Going Solar
Article by Tessa Schwarze
When you look around a college campus, you might observe many vehicles. One vehicle that is growing in popularity for facilities and for recreation is the golf cart. The Novel Applications of Photovoltaics Creative Inquiry team wants to use these carts as a model for going solar on Clemson’s campus. They view the carts as the grounds for research, a platform of insight into energy conservation and the means to reduce our carbon emissions.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency lists the two leading contributors of human–generated carbon emissions as transportation and electrical production. The Creative Inquiry team aims to confront both of these agents by utilizing an alternative form of energy for transportation on campus. To do so, their first creation is a solar powered golf cart.
Dr. Rajendra Singh from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is the mentor of this Creative Inquiry team. Singh said that in the past eight years, the solar energy mindset has been growing, but has not been recognized to its full potential. “One hour of solar power can power the entire world for one year,” Singh stated, “but the question is, what is the cheapest way to implement solar power?”
The Creative Inquiry team thinks the answer lies with a golf cart and $664.92 in electrical additions. The vehicle itself is relatively average looking until a closer look: the roof is completely flat, surrounded by a metal frame and if one were to look down upon it from above, they would see a blue panel at work, absorbing the sun.
What the cart lacks in glamour, it makes up for in savings. The team collected data on the golf cart’s efficiency and found an increase in drive time by 39.42% and in distance traveled by 74.11% in comparison to a standard, gas powered cart. The maintenance of the solar cart is also less than a gas powered cart, approximately $130 a year. If implemented on campus, a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of approximately 1,100 lbs a year is expected. In addition, the university would save on gas money and improve air quality for the campus community and visitors.
Libby Zanin, a senior biosystems engineering major, said that even though the cart’s potential savings are extensive, there is still room for more improvement. “We used a poor quality panel, and still saw an increase in efficiency,” Zanin said, “If we used a 400–500 watt panel, the cart could run for the entire day.” When asked about where they want their invention implemented, Zanin has a request for the university. “I want to see all Clemson carts solar. If charging stations are available, Clemson can easily cut down on emissions and save money.”
CONTACT
Barbara J. Speziale
Director
(864)656-1550
bjspz@clemson.edu
Cora Allard-Keese
Assistant Director
(864)656-0721
callara@clemson.edu