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Greg P. Smestad and Aldo Steinfeld publish their Review
article: Review: Photochemical and Thermochemical Production
of Solar Fuels from HO
and CO
Using Metal Oxide Catalysts in ACS Industrial &
Engineering Chemistry Research. |
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Greg P. Smestad, Ph.D. is working to find educational uses for the leftovers from Solyndra's bankruptcy that would otherwise go into a hazardous materials landfill. |
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Solar Cell Kits:
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Many
teachers have successfully used the work of Greg
P. Smestad to teach basic science and have communicated
solar energy concepts to a wide audience. |
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Education & Teaching
Greg P. Smestad, Ph.D. served as an Adjunct Lecturer at Santa Clara University from the Fall Quarter of 2013 through the Winter Quarter of 2016. He taught Distributed and Renewable Energy for the Developing World in the graduate program of the School of Engineering.
Dr. Smestad's more than 20 years of experience in the fields of semiconductor materials, solar cells, optics, optoelectronics,
renewable energy, and educational materials is key to his successfully and systematically applying these skills toward industry, practical
applications, and education. His educational activities have included: Technical Training, the development of a Solar Cell Kit, and an Anza
Trail Guide for touring California. From 1995 to 2002, he was a professor, first as the founding lecture and lab chemist at the
California State University, Monterey Bay, and then as a part time science-policy specialist at the Monterey Institute of International
Studies (MIIS). His teaching experience is varied and diverse.
It has become apparent that researchers and entrepreneurs need to understand and utilize a view of
solar cells and solar conversion systems that stems from a
fundamental (detailed balance) perspective. To that end, Dr.
Greg Smestad published a tutorial
text that covers the optoelectronics, materials science,
economics and thermodynamics of solar cells. He has also published
many papers on potentially low-cost approaches to solar conversion,
as well as a policy paper describing energy subsidies.
Understanding Solyndra's Array of Cylinders
From a theoretical and experimental standpoint, Sol Ideas has examined the technical aspects of the cylindrical absorber arrays used by Solyndra. Work from mid-1970s used optics and solar geometry to understand the energy collected by cylinders. The results are applicable even when the cylinders are photovoltaic. For further details, visit our Glass Tubes page. Educators and scientists can use this as a case study to teach basic principles regarding available solar radiation and collection geometry.
Technical Training
Companies and research institutes can contract
with Dr. Smestad to conduct training and tutorials in our
areas of expertise. These include materials science and optics
related to photovoltaics, solar cells, and optoelectronics.
Sol Ideas can tailor any course to serve your organization's
needs. Learn more about our technical
training services.
Optoelectronics
of Solar Cells
A tutorial
text on solar cells has been published that approaches
the topic from an optical and thermodynamic perspective. It
presents a generalized model of a solar converter, and the
Detailed Balance description from the Generalized Planck Equation.
This leads logically to the relationship between a solar cell's
voltage and the Luminescence efficiency of the absorber material.
The book also outlines the thermodynamic limits of light Concentrators,
and the basic economics of photovoltaic cells and systems.
Satellite
Dish-based Solar Cooker
Sol Ideas demonstrated this Satellite Dish-based
Solar Cooker for a group of educators for the Optical
Society of America's (OSA) Education Day (EDAY) which
was hosted by the OSA's Foundation to provide ideas and curriculum
to promote hands-on science education. Learn more about the
Satellite Dish-based
Solar Cooker and the experiments that can be performed.
Solar Cell Kit
We have developed solar
cell kits used for instructional purposes in universities
and classrooms. The "Nanocrystalline
Solar Cell Kit: Re-creating Photosynthesis" is a teaching
tool which uses natural dyes extracted from berries, and non-toxic
materials to create a solar cell that lasts only a few months,
but can teach students about sustainable energy production.
Juan Bautista
de Anza Trail Guide and Audio CD Project
In keeping with his interest in education
and public service, Sol Ideas founder Greg P. Smestad, Ph.D.
has developed a trail
guide for the Juan Bautista National Historic Trail. This
project was carried out in conjunction with the National Park
Service and Los Californianos and resulted in both a printed
version (Antepasados,
Volume XI) and an on-line
version.
© 1998-2022, Sol Ideas Technology Development
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