Welcome to DSECS! Feel free to explore the materials complimentary to the course, Design of Solar Energy Conversion Systems.
Scope of Education:
Solar Energy
A ubiquitous resource available for energy conversion that supports life, industry, and society.
Course Overview:
This course establishes foundations for most solar energy conversion technologies, emphasizing the goal of solar energy engineering: to 1.) maximize the solar utility 2.) for a group of clients or stakeholders 3.) in a given locale. The course also works to explain concepts and implementation of solar conversion processes.
Context for Solar:
Solar energy conversion is a field containing systems thinking, applied science, and engineering; there are a lot of linked components in the system to keep track of in the design, implementation, and maintenance processes. To design technologies relevant to each region requires knowledge of the social context, the energy demands and economic constraints of a client or stakeholders, as well as knowledge of the specific locale or region, considering the quantity and character of the solar resource.
Contact Information if you need to contact me for questions.
Solar Resource:
You will learn that your eyes are sensitive detectors. Heat and Power are anything but sensitive, and a conversion of the Sun's light is pretty robust (even in PA). The Mid-Atlantic region of the American NE is pretty similar in resource to that of northern Spain, while good Germany has a resource more like that of Ontario, Canada. That's because: A. Germany is farther north than Maine, and B. Germany is right next to the ocean.
Economics:
You will find that, for solar design, the most efficient system may not be the system with the highest solar utility to the client in the locale of interest. One of the methodologies for determining the highest utility among other competitive technologies is via life cycle cost analysis. The rudiments of energy economics will be developed in this course along side the science and engineering of solar energy conversion systems. Stay on your toes!
Historical Context:
As of 2005, the US has emerged from +20 year gap in the lineage of training solar energy scientists and solar engineers in the USA. Our team is recharging a field that has atrophied. Particularly in the US, core knowledge of the solar research field has devolved into crude estimations that stunt our ability to design and deploy important changes across the nation. The absence of outreach in solar energy awareness and scientific literacy has permitted a social malaise for solar deployment, that America is only recently beginning to shrug off.
In contrast, global demand for carbon-neutral renewable energy has driven government subsidies for solar technologies in Asia, Australia, and Europe. From this recent push, photovoltaic and other solar systems costs have been greatly reduced. Effective data presentation, energy systems simulations and increased data access can help to eliminate misconceptions for the engaged student and entrepreneur.
Technologies:
The truth is, solar tech is a fast moving target. Yes, we will be sure to cover photovoltaics and solar hot water systems. However, what I hope to instill in you is an interest to go out and learn more about solar energy as it changes dramatically in the next decade. I want you to have the tools to see why certain technologies have great potential for adoption over many regions, while others are waiting in the wings for the right price point to emerge from a niche market. Still other technologies are vaporware, and I will warn you not to hold out your hopes for things like transparent PV windows (think about it).
--Russel Ackoff