Santosh of Rochester Institute of Technology

Agrivoltaics (Agri-PV) is defined as land-use concept that co-locates photovoltaic (PV) energy generation with agriculture and nature conservation, which are dependent on sunlight.  Agri-PV presents an opportunity to maximize land use efficiency while promoting eco-friendly energy generation and agricultural productivity. Agri-PV installations should guarantee that the agricultural activity is at least preserved, and at most improved. An approach of PV implementation on farmland in harmony with agriculture and nature conservation, needs to be at the core of Agri-PV development and that is where engineers and farmers need to learn from each other.  Certain skills and knowledge are needed to further accelerate the deployment of Agri-PV.  The talk will present the design of PV systems that involve panel configurations such as monofacial fixed-tilt modules suspended above agriculture, monofacial single-axis modules fitted with trackers which alter their angle throughout the day, and vertical bifacial modules set in fence-like rows. The configurations are based on the type of crops grown for optimal land use, and an increase in land productivity.  Beyond that, PV modules can provide shading and shelter in dry climates to make irrigation and water retention easier, fostering more vibrant ecosystems beneath them. Crops beneath or adjacent to panels can also increase their efficiency by cooling the system through transpiring water vapors. Future trends on transparent PV and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for planning & monitoring system performance will also be introduced.

Biography:

Santosh K. Kurinec is a Professor of Electrical and Microelectronic Engineering at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT).  She is a Fellow of IEEE and a Member of the New York Academy of Sciences.  She is a Guest Professor at Technical University of Applied Sciences
Würzburg-Schweinfurt, Germany. She received PhD degree in Physics from University of Delhi, India and worked as a Scientist at National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi. She joined the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at University of Florida as a Postdoctoral Research Associate. Prior to joining RIT, she was Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering at Florida State University/Florida A & M University College of Engineering in Tallahassee, FL. Her current research activities include advanced integrated circuit materials and photovoltaics.  She received the 2012 IEEE Technical Field Award for integrating research in teaching to prepare microelectronic engineers for future challenges.  She was inducted in the Women in Technology International Hall of Fame in 2018.  She received IEEE Region 1 William Terry Distinguished Service Award, 2022, for IEEE service, and outstanding research and teaching semiconductor technology and promoting semiconductor workforce generation. In 2022, she became the Fellow of International Association of Advanced Materials, 2022.  She has over 130 publications in research journals and conference proceedings.  She recently edited books on Energy Efficient Computing & Electronics: Devices to Systems, and Nanoscale Semiconductor Memories: Technology and Applications, and Emerging Photovoltaic Materials: Silicon & Beyond.

Email:

Address:Professor, Electrical & Microelectronic Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, United States, 14623