Solar energy: Are we there yet?

Golisano Institute for Sustainability at RIT

Reflections on the future of solar panels with Annick Anctil (Michigan State Univ.) and Seth Hubbard (Rochester Institute of Technology)

Golisano Institute for Sustainability at Rochester Institute of Technology

The solar panel has become emblematic of a future free of fossil fuels. Yet, solar power—like any climate solution—is not a simple one-and-done technology fix.How solar panels are made, what they are made of, and what happens to them after they no longer function are all important but often overlooked questions. As solar panels become more affordable, answering questions like these has become an immediate concern for many sustainability scientists.Come take a deep dive into solar panels alongside two leading researchers: <a href="https://engineering.msu.edu/faculty/Annick-Anctil" title="https://engineering.msu.edu/faculty/Annick-Anctil" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Dr. Annick Anctil</a>, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Michigan State University, and <a href="https://www.rit.edu/directory/smhsps-seth-hubbard" title="https://www.rit.edu/directory/smhsps-seth-hubbard" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Dr. Seth Hubbard</a>, a professor of microsystem engineering and physics at RIT. Together, they will offer a two-part, complimentary presentation on the opportunities and challenges facing today’s solar industry.

<h3>A new sustainability seminar series at RIT</h3>The first in a new seminar series hosted by RIT’s Golisano Institute for Sustainability, Drs. Anctil and Hubbard will lead an informative discussion that is perfect for anyone who wants to know more about where we are—and where we are heading—when it comes to solar panels as part of a clean-energy future. <ul><li>A systems-level view of solar: Dr. Anctil will break down the global supply chain behind solar panels. She will trace the life cycle of the conventional solar panel, which begins with the raw materials extracted to manufacture it and ends when it’s no longer useful. While most panels go into landfills today, Dr. Anctil will discuss current options for recovering panels as part of a circular economy for renewable energy. </li><li>Solar panel technology—today and tomorrow: Dr. Hubbard will look closely at how the photovoltaic (PV) cells that power a solar panel work. He will explain the fundamental physics that drive the technologies commonly used in PV cells, as well as point to new innovations on the horizon. </li><li>Audience Q&amp;A: After the presentation, in-person and online attendees will be invited to participate in an interactive discussion with the presenters. In-person attendees will also have the opportunity to take part in a “meet and greet” after the seminar.</li></ul>

<h3>How to attend</h3>Members of the RIT campus and the public are invited to attend this thought-provoking discussion in-person or online. Space is limited—attendees are asked to RSVP whether they will attend in person or online. <ul><li>In-person at RIT: Select “In-person at RIT” at ticket checkout. Golisano Institute for Sustainability at Rochester Institute of Technology, 190 Lomb Memorial Dr., SUS/Bldg. 81, Rochester, NY 14623 </li><li>Online (webinar-style): Select “Online webinar-style” at ticket checkout. A link will be emailed to you.</li></ul>

<h3>More about the presenters</h3> Dr. Annick Anctil is an associate professor in civil and environmental engineering at Michigan State University, where she leads research on sustainable energy systems. She holds a bachelor of engineering and a master of science in materials engineering and a doctorate in sustainability. The core of her research is evaluating the environmental impact of photovoltaic technologies. She participated in the National Science Foundation's (NSF) international standard on sustainability leadership for Photovoltaics module and the electronic product environmental assessment tool (EPEAT) ultra-low carbon solar modules criteria. She is the assistant director of the Michigan Department of Energy's Industrial Assessment Center and received an NSF CAREER (Faculty Early Career Development Program) award in 2021 to work on the impact of the solar photovoltaics industry in the United States. She was selected as a Michigan Clean Energy Leader in 2018 and is currently on the board of directors of the Michigan Institute for Energy Innovation (IEI).Dr. Seth Hubbard is currently a professor of microsystem engineering and physics at RIT, where he serves as the director of the NanoPower Research Laboratory (NPRL) in RIT’s Golisano Institute for Sustainability. Dr. Hubbard currently leads a team of undergraduate and graduate students and research staff working on the epitaxial growth, fabrication, and characterization of nanostructured solar photovoltaic devices. He has received over $10M in funded external research related to photovoltaic device development, has authored or co-authored over 170 journal and conference publications on electronic and photovoltaic devices, and received an NSF CAREER award and an RIT Trustee Scholarship award. Dr. Hubbard serves as an editor of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Journal of Photovoltaics and is actively involved in the organization of the IEEE Photovoltaics Specialists Conference. Dr. Hubbard received his doctorate in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan.

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Solar energy: Are we there yet?

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