A Place in the Sun
UT a leader in solar power
At The University of Toledo, researchers are combining cutting-edge knowledge and a passion for alternative energy to help change the course of green technologies in northwest Ohio and beyond.
“We’re working with various businesses to improve the accessibility and affordability of alternative energy,” says Robert Collins, PhD, Nippon Electric Glass (NEG) Endowed Chair and physics professor at The University of Toledo. “Our initiative is creating more jobs and better energy sources, which is great for the economy and the environment.” One specific area of alternative energy being researched is photovoltaics (PV) or solar electricity.
Converting sunlight into electricity
“Because there are no polluting byproducts from converting sunlight into electricity, it is a green energy source,” says Dr. Collins. On a small scale, solar energy can be harnessed and used to power calculators and highway signs. On a larger scale, solar energy panels on roofs can power houses and factories. “The idea of using solar panels is popular right now because people want to reduce their carbon footprint,” he says.
Al Compaan, PhD, UT Distinguished University Professor of Physics, cites another important reason to harness solar energy: “It generates home-grown energy, so we don’t have to rely on other countries for our energy needs, which improves our country's security, balance of payments, and job creation.”
Sylvain Marsillac, PhD, associate professor, Department of physics says this home-grown aspect is literal – solar energy is viable right here in Ohio. “People think you can only produce solar electricity in places where it’s warm and sunny. But in Ohio, we can produce nearly 80 percent of the solar energy that you could in Florida,” he says.
Making solar energy affordable
Solar electricity is typically cost prohibitive for residents and businesses. However, researchers at UT believe they can help change that. “The average price to install solar energy comes out to about $8 per watt of power, or about $25,000 for an average-sized house,” Dr. Collins says. “To make it cheaper, we are trying to partner with local companies.” For example, improved communication between solar panel builders and installation professionals will ensure that the panels will be easily and properly installed, which will help lower costs.
Additionally, UT researchers are leading the way in thin-film technology to decrease solar electricity costs. Just as a thin film of diamond on a steel drill bit provides durability, a thin film of semiconductors on a low-cost steel foil provides electrical current when exposed to light. “Thin films provide low cost functionality that, in the case of solar electricity, will reduce module production costs to as low as $1 per watt,” Dr. Collins says.
Increasing solar energy quality
UT researchers are leaders in quality control. To help reduce production costs, researchers scan each solar cell during production, ensuring they are making the most efficient product. Similar to a grocery store barcode, the information they collect can help factories make more panels, reduce unusable material and decrease error throughout the process.
Shining the light on solar energy
UT researchers also are moving their work from the lab to the marketplace. “We have not only built a strong center to research solar electricity, but we’re assisting new companies to start manufacturing modules for generating solar electricity,” Dr. Compaan says.
First Solar was one of the first alternative energy companies to collaborate with UT. Today, they are the nation’s largest manufacturer of solar modules. “We want to help companies improve their products and lower their costs, which will make solar energy more widely accessible,” says Dr. Compaan.
UT’s efforts in helping a few alternative energy companies has been so successful over the last 20 years that they built the Clean and Alternative Energy Incubator to leverage this experience more broadly. UT’s incubator provides start-up companies with the facilities, research, inventions and other tools to succeed. Solar Fields LLC and Xunlight Corporation were two of the first companies to call UT’s incubator home. Today, both are creative, independent companies, bringing many "green collar" job opportunities to the greater Toledo area. Current companies at the incubator include Advanced Distributed Generation, H2 Engine Systems and SuGanit Systems.
UT’s photovoltaic experts also are sharing their knowledge with the next generation of solar innovators. Dr. Marsillac taught a graduate-level course as part of a program to bring UT students from physics, engineering, chemistry and other disciplines together to learn about solar cells.
This is part of UT researchers’ efforts to increase solar energy awareness and usability throughout the community and beyond. “Improving the public’s understanding will change the way Americans think about alternative energy, which will help lead our world to a clean, sustainable future,” says Dr. Compaan.
To learn more about how UT innovation is benefiting Toledo and the world, call (877) 451-2299.
