Date of Last Revision
2023-05-02 23:47:00
Major
Civil Engineering - Cooperative Education
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2018
Abstract
The purpose of this project is to conduct a study showing the feasibility of installing solar panels over the Exchange Parking Deck at the University of Akron. For this study 10 different solar panels were analyzed. Three different types of panels were researched; thin-film, monocrystalline, and polycrystalline however, thin-film panels were ruled out during background research and not used in the study. To install the solar panels onto the parking deck a canopy structure was designed to support the panels. The panel selected for this project was the Polycrystalline Violin Chsm6610P series panel by Astronergy because of its low cost per panel compared to its high energy generated. The cost of the panels and structure were analyzed to determine if the project is feasible. The cost of the panels was $702,900, and the cost of the structure plus installation was $1,341,733, for a total cost of $2,044,633. Over a period of 50 years the panels will only save the University of Akron $1,609,082.49. With the total time of investment is over 50 years the project was considered unfeasible.
Research Sponsor
Dr. Miller
First Reader
Dr. Roke
Second Reader
Paul R Pickett
Recommended Citation
Vineyard, Rich DeVito, "Exchange Parking Deck Solar Feasibility Study" (2018). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 557.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/557