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. Postgraduate study is also available.



Photovoltaics and Solar Energy can be studied in the following Programs 

Program Code & Name At the Level of Stream
3459 Music / Engineering Major SOLAA13459
3642 Photovoltaics & Solar Energy Major SOLAA13642
3655 PV and Solar Energy/Science Major SOLAA13655
3704 Engineering / Arts Major SOLAA13704
3705 Engineering Major SOLAA13705
3715 Engineering/Commerce Major SOLAA13715
3941 Advanced Science / Engineering Major SOLAA13941
3942 Advanced Maths / Engineering Major SOLAA13942
4776 Engineering / Law Major SOLAA14776
4778 Engineering / Law Major SOLAA14778
   

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Renewable Energy Engineering can be studied in the following Programs 

Program Code & Name At the Level of Stream
3459 Music / Engineering Major SOLAB13459
3657 Renewable Energy Engineering Major SOLAA13657
3658 Renewable Energy/Science Major SOLAA13658
3704 Engineering / Arts Major SOLAB13704
3705 Engineering Major SOLAB13705
3715 Engineering/Commerce Major SOLAB13715
3941 Advanced Science / Engineering Major SOLAB13941
3942 Advanced Maths / Engineering Major SOLAB13942
4776 Engineering / Law Major SOLAB14776
4778 Engineering / Law Major SOLAB14778
   

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 Photovoltaics

Study Levels

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