Solar Energy Education: Professional Science Master s Solar Energy Engineering & Commercialization Arizona State University Patrick Phelan phelan@asu.edu Karen Dada kdada@asu.edu
Are We Ready for the Future of Solar Energy Development? US employment in solar energy grew by 6.8% from 2010-11 Global demand for solar energy professionals also is growing
Desired Skills by Solar Energy Firms M. Pasqualetti and S. Haag, "A solar economy in the American Southwest: Critical next steps," Energy Policy, vol. 39, pp. 887-893, 2011 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
Professional Science Master s Degrees PSM degree model combines attributes from rigorous science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) technical coursework with nontechnical skills learned in MBAs, Communications Management degrees, and the like. 249 PSM programs at 117 institutions
PSM Solar Energy Engineering & Commercialization Offers advanced interdisciplinary education in solar energy to students with backgrounds in STEM fields. Strives to enable graduates to pursue careers in industry, government, or the nonprofit sector, that involve solar energy and its utilization.
PSM SEEC Timeline 4/2010 7/2010 PSM SEEC Program Established 1/2011 First Cohort of 6 Students Enrolled 8/2011 Second Cohort of 9 Students Enrolled 12/2011 First Students Graduate ASU Receives Grant Award from NSF
Curriculum Required Courses Solar Energy Colloquium Discussion-oriented class focusing on topical issues in solar energy. Students must have completed a course in thermodynamics, or a course in electric power systems as preparation for this course. Solar Energy & Public Policy (Tempe/DC) An introduction to solar energy policy, taken in conjunction with a Science Outside the Lab seminar in Washington, DC. The course is comprised up of a series of discussions, some based on readings, other focused on guest speakers.
Program Curriculum Required Courses (15 credits) Solar Energy Colloquium Solar Policy Photovoltaics Engineering Applied Project (6 credits) 30 Credits Technical Electives (6-9 credits) Solar Cells Solar Thermal Engineering Power Transmission & Distribution Reliability & Standards for Photovoltaics Non-Technical Electives (6-9 credits) Utilities, Sustainability 7 the Law Strategic Enterprise Innovation Project Management Methodologies
Curriculum Required Courses Photovoltaic Cells (sample of available options) Applied Photovoltaics Overview of solar radiation, operating principles, qualitative analysis on influencing parameters, market trends, basics of PV systems. Solar Energy Introduce basic concepts of the operation of photovoltaic devices, the major technologies, and the impact of materials and device structure on the conversion efficiency. Students gain a knowledge of the physics of operation of the major commercial solar cell technologies and how they are integrated into solar cell systems.
Popular Course Options Renewable Power Plant Design Discusses technical and nontechnical issues concerning utility-scale, renewable-energy power plants. All manner of potential renewable energy technologies are of interest, including wind, solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, geothermal, wave/tidal, biomass, landfill gas, etc. Solar Commercialization Introduces students to the commercial aspects of solar photovoltaic project development to increase understanding of commercial solar industry dynamics, issues and trends.
Applied Projects Culminating experience for students Faculty Advisor & Industry Advisor Project, Conference Paper and Presentation Projects can be: Student Driven Industry Sponsored Faculty Recommendation Technical or Non-Technical
Initial Applied Projects Applied Project Solar Powered Bus Stop Industrial Advisor City of Mesa Solar Air Conditioning Natural Power & Energy: Solar Made Easy (Incorporates solar engineering, financial forecasting and graphic userinterface design) Business Potential in Distributed Solar Thermal with Natural Gas Backup Framework for Analysis and Decision Making on High Penetration Distributed PV TUV Rheinland Natural Power & Energy TUV Rheinland/Flux Energy Arizona Public Service
Success = a self-sufficient supported by program fees Allocation of Funds ASU Overhead Student Support Administration
Financial Assistance to PSM Students Funding Sources NSF Fellowship ASU Scholarships Workforce Development 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 % Students Receiving Financial Assistance Spring 2011 Fall 2011 Spring 2012 Fall 2012
Industrial Advisory Board Abengoa Solar Arizona Public Service City of Phoenix First Solar Flux Energy Natural Power & Energy Quarles & Brady Salt River Project Smart Power
Student Enrollment 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Underrepresented Students
Residency Status of Students International 25% Resident 31% Non-Resident 44%
Acknowledgements This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. DGE-1011691. The authors also gratefully acknowledge financial support provided directly to students from the City of Phoenix Workforce Development Program and from the ASU Graduate College. Patrick Phelan, PhD phelan@asu.edu Karen Dada kdada@asu.edu
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