Renewable Energy Projects
Renewable energy (solar and wind power) can be a leading force in moving our society toward sustainability. The Environmental Studies Program is excited to offer renewable energy project opportunities as part of the graduate educational experience. Recently, two renewable energy projects were completed: 1) the construction of a solar powered electric bicycle that was raced in the 2005 Solar Bike Rayce in Topeka, Kansas by a team of EVST graduate students and 2) design and construction of a solar power system to supply electrical power to a rebuilding project in post-Katrina New Orleans, Louisiana. Understanding renewable energy and applying it to create real world solutions is best accomplished through projects rather than classroom work. Students participating in such projects can receive credit for their participation through independent study or internship credits, if they so desire.
Solar Bike Rayce
In May, 2005 a group of four EVST graduate students traveled to Heartland Park Raceway in Topeka, Kansas to race a solar powered electric bicycle in the annual Solar Bike Rayce.
The bicycle was powered by two twelve volt batteries that drove an electric hub motor connected to two on board solar panels. During a break in the race, the bikes recharge using a larger array.
Watch video of the EVST Team competing as number 33 in the rayce:
Video of Solar Bike Rayce qualifying
Video of the Solar Bike Rayce 2005
Check out the Solar Bike Rayce website at http://www.solarbike.org/
New Orleans: Rebuilding with Solar Power
The Environmental Studies Program partnered with the Tulane City Center, the Kansas State School of Architecture and the non-profit Project Locus to help rebuild a community museum and the home of museum operator Ronald Lewis in the Lower Ninth Ward that was destroyed by flooding the wake of Hurricane Katrina in August, 2005.
Faculty member Len Broberg designed and constructed a portable solar power trailer that was used to provide all electrical power needed for reconstruction on the site.
Ronald Lewis with the solar power trailer (left). Kansas State students and Project Locus volunteers work on installing the side panel support(right).
The system used three 24 volt, 170 watt solar panels to supply power to a 3500 watt DC to AC inverter and a bank of 12 volt/100 amp hour batteries. Data is being collected from the system to analyze the power generated and used as part of an ongoing research project.
Following completion of the initial project, the trailer will either be made available on other rebuilding sites or used to provide power for community projects/centers as determined by the partners. Solar power provides a resilient and useful power source in New Orleans and could contribute to the ability of the community to weather repeated storm events.
System under construction!!
For more about the House of Dance and Feathers rebuilding project visit http://www.projectlocus.org/hodf.htm
