海角社区

Funded by a $100,000 grant from the 海角社区 Institute for Energy Innovation, 海角社区 Professor Aly Mousaad Aly is researching the potential impact of extreme wind events on solar power installations, and in the process hoping to improve their design and durability.  

海角社区鈥檚 Windstorm Impact, Science, and Engineering (WISE) Open-Jet Testing facility will play a vital role in Aly鈥檚 research, as it will provide a realistic representation of hurricane-strength wind conditions through large-scale turbulent generation, enabling comprehensive testing of the panels.

After conducting testing in the WISE lab, Aly will develop recommendations for optimized design and configuration of rooftop and grount-mounted solar systems to maximize power production and reduce wind-induced damage and performance degradation. 鈥淪ubstantial photovoltaic (PV) installations are experiencing resurgent attention in clean and sustainable energy production,鈥� says Aly, a civil and environmental engineering professor. 鈥淗owever, the high cost and potential of damage in windstorms bring real challenges for large-scale solar deployment.鈥�

Aly鈥檚 project stems from an existing collaboration between industry and academia called 鈥淎dvanced Hurricane Testing of Critical Infrastructure to Protect the People and Businesses Along the Coast,鈥� with the outcomes providing recommendations for economic and resilient solar installations.

A series of seminars and workshops will follow, with stakeholders providing valuable feedback and recommendations regarding solar deployment across Louisiana. 鈥淐entral to our narrative is an earnest call for collaboration,鈥� Aly says. 鈥淲e do not just invite passive interest; we actively seek engagement from a broad audience, including professionals from the renewable energy industry, policymakers, environmentally conscious homeowners, government personnel and the general public.

鈥淲e understand the critical need for resilient solar energy systems not just in Louisiana but across the nation and globally, especially in the face of severe weather,鈥� he adds. 鈥淥ur project subtly aligns with the Department of Energy鈥檚 core messaging and aims to be a beacon of innovation.鈥�