Spring Break
'Smart Energy' presents alternate energy sources
Nelly Singh
Issue date: 7/11/08 Section: News
As gas prices climb and the concern for environmental consequences and limited supply of natural resources grows, people such as Jason Baxter, assistant professor at the College of Engineering, are attempting to understand and educate about technologies that may lead to alternative sources of energy.
Baxter presented "Smart Energy, Solar Energy" July 2 to feed the "growing interest of the [Drexel] community and around Drexel in alternative energy and sustainability in the environment."
According to Baxter, "Solar power will make the biggest impact," compared to other carbon neutral energy sources such as hydroelectric, wind and geothermal.
"It is in everybody's best interest to look into alternative sources of energy right now… [Other than] typical costs, there are environmental consequences from fossil fuels and political costs since they are most often located in places that are politically unstable," Baxter said.
Carbon dioxide concentrations have increased 75 percent since the industrial revolution, and although correlation doesn't necessarily imply causation, scientists believe the correlation between carbon dioxide and rising temperatures is distinct, according to Baxter and other scientists.
Even if we can harness the power of all of the fossil fuels, at some point the demand will outpace the fossil fuel supply, according to Baxter.
Representing Drexel Green, Jameson Detweiler, a civil engineering graduate student, introduced Drexel Green's mission and status and also advocated sustainability because resources "are finite."
Drexel can be active not only in becoming greener in its physical and education structure but also in the research field because of Baxter's and others' research on sustainability issues, according to Detweiler.
Carbon dioxide reduction requires clean energy, also known as carbon neutral energy. The main sources are hydroelectric, which generates one terawatt, wind generates two terawatts, and geothermal generates 12 terawatts. Solar energy, on the other hand, generates 600 terawatts. One terawatt is equivalent to the power generated by 10 billion light bulbs or 1,000 nuclear plants, according to Baxter.
It is important to focus research on solar energy, because it is the most efficient carbon neutral source, Baxter said, and the best solar cells are only 30 percent efficient an costly.
Baxter is currently researching nanowire dye sensitized solar cells, which are much cheaper than the more common solar cells we see on rooftops and on roadside remote emergency phones. His aim is to understand the fundamentals, improve the electron transport and reduce recombination which will help to design more efficient solar cells in the future, according to Baxter.
Baxter says he hopes to educate pre-college students from the Philadelphia School District through presentations and workshops, as well as advise Drexel Green about solar power.
Baxter presented "Smart Energy, Solar Energy" July 2 to feed the "growing interest of the [Drexel] community and around Drexel in alternative energy and sustainability in the environment."
According to Baxter, "Solar power will make the biggest impact," compared to other carbon neutral energy sources such as hydroelectric, wind and geothermal.
"It is in everybody's best interest to look into alternative sources of energy right now… [Other than] typical costs, there are environmental consequences from fossil fuels and political costs since they are most often located in places that are politically unstable," Baxter said.
Carbon dioxide concentrations have increased 75 percent since the industrial revolution, and although correlation doesn't necessarily imply causation, scientists believe the correlation between carbon dioxide and rising temperatures is distinct, according to Baxter and other scientists.
Even if we can harness the power of all of the fossil fuels, at some point the demand will outpace the fossil fuel supply, according to Baxter.
Representing Drexel Green, Jameson Detweiler, a civil engineering graduate student, introduced Drexel Green's mission and status and also advocated sustainability because resources "are finite."
Drexel can be active not only in becoming greener in its physical and education structure but also in the research field because of Baxter's and others' research on sustainability issues, according to Detweiler.
Carbon dioxide reduction requires clean energy, also known as carbon neutral energy. The main sources are hydroelectric, which generates one terawatt, wind generates two terawatts, and geothermal generates 12 terawatts. Solar energy, on the other hand, generates 600 terawatts. One terawatt is equivalent to the power generated by 10 billion light bulbs or 1,000 nuclear plants, according to Baxter.
It is important to focus research on solar energy, because it is the most efficient carbon neutral source, Baxter said, and the best solar cells are only 30 percent efficient an costly.
Baxter is currently researching nanowire dye sensitized solar cells, which are much cheaper than the more common solar cells we see on rooftops and on roadside remote emergency phones. His aim is to understand the fundamentals, improve the electron transport and reduce recombination which will help to design more efficient solar cells in the future, according to Baxter.
Baxter says he hopes to educate pre-college students from the Philadelphia School District through presentations and workshops, as well as advise Drexel Green about solar power.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
sakura
posted 7/26/08 @ 2:17 PM EST
it is heartening to see that people are realising the importance as well as the urgency involved in the development of this field. the need of the hour is undoubtedly opening the eyes of people around the world about the facts of global warming. (Continued…)
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