Energis Solar

Teaching solar Energy Applications Using In-House Developed Testbench
A. U.Chuky 3. Oni, F.Kuate
Department of Electrical Engineering Tuskegee University Tuskegee, AL 36066

E.Overton NASA Glenn Research Center 2 1000 Brookpark Road Cleveland, Ohio 444 135

Keywords: Solar Energy, Adequacy, O t m l control, Design Projects,Training and pia Research
Abstract
The demand for energy fromfossil fuel continues to increase, especially io countries such as China and some developing countries. However, known reserves of fossil fuel continue to decrease with resultant increase in the unit cost of oil. This economic consideration, coupled with environmental degradation has spurred renewed interest Io alternative energy resources, especially solar energy and photovoltaic technology andapplications. The United States of America has established a national goal on the increased utilization and penetration of sobr energy. A roadmap, published in January 2000 by a group ob experts from the U S .. industry, sets very ambitious goals for the next twenty years. Specifically, the U,S. industry looks to install 6 gigawatt peak (GWp) worldwide, and to lower the cost to end users to $ 3 perwatt AC in 2010 and approach 0 1.50 per watt AC in 2020. This requires the training of students to meet the A solar energy envisaged workforce. testbench has been developed in the Electrical Engineering Department of Tuskegee University to provide this needed training to Ti h s paper discusses the students. development o f this testbench and the utilization of this testbench to illustrate the designconcepts of adequacy, efficiency and optimal control of solar generated electric energy. Concepts developed using the testbench can be validated on the larger scale in the Tuskcgee University solar house and renewable energy center. Design projects completed by students are discussed and the dual utilization of this testbench for training students also in power electronics discussed, includingpossible design projects. Finally, an envisaged expansion of the testbench is discussed and the additional advantages and utilization for teaching and research presented

I. Introduction
The supply of a reliable energy at an afiordable price is necessary for the welfare of any nation. Presently, the demand for energy fkom fossil fuel continues to increase, especially in countries such as China andotber developing countries. However, knowa reserves of fossil fuel continue to decrease wt the resultant increase in the unit ih cost of oil. The utilization of fossil fuel has also been accompanied by increased environmental degradation

In 2001, worldwide annual primary energy consumption reached 397.4 quads [I]. The developed countries of the world consumed approximately 75% of this energy,while 2 billion people in developing countries, mostly within the tropics, remained without electricity. It is also shown that in 2000, North America with a population of 5% of the world consumed 30% of the world's energy while China and India od with nearly one third of the w r s population consumed 12% of the world's energy [3].As the developing countries strive to achieve energy equityktandardof living with the developed world, the pressure on the available energy resources will continue to increase as now evident ffom the present unit cost of and gas.
Most developed countries have recently seen tbe hand writing on the wall and intensified emphasis on research and production of alternate energy resources, especially renewable energy. The renewable energy technologies that have0-7803-8808-9/05/$20.00 02005 TEEE

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achieved increase improvement in economic comparison with conventional energy sources are photovoltaic and wind energy systems. The economic comparison with conventional sources is sure to receive further boost as environmental and social costs of power generation are included in the 1 1 1 picture [4]. Developed countries have, therefore, taken policy...