Solar Energy: From High-Tech Photovoltaics to Low-Tech Solar Cooking

About

European School of Positive Impact and Responsibility (ESPOIR) is an original summer school of Université PSL dedicated to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). ESPOIR has received the support of the Erasmus+ Jean Monnet Programme.

The 2024 edition will be held from August 26 to 31, in Campus Pierre Laffitte (MINES Paris-PSL), Sophia Antipolis, in Europe's largest technology park on the South-East of France.This edition will focus on SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and will address the following theme: Solar energy: from high-tech photovoltaics to low-tech solar cooking.

This summer school is organized in partnership with the European University EELISA (European Engineering Learning Innovation & Science Alliance).

Course leader

Philippe BLANC (Mines Paris - PSL)

Target group

The ESPOIR summer school is intended for students in science students at all levels (from undergraduate to PhD) who show a strong interest in sustainable development and energy transition in particular. Minimum English level: B2 (recommended C1)

Course aim

3 objectives:
- To present the broad spectrum of solar energy applications within the context of the low-carbon energy transition, ranging from large-scale power plants with high-tech bifacial photovoltaics on solar trackers to user-friendly low-tech solar cooking systems.
- To introduce Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and low-tech approaches, providing methodological frameworks for understanding the various challenges associated with this wide range of solar energy applications.
- To provide fundamental insights into understanding the solar energy resource, including terminology, magnitudes, sources of variability, observability, and conversion methods.