Importance of Solar Energy
There is a lot of power packed in our sun that all living things on earth depend upon. Plants use the sun’s energy in photosynthesis, cleaning our air and providing fresh oxygen. The sun also provides light and warmth from a colossal 93 million miles away, stimulating plant growth and providing a necessary dose of vitamin D for mammals. The sun also influences earth’s weather and water cycle.
Humans have been able to capture some of the sun’s energy that falls to earth and convert it into usable power for a variety of practical uses – for cooking, heating, and to power everyday appliances.
Solar energy is renewable, meaning we can never run out of sunshine! By harnessing energy from natural renewable sources like the sun, dependence on more environmentally harmful sources such as oil and coal can be decreased.
Solar panel technology has also come a long way. Solar power systems are now much more efficient and have become more affordable for residential and commercial customers. Aesthetically speaking, solar panels are also sleeker and more attractive. No more ugly arrays! Today’s panels can blend nicely with the roof, adding style and value to the home.

Objective
Our propose to initiate a solar energy research laboratory with the objective to provide platform for graduate and under graduate students aware about application of solar energy in daily life and get engage in growth of renewable energy in our country.

List of Equipments/ Instruments
•Already established 65 MW power plant on the roof top of Research centre.
•Laboratory contains 1 MW power plant for experiment purpose with all other facility for erection and maintenance of solar power plant.(Solar educational kit, Civil erection Equipments, Electrical Appliances required for power plant etc…)
•Laboratory contains the solar application models like solar light, solar fan, solar battery charger, solar lantern, solar street light etc…
•Laboratory also equipped with solar energy collectors like parabolic , concentrate collectors, solar water heaters, solar air dryer, solar cooker, solar stills etc.
•All other measurement facility require for the experimental purpose are existing.
•Laboratory also contains safety tools required for solar power plant erection and maintenance.

Types of Facility Provided

•65 MW (peak) solar power-we have established a technology demonstrator station in two phases. It will supplement electricity requirement of campus during day time (8 hrs) and thus help in reducing dependence on grid power. This will also generate useful data for future implementation of such projects in the region. Laboratory also facilitate with 1 MW power plant for the demonstration and practical purpose.
•Modules in the solar power station will be used for research and as test platforms for large scale solar energy technologies.
•We will initiate new and augment the existing programs for long term research & development in solar power generation, storage, distribution, management and policy making in the institute.
•This initiative will provide practical input for graduate and undergraduate teaching programs. In addition, it will provide training and human resource development in the area of renewable energy
•We will also provide the plate form for students to get conscious about solar thermal systems like solar water heating, solar water cleaning, solar air heating, solar refrigeration, solar air conditioning, Solar energy storage systems, solar cooking etc..
•Finally, it will increase the awareness of green technologies amongst the public.

Courses Offer under the laboratory
•Solar Panel Installation Technician
•Solar PV Installer (Suryamitra)
•Solar PV Installer – Electrical
•Solar PV Installer – Civil
•Introduction to Renewable Energy (1 Day)
•Solar Thermal Training – solar hot water design and installation
•Solar PV course for Startups and Entrepreneurs
•Fundamentals of Solar Thermal System Design and Installation
•Introduction of various application of solar energy.

Name of Co-ordinator
Mr. Ashish K. Desai, Asst Prof., Mechanical Engineering Department.
Mr. Tejash Panchal, Asst Prof., Electrical Engineering Department.