Power Tower

Project Summary

In 2003, BCIT students, faculty and staff collaborated to design and build the Power Tower which provides a practical demonstration project for research and teaching in solar energy technology.

Project Description

In 1999, the Photovoltaic Energy Applied Research Lab (PEARL) was established at BCIT’s Burnaby Campus with support from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation.  Spearheaded by Dr. Lou Stamenic together with Donald Yen, a Photovoltaic Power Tower was proposed in 2003 to serve as a world-class training, research and demonstration project in emerging photovoltaic (PV) technology.

The photovoltaic industry had been expanding throughout the 1990s and a 10-15% growth in employment was expected in the new millennium.  Lou and Donald believed that the Tower would position BCIT as a leader in PV education by providing a practical training tool for BCIT construction, engineering and design students to learn about emerging photovoltaic technologies.  The Tower could also provide PEARL with the means to study the development of new designs for building-integrated photovoltaics and related devices, and to explore the success of commercial applications.  

The Power Tower was a collaborative effort that involved over 60 people, including students, faculty and administration.  Together, they designed the Power Tower, undertook the wood and steel construction, electrical wiring, glazing and painting.  The final result was a rectangular tower, approximately 15m tall, on a 2m x 2m base. It has photovoltaic modules mounted on its four sides and contains the appropriate electronics so that it can function as a stand-alone or grid-connected electrical power generator.

Results

The Power Tower has produced many positive outcomes:

• Prepared BCIT students for a growing future solar industry by serving as a teaching aid for photovoltaics level 1 and 2 courses, and showing wiring and connections to fourth year journeymen electrical students.

• Practical research to test: how different types of inverters perform under real conditions; the performance of solar cells that face north and reflect sunlight from clouds and buildings; and   various ways of increasing the energy output of photovoltaics.

• Contributed to the development of a building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) system for the CMHC Home 2000 (a healthy/flex Demonstration Home Project) that was exhibited at the Vancouver Home Show, and later located at BCIT's Burnaby Campus as a fully roof-integrated system.  BIPV’s can offset 3.3 tons of CO2 per year, and even more if they’re installed in provinces such as Alberta and Ontario where electricity is generated by less clean means.

The PEARL is in the process of being redesigned and moved to the School for Construction and Environment, although BCIT’s Technology Centre will continue to provide technical expertise.  This will allow BCIT to continue to manufacture, simulated or test photovoltaics, providing British Columbia industry with a unique opportunity to participate in a rapidly growing worldwide market.

Lessons Learned

If you have someone who believes in something enough, you can get people working together.  Passion and persistence can overcome many perceived barriers and result in great things.