Bright Calgary teen has a world to save and (solar) energy to burn

While the world groans from the weight of pressing environmental and social issues, Eden Full takes matters into her own hands. These are the hands of a Calgary teen whose energy and passion for the environment and humanity means more than learning and reading about it. It means more than talking about solutions or attending symposiums, and more than being just a small part of the solution, as so many of us do by recycling, donating to charities, eco-shopping and learning about energy conservation.

For 17-year-old Eden, it’s all about action; her passion is channeled into a full-time hobby and promising career as a solar power inventor and conductor of solutions for developing countries. “I’ve been interested in solar power since I was really young,” says the John G.Diefenbaker High student. Eden says she was attracted to solar energy particularly because of its low impact on the environment and wildlife. “Plus, solar panels look kind of cool on buildings and they have lots of applications,” she adds.

So what exactly has Eden been doing to harness the power of the sun? Try inventing a solar powered tracking system that harnesses energy from the wind to power the movement of solar panels. The goal? To bring this bountiful energy source to developing countries like Tanzania where the soil is surprisingly fertile but the farmers do not possess the refrigerating systems needed to store their crops before distribution to surrounding communities.

“What we can do is develop solar power systems that are cost effective enough to power, say, ten refrigerating systems, which would buy the farmers some time so they can distribute the food and store it for their own families before it spoils,” says Eden. So much for watching American Idol tonight then, right?

Eden has more pressing matters to attend to, like how to improve the ability of the panels to align with the shifting sun rays at different times of the day, and, of course, without using as much energy. Traditionally, solar powered devices require electricity for the motors that power the panels’ movements. “This is about creating the opportunity to use minimal energy while addressing basic needs,” Eden says.

Not surprisingly, the aspiring Princeton student believes the future for solar power is bright. But it also has its challenges. When it comes to materials engineering, there is a lot of work to do around improving the overall efficiency of solar panels, Eden adds, but we also have to come up with ways to effectively use the mechanics of the technology, to move the solar panels and to optimize their output at all times of day.

So how does a person Eden’s age acquire the finances and resources to accomplish such feats? “I get a lot of support from my parents and awards from other solar projects,” she explains, adding the biggest challenge is building a functional prototype that proves the system’s viability. Oh, and not to mention the $95,000 in scholarships including the $70,000 TD Canada Trust Scholarship for Community Leadership which also means guaranteed employment with the Canadian banking giant. Although these scholarships are not monetary awards, meaning, they can’t be used to fund her research projects, any money Eden doesn’t have to spend on schooling is money she can put towards her research. Also, in May, she participated in the National Science Fair Competition in Winnipeg where she placed silver in the Environmental Innovation Senior category and bronze in the Engineering Senior category. And this wasn’t your run-of-the-mill, baking soda volcano competition either.

“For me, the most rewarding aspect of my work, at the end of the day, is being able to tell myself that I’m having fun with what I’m doing, but that I’m also helping a lot of people,” says Eden, who believes passion is a key ingredient to success. On her own time Eden’s passions include music, as she plays violin, bass guitar, acoustic guitar and piano, and caring for her love bird. Eden has also co-founded an environmental club at her school and works with other students to acquire research grants with the goal of developing solar panels for the school.

Finally, what advice does Eden have for others, especially those her age, who are concerned about environmental issues and want to make a real difference? “I think be innovative and persevering,” says Eden. “Do what you are passionate about, even if you don’t find a solution at first. You will encounter all sorts of bumps in the road, but keep going. You will find a solution.”

Energy in your backyard

Renewable energy is the talk of the town, but how do you go about transforming talk into action? Sometimes it’s difficult to create change on a mass scale, but the more individuals think, talk and act according to increased awareness about the environment, the closer we all get to a more sustainable future. If you’re thinking about doing your part, two energy resources you should learn more about are solar and wind.

Catch some rays

Solar power can be used to heat water in your home or business and generate electricity for lighting and appliances. In addition to saving you money on your energy bill, power produced from the sun can provide an energy source in remote locations and increase security from power outages.

Think solar energy is a bright idea? The Canadian Solar Industries Association (CSIA) works with individuals and organizations to develop and implement programs that encourage the widespread use of solar energy in Canada. They offer a searchable member directory that is your best source for a full range of solar products (including solar panels and heat pumps) and services in your region.

They also provide information to help you learn to design and install solar photovoltaic systems and hot water systems and sponsor Clean Energy Classrooms where you’ll find additional employment and career information.

Have some questions or just need more information to get started?

NRCan’s ecoENERGY Renewable Heat program offers incentives to business to install active energy-efficient solar air and/or water heating systems. And on the home front there are government programs to help you pay for retrofits and renovations. These programs run to March 31, 2011. First Look helps you estimate annual solar radiation in your area. And Off the Grid seminars help you learn how to reduce your energy bill without changing your lifestyle. 

Got wind?

Wind power is a clean, sustainable source of energy. It is compatible to use with your regular power supply and is an excellent source of energy for rural areas. Ideal for less sunny regions, wind can generate energy day and night and is an inexpensive source of alternative energy.

Want to join the winds of change? Canadian Wind Association (CanWEA) represents the wind energy community in Canada — organizations and individuals who are directly involved in the development and application of wind energy technology, products and services.

CanWEA provides information on small wind energy systems. Their Small Wind Purchase Guide (472KB PDF) gives homeowners, ranchers and farmers helpful tips on buying wind turbines, assessing a site, permitting, installing and maintaining equipment and connecting to the grid. They also provide an easy step-by-step planning exercise and a cost calculator. If you’re looking at the bigger picture and want to learn more about wind farms and wind energy CanWEA can provide you with what you need.  

Have some questions or just need more information to get started?

First Look helps you estimate annual wind speed in your area. NRCan’s Clean Energy Project Analysis Software helps you evaluate energy production and savings, costs, emission reductions, financial visibility and risk for various types of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies. The Wind Energy Institute of Canada is advancing the development of wind energy in Canada through research, testing, innovation and collaboration. They have initiated a testing program for small wind turbines that includes power performance and quality, acoustic noise emissions, duration and safety. And Mariah Power is taking a new approach with a vertical wind turbine that supplies low cost energy and easy maintenance for your home or small business.

Harnessing the solar generation power of unused rooftops

From need: more space to harness the power of the sun on a large scale, to innovation: transforming unused commercial rooftops into solar generation stations, capable of supplying hundreds and even thousands of homes with clean, renewable energy.

An idea so simple, it prompts one to ask “Why didn’t I think of it?”

Large-scale installation projects have been undertaken already across the United States. Southern California Edison recently completed the installation of 600,000 square feet of solar powered rooftops, generating approximately 250 million watts of electricity. This is equivalent to building several utility-scale solar power plants. 

The program will provide a new generation source to areas where customer demand is rising. The solar modules can be connected quickly to the nearest neighbourhood circuit while major new renewable energy transmission lines are being built. The output of solar panels generally matches peak customer demand which is typically low in the morning and evening, higher in the afternoon.

One of the challenges plaguing the industry has been the high cost of implementation. In February 2009, a solar panel maker in Arizona announced that it had managed to reduce its production costs from $3 to less than $1 a watt, reaching a new industry milestone. The company was able to increase its production capacity by 50 times, and pass on those savings to consumers.

With prices like that, solar power is very close to enabling clean, renewable electricity at competitive prices.

Let the sunshine in.

New building has sunny disposition

If you’re in Montreal this summer and in the vicinity of the new John Molson School of Business at Concordia University, take a cue from the old CBC-TV children’s show, The Friendly Giant, and “look up, ‘waaay up”. The top two floors of one facade of the school will be clad in solar panels in what the university heralds as a world-first integration of combined solar heat and power technology into a non-residential building.

Also the largest solar-electric installation in Quebec, the Solarwall will cover 300 square metres and generate enough power for the building during the heating season. In off-peak periods, it also is designed to feed power back into the grid, potentially generating revenue for the university.

“Construction of the . . . building provided our researchers with an opportunity to integrate state-of-the-art innovative solar technology, developed right here at Concordia, into a building which will set new standards for construction,” Chancellor and Vice-President Judith Woodsworth says.

The installation was designed by the Canadian Solar Buildings Research Network which is led by Dr. Andreas Athienitis, a professor in Concordia’s department of building, civil and environmental engineering.

It was underwritten by Natural Resources Canada’s CanmetENERGY division and the Quebec energy efficiency agency with three industrial suppliers: Conserval Engineering (Solar wall), Day4Energy (photovoltaic panels) and Sustainable Energy Technologies (electronic components which converting the solar electricity for building use.)

Construction is scheduled for completion this summer, just a few weeks before classes begin in September. Visitors will be able to consult a real-time lobby display of the building’s solar energy capture and energy use.

Dyeing for sunlight

According to researchers at MIT, solar power might benefit from a splash of colour.

As reported in a recent article in Nature, researchers have found that thin films coloured with organic dyes and affixed to glass are able to increase the efficiency of solar panels, maximizing their energy output.

These “solar concentrators” work by absorbing different wavelengths, which in turn allows the collector to absorb more of sunlight’s spectrum. (It also gives offers solar power the chic look of an ‘80s dance club.)

Because efficiency is one of the most important features of any new development in solar power, concentrating power on a unit’s collectors is essential. But, as the article points out, while mirrors used to concentrate sunlight are already being used, they are costly to manufacture and make the unit prone to overheating. Dyed films allow for the use of fewer moving parts and other logistical improvements.

Notably, light-sensitive dyes have actually already been tried, though the technology available in the 1970s was ultimately unviable.

With demand for alternative energy sources continuing to increase, technologies like MIT’s dyed solar panel films are making solar energy a more viable alternative power source. And if they should get a little prettier in the meantime? So much the better.

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