Photovoltaics
The history, the Science, and the future
A research report on the science, materials, history, politics, and economics of photovoltaics and solar energy.
Project Summary
For my physics capstone project, I researched photovoltaics (PVs), specifically the science, history, and economics, to create a report and presentation. I discovered the working science behind photovoltaics, namely the photoelectric effect, semiconductors, and doping. I created equivalent circuit diagrams and equations to model photovoltaics. I researched the types of photovoltaic materials and systems on the market. I analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of solar as an energy source to conclude whether solar energy alone could power the United States.
I presented the research in a report and presentation and my work to my advisor’s energy systems course at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, for which I was invited back as a guest lecturer.