SUNY College of Technology

Jeffrey Stevens, Associate Professor

Electrical Trades Department Renewable Energy Training

Renewable Energy Projects

for your Classroom

Integrate the projects into the

classroom (curriculum)

Lessons learned:

At first… I thought full systems were better ...not true!

1. Student’s ability to manage & operate

2. The more expensive & complex the…

3. Less set-up and tear-down…

4. Multiuse…recruitment and demonstrations

Two methods/techniques

1. Purchase –

out of catalog or off the shelf

2. Build/Design –

from your classroom/supply closet

Two methods/techniques

1. Purchase –

out of catalog or off the shelf

Pros: cleaner, complete, ready to go

Cons: is the process understood, repairs/parts,

half the fun…

1. Purchase – out of catalog or off the shelf2. Build/Design

Pros: you understand the process,

integration / it’s about inclusion,

know the repair, student involvement,

always room to improve/modify

Cons: maintain safety, less flair/pizazz,

you need to enjoy, as the teacher, before they will…

The repertoire…

Kill a Watt meter Watts up Pro(approx. $30) (approx. $140)

Both measure energy (volts, amps, watts, Kw)

Kill a Watt is portable and measures PF

Watts up is recordable and a computer interface

Provide visual of energy usage/cost

The “extra fridge” in my house $$$Cost me

The repertoire… P.S. - Let’s take this to the classroom.

In Wellsville, NY, I pay – 3.5 cents ($.03) per kWh

consumed.

At $20.04 per month, how many kWh is that?

OR

How about at your home? Most electric customers pay

12 – 17 cents ($.12-$.17) per kw. That is how much per

month for your grandmother’s old fridge?

The Vandegraph Generator:

(Van de Graaff ) $100- $400

-The best attention-getter

-Standard 120V or

GO GREEN

-Invert 12V – 120V (renewable) battery powered

-Demonstrate basic energy principles

The repertoire…

WinDynamo II Wind Generator (approx. $300) (www.pitsco.com)

-Activity board for converting energy –light/sound/mechanical

-Adjustable blades – manipulate wind

-Recordable set points for analysis

-Low to high wind use

-Standard fan

-Variable loads

The repertoire…

Handheld Anemometer –($65-$110)

www.inspeedstore.com

Portable

Wind games

MPH/KPH

Puts a tangible factor into wind

power

The repertoire…

PV panels – 5 Watt, 10 Watt ($65–$85)

www.dcpowersystems.com

(Contact me for my distributers)

Multi crystalline silicon photovoltaic module

Just like the big boys’/girls’

Portable/gangable (array build)

Powers small loads (lights, pump)

The repertoire…

The system offers three small 15-watt

panels which can be grouped together

to train on array sizing and basic

electrical theories.

The output devices can be altered with

a digital meter reading, aiding in

showing load and production variances.

Cost: $160-$250

The repertoire… PV tabletop demo www.harborfreight.com

Attic vent fan

The repertoire… A small 400W turbine on a

adjustable pole for training

and demonstration.

Turbine – $800

Tower – $300

• Allows “field” tests

• 12V battery charge

• “Mobile”

• Real

Envi Current Cost Meter (approx. $150) Whole house measurement, as well as, individual appliances Measures and records energy, with cost analysis (volts, amps,

watts, Kw) Connect into main panel board or circuits Recordable and computer interfaced Provides visual of energy usage/cost

The repertoire…

This Davis Weather

System has offered a

surprising level of interest.

Weather patterns

Solar insolation/ UV

Wind speed/max

Rain/barometer

Tons of data & #s

System :

$300-$800

+ 42” Monitor Display

Helps make the theories and numbers REAL!

The repertoire…

Fuel Cell Car (PV)–

(approx. $125)

www.sciencefirst.com

www.pitsco.com

Powered by battery or PV

Ability to combine technology

Hybrid training – multiple trades

Numerous experiments

The repertoire… “ Build it and they will come”

Give them the vision and the opportunity……

and

they will come RUNNING !

The repertoire… “ Build it and they will come”

Give them the vision and the opportunity……

and

they will come RUNNING !

The students, that is…back for more!

Using the students, we have modified and added to the collection.

Combining projects and components.

Two methods/techniques

1. Purchase –

out of catalog or off the shelf

2. Build/Design –

from your classroom/supply closet

Energy Light Box

This is by far one of the most popular

Compare energy usage of standard and CF bulbs

Use along with a Kill a Watt meter

Parts: Keyless light fixtures, wire, box, receptacle boxes, bulbs (incandescent and CF)

Folks love this – ratio is visual (4:1)

Light output is the same

Low Voltage

CF (Compact Fluorescent)/LED

Battery Build

•Measurable amperages and voltage to compare use

•Power with PV modules or batteries

•Multiple applications for labs

• Visual aspect: renewables & alternate sources

Pump PV Demonstration - $150+

Using the 10Watt PV panels

( add more modules to build an array)

Water (fans work, too)

SEE the orientation to the sun

(Azimuth and Altitude)

12V RV pump moves energy from the sun

working (or not)

Great for watching the effects of shading

Battery Bank / Supplies

($10; leads: $5/dozen)

Learn basic energy series and parallel circuits

(See PV design and install manual – SEI)

We use the battery to teach PV array

configurations without the extensive wiring

Safe but real (fuse protection)

PLC Music Box

($130 base)

Demonstrate advanced concepts in

practical/fun ways.

Building blocks

Basic to advanced logic controller

programming

Capstone class/student project

Just a few for starters :

PV Systems: ATP publishers (ISBN 978-0-8269-1287-9)

PV Design and Installation: (SEI) New Society Publishers

(ISBN 978-0-86571-520-2)

Greening School Grounds: New Society Publishers

(ISBN 086571-436-3)

Energy For Keeps: Energy Education Group

(ISBN 09744765-2-8)

Wind Power: Paul Gipe, Chelsea Green Publishing

(ISBN 1-931498-14-8)

The Home Energy Diet: Paul Scheckel, New Society Publishers

(ISBN 978-0-86571-530-1)

Books and Resources

Some nice starters:

Home Power

Mother Earth News

BackHome

Green Builder (free)

Ener-G (free)

EC&M (free) electrical orientated

Magazines and Trade Publications

NYSERDA

NREL

Solar Energy International

ASES- American Solar Energy Society

AWEA – American Wind Energy Association

US DOE – Department of Energy

EnergyStar.com

Don’t Forget the Web:

Have Patience…. It takes time.

Starts as a nice ‘wow’ toy, grows to…

Student focused – Student-to-Student

Utilized in public awareness and recruitment

Please contact us – for further resources!

Don’t Forget the Web:

Remember: alfredstate.edu

You’re here...this is for your use

Remember…

for us, it’s a new way of thinking and teaching, and LIVING.

For our students it’s just

the way to LIVE!

To them,

renewable is NATURAL!

Please stop by and visit our

Alternative Energy Training Center

School of Applied Technology

See renewable training for the

Green Collar Workforce in action!

www.alfredstate.edu

Thank you!

Any questions?