Center for Renewable Energy Advanced Technological Education Award # 1600936 CREATE Solar Institutes: Integrating Solar Energy Technology with Traditional STEM Curriculum Kenneth A. Walz, Ph.D. Madison Area Technical College This work was supported by the National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education Program, award # 1600934. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. Hi Tech Conference Salt Lake City, UT July 20, 2017
CREATE Principal lnvestigators Kathy Alfano Roger Ebbage Joel Shoemaker Ken Walz
Let s Examine Some Global Trends in Energy Consumption
We live at a historic time Source: Smil V. Energy Transitions: History, Requirements and Prospects. Santa Barbara, CA, 2010
global wind energy growth global solar PV energy growth cumulative installed capacity (GW) 500 400 300 200 100 0 Source: GWEC 17 24 31 Estimated 6.8 GW of wind added in the US in 2016 39 48 59 74 238 198 159 94 121 318 283 370 433 cumulative installed capacity (GW) 250.0 200.0 150.0 100.0 50.0 0.0 Estimated 13.9 GW of solar PV added in the US in 2016 Source: IEA 1.4 1.8 2.2 2.8 3.9 5.3 6.9 9.4 16 23 40 61 229 179 139 101 global biofuels growth green electricity purchasing growth annual production (billions of gallons) 40.0 30.0 20.0 10.0 Estimated 16.9 B gal of biofuel added in the US in 2016 Source: US EIA 5 5 6 7 8 10 12 16 21 24 28 28 29 31 34 35 Source: NREL 0.0
Record low cost clean electricity!
Trends in RE Education 2000: Few RE education programs Non-profit advocates and pioneers 2017: LOTS of RE education programs Many schools and colleges engaged Many new RE instructors Teacher Prep? Prof Dev? Access to curriculum? equipment? Best Practices?
Our observations? - Strong need for access to equipment, tools, and hands-on instruction - Instructors need both content (for those switching disciplines) and pedagogy (for those new to teaching) - Value of integration of HS and CC instructors
The goal of the CREATE Center is to support two-year college renewable energy programs. NSF Award # 1600934 2016-2020 Five key objectives: 1) Providing support for renewable energy faculty 2) Establishing industry and academic partnerships. 3) Promoting technician careers 4) Addressing technician knowledge, skills, and competencies 5) Distributing exemplary instructional materials
Faculty Needs Survey to Prioritize Create Activities - Conducted in Oct 2016
Would you be willing to participate in professional development opportunities using the following delivery methods? Mark all that apply # % participating in 3-5 day summer professional development workshops 61 75 receiving a CREATE newsletter and communications regarding renewable energy opportunities 48 59 participating in online webinars on renewable energy topics/technologies 43 53 accessing or contributing to an online showcase of renewable energy instructional materials 39 48 participating in an online community of Renewable energy faculty 37 46 participating in forums to gain international perspective on renewable energy 31 38 participating in 1-2 day workshops before or after a conference 28 35 Summer professional development workshops stand out as the strongest preference,
Weighted priority for professional development in Energy topics/technologies Weighted score Photovoltaics 168 Energy Storage (i.e. Batteries) 133 Energy Management and Building Design 102 Solar Thermal 94 Wind 87 Special Topics 81 Biomass/Biogas 40 Energy Policy 40 Energy/Water Nexus 37 Liquid Bio Fuels (e.g. ethanol & biodiesel) 37 Hydropower 32 International Perspective On Renewable Energy (Study Abroad & Global Literacy) 31 Geothermal 30 Solar Photovoltaics was the topic of greatest demand.
Priority for Solar PV Score Model Hands-on Student Activities 123 Lab Manuals/Lab Experiments 97 Problem/Project Based Learning Activities 96 Textbooks 84 Video Clips or Narrated Slide Presentations to Support Online or Hybrid Instruction 61 Model Course Syllabi 42 Test Banks, Sample Exams, & Sample Quizzes 40 Homework Problems and Exercises 34 Model Facilities and/or Instructional Laboratory Design Specifications and Plans 32 VERY STRONG preference for hands-on activities, labs, and projects.
Weighted priority for professional development in pedagogical/instructional topics Weighted score Integrating industry standards and certifications with renewable energy program and curriculum design 163 Analyzing your job market to create a program tailored to your workforce needs 144 Improving industry partnerships 135 Creating renewable energy articulation agreements and career pathways between high schools, community colleges and univesities 132 Understanding funding resources available from NSF 81 Developing internship programs 80 Recruiting a more diverse and gender balanced student population 79 Developing a competitive proposal for an NSF program 63
How is CREATE using these results?
Madison WI, July 25-27, 2017 Seattle, WA Aug 8-10, 2017
Solar Institute Instructors Cris Folk, Madison College Joel Shoemaker, Madison College Ken Walz, Madison College Scott Liddicoat, Green Bay High School
Solar Institute Agenda Three days Bench scale solar activities Using a Pyranometer Solar pathfinder PV Watts IV Curve Measurement Install a full-size, working PV system Review PV curriculum available Discuss implementation in classroom
Using a Pyranometer Direction Irradiance (W/m^2) Vertical 923 Normal 1050 Horizontal 742 Reflected (light surface) 324 Reflected (dark surface) 211 Shaded 67
Using a Solar Pathfinder 2. Solar Window The three hours on either side of solar noon when the sun is at its highest altitude and greatest intensity for the day.
Which of these is a better site for solar panels?
The bank requires a 90% unobstructed solar window for a loan on a solar system. Do these sites qualify?
Estimating Solar Performance
Let s use Madison College as an example
Using the specified system size, tilt, and azimuth, with default system loss values
Compare this with my home
Solar IV curve measurement
Hands on Installation of Full Size Residential Systems
Fully Commissioned and Interconnected System
WI Solar Institute Pilot Workshops WI (15)
Solar Institute Pilot Outcomes The 28 teachers from 2015 and 2016 teach approximately 3,690 HS students, 720 MS students, and 220 CC students each year. 100% would recommend training to colleague 15-20% increase in content knowledge (pre/post test scores) Follow up evaluation of student impact is in progress I liked the training and it gave us a chance to see and learn more about career options to share with our students.
A model for CCàHS Outreach Brings HS teachers to the CC campus Provides HS teachers with access to tools, equipment, and real world applications Provides HS teachers with a first hand view of opportunities for students in technical careers Provides HS teacher with a platform for professional development and advancement Fosters dialogue between HS and CC instructors. Establishment of faculty teams.
Madison College Madison, WI July 25-27, 2017 Future Solar Institutes Shoreline CC Seattle, WA Aug 8-10, 2017 Colorado & Maine 2018
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Thank you for your attention! Questions? For more information see: www.createenergy.org