Grantee Research Project Results
Innovative University-School Partnerships for Renewable Energy Projects and Education
EPA Grant Number: SU834727Title: Innovative University-School Partnerships for Renewable Energy Projects and Education
Investigators: Jacobson, Mark Z. , Hoeve, John Ten , Sumers, Ben
Current Investigators: Jacobson, Mark Z. , Sumers, Ben , Scalmanini, Annie , Nader, Sandy
Institution: Stanford University
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: I
Project Period: August 15, 2010 through August 14, 2011
Project Amount: $10,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2010) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Challenge Area - Air Quality , P3 Awards , Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Objective:
The mission of the Stanford Solar and Wind Energy Project (SWEP) is to promote and educate Stanford University students, as well as local municipalities, about how to offset their carbon emissions by investing in renewable energy. The goal of this project is to demonstrate to local municipalities that a substantial portion of their carbon emissions from electricity use may be offset with locally-generated renewable energy at a comparable price to their current electricity. This joint project between SWEP and surrounding communities benefits the recipient, SWEP, by providing students with real-world renewable energy consulting experience and education, which they would not be able to achieve solely in the classroom. The project also benefits the communities and schools we partner with by providing technical expertise to assess their renewable energy resources.
Approach:
Stanford students will develop a framework of several scientific, engineering, economic and educational models to support development of renewable energy projects for local schools and rural communities. Three interconnected models are being built and/or adapted from existing models. They include a resource assessment model that uses geostatistics and a site specific measure-correlate-predict algorithm to take short period measured data and synthesize it with longer term existing data sets. A financial model is being developed specifically for California schools and non-profits to maximize use of financial incentives and benefits to support the project. Finally, SWEP is creating an educational model for teaching high school students renewable energy resources and technology with hands-on experiences.
Expected Results:
A wind turbine will be erected near Soledad High School, offsetting a large fraction of the school’s energy load. This will in turn provide clean electricity for the school, at a comparable price to their current electricity, while also educating students about the benefits of renewable energy in the process. This pilot project can be used to demonstrate the feasibility of residential and community-scale renewable energy projects to other local municipalities and serve as an adaptable model for other universities to assist their surrounding community. The wind and solar assessment equipment purchased with the requested funding will be used to promote similar projects through the extended Bay Area.
Supplemental Keywords:
noneProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.