(59) Photovoltaics at Sewanee

The worldwide push away from fossil fuels, whose carbon emissions are considered by most climate scientists as the main driver of current global warming trends, has generated demand for clean and sustainable energy sources... [ view full abstract ]

The worldwide push away from fossil fuels, whose carbon emissions are considered by most climate scientists as the main driver of current global warming trends, has generated demand for clean and sustainable energy sources like solar or wind. I am hoping to contribute to this effort toward sustainable and renewable energy, and this is the reason why I decided to explore both the physics and engineering of photovoltaics as my first physics research project. I seek to understand how photovoltaic technology is created and operates by doing electrical and optical laboratory testing of both polycrystalline and monocrystalline silicon-based solar cells and modules. I am also exploring integrated photovoltaic systems and learning how they are installed and perform under local sunlight and weather conditions. To this end, I am analyzing the student-accessible solar arrays at Sewanee, which are located on the Lake Dimmick boathouse and on Snowden Hall. I aim to determine if these arrays are utilized to their full capacity, and if they are not, whether and how they can be improved. I believe that learning about the physics as well as the engineering aspects is equally important for anyone interested in pursuing or using photovoltaics, so I will explain both to the public through my physics seminar talk and Scholarship Sewanee poster.