A course on the grandest energy source of all times and how it can be exploited for the benefit of humankind and the future of civilization. The course covers the physical and chemical foundations, a spectrum of conversion technologies, integration into artefacts and the electricity system, as well as the role of solar energy in the ongoing energy transition.
General information
We want to welcome you to a newly developed “Tracks-course” in Solar Energy. Our aim is to provide an overview of the rapidly developing field of solar energy and how this is starting to make a global impact on our energy system. The course covers the physical and chemical foundations, a spectrum of conversion technologies, integration into artefacts and the electricity system, as well as the role of solar energy in the ongoing energy transition. Within the “Tracks” idea we want to address engineering students with different backgrounds from chemistry/physics students via hard core engineers to those with a primarily societal and energy systems integration perspective. As a core activity of the course, you will work with a team project in which you should explore a current, emerging, or future solar energy technology from as many possible perspectives as possible. We hope to assemble groups of students with different backgrounds to accomplish this. In addition to teamwork, we will give lectures to provide both hard facts and inspire discussions. We hope you will enjoy the course and hope to get valuable contributions from all of you.
Lectures
About 10 lectures will be given with the aim at both providing basic facts about solar energy technology and its use in the society as well as being inspirational platforms for the teamwork.
Teamwork
Groups of 3-4 students should be assembled during the first week of the course. The group should either select a topic from a list or suggest a topic of their own to the supervisors (teachers). The teamwork should include literature studies but could also contain practical activities such as assembly of a solar cell or other demonstrators. Upon request the course teachers will guide the teams but this should mostly be student driven projects. Final written reports should be handed in one week before the oral presentation of the projects.
Lab demonstrations
The students will practically investigate a silicon solar cell in guided lab demonstrations. Basic electrical measurements of the solar cell characteristics under illumination will be performed and summarized in a short report. The labs are planned to be done in the Fuse (Tracks experimental environment) electronics lab.
Literature
A range of Wikipedia pages and popular science article will be used as written material along with original articles from the scientific literature.
Prerequisites
Any engineering background with a BSc from Chalmers or equivalent is suitable to take the course. The course can be used as an elective course in all MSc programs, but also as a compulsory elective in certain cases.
How to apply
Apply to all Tracks courses at universityadmissions.se (or antagning.se for corresponding webpage in Swedish). At universityadmissions.se (antagning.se): Search for the course you are interested in by using the course code starting with TRA.
Read more here.
Please add a short motivation letter to the application.
For alumni, PhD-stduents and professionals the course selection follows a different process. See more information on Tracks web page.
The course is limited to 30 participants and if a selection is needed, we will admit students from as broad scientific/educational backgrounds as possible.
Details
Teachers: Bo Albinsson, Maria Abrahamsson, Björn Sandén
Course dates: Study period 2, 2024
Credits: 7.5
Level: Advanced
Course code: TRA230
Application deadline: 17 September - 1 October, 2024