UAF Resource Assessment and Feasibility Study

Project Description:  The University of Alaska Fairbanks Facilities Services Department has asked ACEP to conduct a resource assessment and feasibility study into putting a 1-MW solar array on the hillside south of the Butrovich Building on campus.

The study is comprised of two parts--one is putting a meteorological tower that measures solar irradiance on the hillside, and the other is studying the economics of active versus passive snow removal from simulated solar panels.  For the latter study, two undergraduate students were recruited to time how long it would take to actively keep the simulated solar panels free of snow.  In return for their efforts, they are being mentored through an independent course of study on different renewable energy technologies.

Project Update:  
On Tuesday, January 28th  Dr. Daisy Huang collected temperature data at the simulated solar panel site located next the Butrovich building, noting that the panels had not accumulated snow to date.

Project Lead:  Dr. Daisy Huang, ACEP Faculty Reseacher
Project Funding:  Undergraduate Research & Scholarly Activity (URSA)
Project Research Partners:  University of Alaska Fairbanks Facilities Services Department and URSA

 

Photo Caption:  Daisy Huang collects thermal data on simulated solar panels adjacent to the Butrovich Building at UAF.  
Photo courtesy D. Huang, ACEP/UAF.