Photovoltaics and Solar Energy

Description

Photovoltaic devices, otherwise known as solar cells, are devices that convert sunlight directly into electricity and are capable of powering essentially any electrical load. Photovoltaic Engineering is concerned with the production and use of solar cells and the design and implementation of photovoltaic systems.

Solar energy is a major renewable energy resource which may be harnessed and used in many ways. UNSW has been a world leader in silicon solar cell research for approximately 15 years, and developed the most successfully commercialised photovoltaic technology throughout the same period.
Photovoltaic Engineering covers a broad range of engineering tasks and disciplines but it can be summarised into 5 main areas:
  1. Device and system research and development.
  2. Manufacturing, quality control and reliability.
  3. PV system design (computer based), modelling, integration, analysis, implementation, fault diagnosis and monitoring.
  4. Policy, financing, marketing, management, consulting, training and education.
  5. Using the full range of renewable energy technologies including alternate energy technologies (such as wind, biomass and solar thermal) solar architecture, energy efficient building design and sustainable energy.
Worldwide, the Photovoltaics industry is growing at approximately 30% each year. Recent studies, publications and media releases indicate that large numbers of jobs are being created in all aspects of photovoltaic and renewable energy engineering. Job opportunities exist in PV system design and implementation for remote areas, manufacturing, , quality control, grid-connected systems, fault diagnosis and testing, maintenance, simulation and modelling, technology development, marketing, financing, policy, education, project management, etc.

Studying Photovoltaics and Solar Energy At UNSW

The study of Photovoltaics & Solar Energy is primarily though the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering (www.pv.unsw.edu.au). Please refer to the table below for a list of programs available at UNSW.

Photovoltaics and Solar Energy can be studied in the following Programs 

Program Code & Name At the Level of Stream
5338 Engineering Science Specialisation SOLAAS5338
5341 Engineering Science Specialisation SOLAES5341
7338 Engineering Science Specialisation SOLAAS7338
8338 Engineering Science Specialisation SOLACS8338
8538 Engineering Science Specialisation SOLAAS8538
8539 Engineering Science (Ext) Specialisation SOLAAS8539
   

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Renewable Energy can be studied in the following Programs 

Program Code & Name At the Level of Stream
5341 Engineering Science Specialisation SOLAFS5341
8338 Engineering Science Specialisation SOLADS8338
   

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Renewable Energy Engineering can be studied in the following Programs 

Program Code & Name At the Level of Stream
8538 Engineering Science Specialisation SOLABS8538
   

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 Photovoltaics

Study Levels

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