovoltaic (PV) system on the roof of a day care center in Roatan. The trip is part of Penn State's Renewable Energy for Central America (RECA) program, which is committed to bringing students and certified electrical contractors together to foster and advance the adoption of renewable energy solutions and energy savings plans for Roatan's island communities.
For the first time, a silicon-based optical fiber with solar-cell capabilities has been developed that is capable of being scaled up to many meters in length. The research, led by a Penn State University chemist, opens the door to the possibility of weaving together solar-cell silicon wires to create flexible, curved or twisted solar fabrics. More information and high-resolution images are online at http://www.science.psu.edu/news-and-events/2012-news/Badding12-2012. The information is published in the early online edition of the journal Advanced Materials.
State College residents are invited to participate in this year's State College Solar Tour, part of the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society's (ASES) 17th Annual National Solar Tour. Last year, 150,000 people in 49 states and Puerto Rico participated. This is the third year for the State College tour sponsored by Penn State ASES Student Chapter.
A new 2011 Volt, Chevrolet's electric automobile, was donated by General Motors to Penn State's Center for Sustainability to further the University's research of new transportation technology. The car will permit researchers to collect and track data that will help to prove the efficiency of solar-generated electricity for cars, motorcycles and daily commuters. The automobile donated to Penn State is one of only two Volts that Chevrolet donated to institutions of higher education, and the only one donated for the purpose of sustainable energy research.
Christopher Cook, solar energy leader and former SunEdison partner, will visit Penn State to present "Solar Energy Economics" at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 29, in 309 Walker Building on Penn State's University Park campus. This lecture is free and open to the public.
In Motion revisits Penn State's Natural Fusion team as they completed work on their solar home and opened it to the public for tours. Prior to departing for the Solar Decathlon national competition in Washington, D.C., the Natural Fusion home was presented to the University community at an open house. Focusing on natural aesthetics, functional design characteristics and innovative, sustainable technology, the house showed visitors a close-up look at the potential for cost-effective, comfortable and environmentally responsible living.
Penn State Hazleton will hold a photovoltaic (solar panel) installation workshop from Monday, Aug. 3 through Friday, Aug. 7 at the campus. Designed to provide participants with theoretical background and hands-on learning, topics in the 40-hour program include energy auditing, electrical safety, financial considerations and background information for solar installation, and a Solar Pathfinder demonstration. As participants learn about various aspects of solar installation, they will apply their knowledge by completing installation of a pole-mounted photovoltaic station which will help to supply power to the campus' Chestnut Cottage.
