From UDaily: Solar array shines light on energy source

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The University of Delaware’s Institute of Energy Conversion has been a leader in solar energy research for almost a half-century. Now, for the first time, it has a working photovoltaic array on its premises — a state-of-the-art installation managed with the advanced technology of an energy hub.

The project, led by Steven Hegedus, professor of electrical and computer engineering  and senior scientist at IEC, drew on donations from alumni, grants from state agencies, partnerships with solar firms, and the effort of students.

The array has 12 solar panels, each with 72 “bifacial” solar cells. Bifacial cells capture sunlight from above, as well as any light reflected up from the ground. The array has two sensors facing the sun, three facing the ground. Each of the 12 modules has its own power optimizer, which allows for peak performance even if the module next to it is in the shade.

And though the array has a relatively small footprint outside IEC’s headquarters in Newark — its dimensions are roughly 12-by-20 feet — it brings significant new opportunities for researchers and students alike.

Already, in just its fifth month of existence, it has some impressive credits, including a job for a recent UD graduate and a growing body of data on the performance of bifacial solar cells and how an energy hub manages the electricity produced.

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