In a significant stride towards advancing sustainable engineering education, Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) proudly unveils its latest innovation – the Engineering Solar Lab. Embarked upon on August 3, 2023, this state-of-the-art facility epitomizes PVAMU’s steadfast commitment to renewable energy research and education.
The solar lab has been meticulously designed to accommodate a sophisticated solar array system. Spearheaded by Dr. John Fuller, Dr. Ali and doctoral student Anthony Hill. The lab aims to equip PhD and MS students with the skills essential for navigating the future landscape of engineering, particularly in the area of alternative energy sources.
Presently, the site boasts solar power capabilities, with final preparations underway to activate floodlights, entrance gates, security systems, and the building infrastructure. With both single-phase 120-volt power and 208-volt three-phase power installed, the lab stands ready to facilitate comprehensive research endeavors.
A recent milestone was marked with the completion of the installation of the final solar array system, underscoring the lab’s preparedness for operation. The solar lab consists of five systems, featuring two types of platforms – fixed and tracking the sun. This diversity in platform types allows for a comprehensive exploration of solar energy capture methods, providing invaluable insights for future research and development.
Anthony Hill’s expertise has been instrumental in implementing a live monitoring system within the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) building, enabling real-time tracking of the solar lab’s performance through WiFi connectivity. This system provides invaluable insights into voltage, current, power levels, charging/discharging status, power consumption trends, and more, empowering students and researchers with actionable data for their projects.
With a current capacity of approximately 45kW, the Engineering Solar Lab aims to scale up to 500kW, with aspirations of eventually powering campus buildings. Situated adjacent to Highway 1098 on the Northwest side of the PVAMU campus, the lab already stands as a beacon of sustainable engineering, illuminating the night with its eco-friendly energy sources.
Contrary to misconceptions, the lab’s operations do not add to the university’s electric bill; instead, it harnesses free solar energy collected during the day for nighttime usage, embodying sustainability at its core. Funded by the Department of Education’s Title III program, the Engineering Solar Lab is poised to become fully operational for the Summer 2024 session.
Beyond research, the facility will be seamlessly integrated into courses for PhD and MS students, enriching their academic experience and fostering hands-on learning opportunities. It will serve as a platform for groundbreaking research, educational experimentation, sensor projects, master’s theses, and PhD dissertations, solidifying PVAMU’s position as a leader in sustainable engineering education.
As PVAMU continues to champion innovation and sustainability, the Engineering Solar Lab stands as a beacon of hope, inspiring future generations of engineering leaders equipped to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges.
Quote from Dr. John Fuller, “Don’t blame Engineering for unnecessarily increasing the University electric bill, because it is free energy. The entire solar site is powered by solar energy. Collected in the daytime from the sun and used at night by stored solar energy. All energy dissipated at the solar lab site is from solar energy, that will allow our engineering students to do educational experimental work on Senor Projects, Master’s Thesis and PhD Dissertations. Lab is developed by funding from the Department of Education, Title III program and will be fully operational for the Summer 2024 session.”