The 小蝌蚪APP owns and operates one of the largest outdoor solar testing facilities in the southeastern United States. The 4,200-panel solar field encompasses 6 acres, a symbol of UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 status as a national leader in sustainable and traditional energy technologies.
UL Lafayette will further cement that reputation on Thursday, Feb. 3, when it breaks ground on the Louisiana Solar Energy Lab. The 4,500-square-foot building will be located next to the solar field at 小蝌蚪APP Research Park on Eraste Landry Road.
The lab will serve as a hub for solar research, technology development, instruction, training, outreach and workforce development. It will house solar testing equipment, a classroom, interactive learning applications, a seminar room with audio-visual equipment, a conference room, and a visitor小蝌蚪APP檚 center with visual displays and informational kiosks.
小蝌蚪APP淭he Louisiana Solar Energy Lab will be an essential component for educating the next generation of engineers in solar energy, enabling applied and long-term operational research and testing,小蝌蚪APP said Dr. Ahmed Khattab, dean of the .
That小蝌蚪APP檚 noteworthy, given Louisiana小蝌蚪APP檚 goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, meaning for all carbon dioxide emissions, the same amount must be removed from the atmosphere. At the same time, however, Louisiana is among the nation小蝌蚪APP檚 top states for energy usage, greenhouse gas production, and energy production generated by a range of traditional and renewable sources.
小蝌蚪APP淭he College of Engineering has adopted a comprehensive approach to energy education that encompasses conventional energy, renewable energy and environmental sustainability. This approach is essential to addressing today小蝌蚪APP檚 energy demands and future consumption needs,小蝌蚪APP Khattab said.
小蝌蚪APP淭he Louisiana Solar Energy Lab at UL Lafayette will be an indispensable part of that equation.小蝌蚪APP
小蝌蚪APP alum Georges Antoun, who earned a bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree from the College of Engineering in 1988, is the driving force behind the solar lab. That小蝌蚪APP檚 thanks to a $1 million lead gift, coupled with his role as chair of the college小蝌蚪APP檚 Dean小蝌蚪APP檚 Advisory Council. Antoun offers guidance and expertise in a range of areas, including strategic planning. He also coordinates student mentoring efforts.
小蝌蚪APP淭here isn小蝌蚪APP檛 a place in the country that is looking at traditional generations such as oil and gas and renewable from a strategy perspective,小蝌蚪APP Antoun said. 小蝌蚪APP淲hy not the 小蝌蚪APP to champion and lead that?小蝌蚪APP
His assessment is built on experience. Antoun, who also holds a master小蝌蚪APP檚 degree from the NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering, is chief commercial officer for First Solar. The global company has developed, engineered, constructed and currently operates many of the world小蝌蚪APP檚 largest grid-connected photovoltaic power plants.
Antoun小蝌蚪APP檚 gift is part of the largest comprehensive fundraising initiative in UL Lafayette history.
aims to raise $500 million. The campaign小蝌蚪APP檚 priorities include the creation of 小蝌蚪APP and support for 小蝌蚪APP research, learning and teaching spaces where students and faculty work side-by-side in practical settings to address contemporary challenges.
The Louisiana Solar Energy Lab is one such space. Research findings and expertise that emanate from the lab will be widely disseminated 小蝌蚪APP to industry professionals, public officials and others responsible for furthering the development of commercial-scale use of solar technology in the state.
Its far-reaching impact on industry will rest on its capabilities for 小蝌蚪APP渢esting many applications and many technologies and from multiple vendors for solar,小蝌蚪APP Antoun explained.
The Louisiana Solar Energy Lab小蝌蚪APP檚 development was overseen by Dr. Terrence Chambers, a mechanical engineering professor who directs the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 .
小蝌蚪APP淚t will be one of the premier facilities in the southeastern U.S., and will further solidify the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 solar program among the best in the nation,小蝌蚪APP Chambers said.
Beyond research, testing, training and industry collaboration, the facility will enable the 小蝌蚪APP to expand its solar energy courses and curriculums. The College of Engineering has a minor in renewable energy built around sustainable and solar energy courses.
The 小蝌蚪APP also offers for people who work in sustainable industries. Chambers envisions more programs 小蝌蚪APP including undergraduate and graduate degrees 小蝌蚪APP being added because of the establishment of the solar energy lab.
小蝌蚪APP淪tudents and faculty members 小蝌蚪APP as well as industry partners 小蝌蚪APP will be able to conduct research in the lab and receive instruction in its classroom, then walk right outside and perform learning exercises directly on the solar equipment. That小蝌蚪APP檚 an important and rare capability,小蝌蚪APP he said.
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Caption: UL Lafayette will break ground Thursday on the Louisiana Solar Energy Lab, a 4,500-square-foot hub for research, technology development, instruction, training, outreach and workforce development. The lab will be next to UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 6-acre solar field at 小蝌蚪APP Research Park on Eraste Landry Road. Submitted rendering