UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS SMART GRID DEMONSTRATION PROJECT
Impact/Purpose:
Current students at KU have built a small-scale solar energy filling station for Remote Control (RC) cars, along with upgrading an unused barn into a model of solar plug-in technologies for automobiles. These options provide only a one-way flow of energy from the sun to a vehicle, either RC or Beetle. The broadening of these efforts into a multi-pathway involving flow to and from the electrical grid is the focus of this proposal.
Description:
The University of Kansas (KU) EcoHawks Design Project began in 2008 with the conversion of a discarded 1974 Volkswagen Super Beetle into a fuel neutral series hybrid running on 100% biodiesel created from waste vegetable oil. This project continued in year two through upgrading the initial conversion prototype with plug-in recharging capability and the creation of an autonomous solar energy filling station. The overall focus of the efforts relate directly to sustainability by improving air quality through reduced emissions, as well as extending vehicle range to conserve the renewable resources the vehicle utilizes. In addition, this aids the planet and people by developing a curriculum at a major university geared towards renewable and sustainable energy, thereby ensuring future prosperity. The planned extension of current efforts is into demonstration and use of smart grid technologies.
Record Details:
Record Type:PROJECT(
ABSTRACT
)
Start Date:08/15/2010
Completion Date:08/14/2011
Record ID:
248929
Keywords:
ENVIRONMENTAL, ENERGY, ECONOMIC, ETHICAL, EDUCATIONAL, SUSTAINABILITY, ALTERNATIVE FUEL, PLUG-IN HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE, RECHARGEABLE, SOLAR, ENERGY TECHNOLOGY REVOLUTION, INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH, FUEL CONSERVATION, ENERGY EFFICIENCY, INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY,
Related Organizations:
Role
:OWNER
Organization Name
:UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Citation
:Lawrence
State
:KS
Zip Code
:66045
Project Information:
Approach
:Students will change the flow of energy to and from the solar panels, vehicle battery pack and electrical grid depending on the time of the day, electrical demand and cloud covering. Along the way, students will incorporate theory in order to maximize the potential among all energy flow avenues to minimize the losses in the system.
Cost
:$10,000.00
Research Component
:Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development
Approach
:Students will change the flow of energy to and from the solar panels, vehicle battery pack and electrical grid depending on the time of the day, electrical demand and cloud covering. Along the way, students will incorporate theory in order to maximize the potential among all energy flow avenues to minimize the losses in the system.
Cost
:$10,000.00
Research Component
:P3 Challenge Area - Energy
Approach
:Students will change the flow of energy to and from the solar panels, vehicle battery pack and electrical grid depending on the time of the day, electrical demand and cloud covering. Along the way, students will incorporate theory in order to maximize the potential among all energy flow avenues to minimize the losses in the system.
Cost
:$10,000.00
Research Component
:P3 Challenge Area - Built Environment
Project IDs:
ID Code
:SU834697
Project type
:EPA Grant