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App State students score 2nd-place divisional win in national solar competition

The student team was recognized for its solar power system, designed to meet the renewable energy needs of a campus community

View larger image

Grace Waugh, a senior sustainable technology major from Chapel Hill, far left, and Summer Gee ’20, a graduate student from Wrightsville Beach, center, were part of a multidisciplinary team of App State undergraduate and graduate students that won second place in its division in the 2021–22 U.S. Department of Energy Solar District Cup. Waugh and Gee are pictured holding the trophy that the team received and with the team’s faculty adviser, Dr. Jaewon Oh, assistant professor in the Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment. Photo by Kyla Willoughby

“App State is well known in North Carolina for its sustainable technology program. With this win in the national Solar District Cup competition, App State is positioned as one of the nation’s leading universities offering a superior solar energy curriculum.”

Dr. Jaewon Oh, assistant professor in App State’s Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment

“This competition has been a wonderful resource as a current student and as a future leader in the sustainable energy industry.”

Grace Waugh, a senior sustainable technology major at App State, on her participation in the 2021–22 U.S. Department of Energy Solar District Cup.

App State’s 2021–22 Solar District Cup team members
  • Team co-captain Calvin Horton ’22, of Woodstock, Georgia, graduated from App State in May with a Bachelor of Science in sustainable technology and a minor in building sciences. Subteam: Conceptual Design.
  • Team co-captain Danny Torres ’21, of Montgomery, Ohio, graduated from App State in 2021 with a B.S. in sustainable technology. Subteam: Financial Analysis.
  • Ashley Rankin ’22, of Cornelius, graduated from App State in May with a Master of Art in industrial-organizational psychology and human resource management (IOHRM). Subteam: Financial Analysis.
  • Braxton Lee, of Pleasant Garden, is a graduate student in App State’s IOHRM master’s program and is also pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at App State. Subteam: Financial Analysis.
  • Bryson Allison, of Charlotte, is on schedule to graduate from App State in August with her MBA. Subteam: Financial Analysis.
  • Grace Waugh, of Chapel Hill, is a senior sustainable technology major with a minor in economics. Subteam: Conceptual Design.
  • Hyla Zouzias ’21, of Wilmington, is a graduate student in App State’s technology program with a concentration in appropriate technology. She holds a B.S. in sustainable technology from App State. Subteam: Development and Construction.
  • Jason Harrington, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, is on track to graduate from App State in August with his B.S. in sustainable technology. Subteam: Distribution Analysis.
  • Mikayla Posey ’22, of Colfax, graduated from App State in May with a B.S. in sustainable technology. Subteam: Financial Analysis.
  • Pat Kelly ’20, of Wilmington, is a graduate student in App State’s technology program with a concentration in appropriate technology. He holds a B.S. in sustainable technology from App State. Subteam: Conceptual Design.
  • Ron Kitchings ’22, of Franklin, Tennessee, graduated from App State in May with a B.S. in sustainable technology. Subteam: Financial Analysis.
  • Ross Alexander ’22, of Salisbury, graduated from App State in May with a B.S. in sustainable technology. Subteam: Conceptual Design.
  • Ryan Edrington ’22, of Stoneville, graduated from App State in May with a B.S. in sustainable technology. Subteam: Conceptual Design.
  • Summer Gee ’20, of Wrightsville Beach, is a graduate student in App State’s technology program with a concentration in appropriate technology. She holds a B.S. in sustainable technology from App State. Subteam: Development and Construction.
By Jessica Stump
Posted June 29, 2022 at 4:03 p.m.

BOONE, N.C. — Fourteen students at Appalachian State University are part of the next generation of renewable energy innovators — according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The student team, comprising undergraduate and graduate students in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, College of Arts and Sciences and Walker College of Business, won second place in its division in DOE’s 2021–22 Solar District Cup, which recognized the students for their solar power system design.

“App State is well known in North Carolina for its sustainable technology program. With this win in the national Solar District Cup competition, App State is positioned as one of the nation’s leading universities offering a superior solar energy curriculum.”

Dr. Jaewon Oh, assistant professor in App State’s Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment

The Solar District Cup, now in its third year, challenges multidisciplinary student teams to design, model and present the most innovative and cost-effective renewable energy system possible. Teams compete in one of three divisions, each of which is structured around a mixed-use college campus or urban district.

“Inspiring students to join the clean energy workforce is critical to achieving our nation’s climate goals over the next several years,” said Garrett Nilsen, acting director of DOE’s Solar Energy Technologies Office. “The work these students are doing through the Solar District Cup is so valuable in preparing them for careers in the energy industry and beyond.”

Participating teams submitted designs and summaries of their proposed systems in November 2021, and the projects were evaluated based on their potential to maximize the district’s energy offset and financial savings over the life of the system while integrating aesthetic, infrastructure and community considerations.

“This competition has been a wonderful resource as a current student and as a future leader in the sustainable energy industry.”

Grace Waugh, a senior sustainable technology major at App State, on her participation in the 2021–22 U.S. Department of Energy Solar District Cup.

App State’s team was one of 35 that advanced to the final stage of the competition, held in April. Each team had 15 minutes to present its project to a panel of industry judges during a live video conference, which was followed by 10 minutes of questions from the judges.

Grace Waugh, a sustainable technology major from Chapel Hill, said being part of this competition allowed her to learn more about the development of a commercial scale photovoltaic (PV) system, as well as to practice such skills as time management, communication and teamwork.

“This competition has been a wonderful resource as a current student and as a future leader in the sustainable energy industry,” she added.

Through an invite from App State’s Appalachian Energy Center, Waugh and her teammates also had the opportunity to present their award-winning solar project at the 2022 State Energy Conference of North Carolina, where they shared their design with hundreds of state energy and sustainability leaders.

Dr. Jaewon Oh, an assistant professor in the Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment (STBE) who served as faculty adviser to the App State team, said, “App State is well known in North Carolina for its sustainable technology program. With this win in the national Solar District Cup competition, App State is positioned as one of the nation’s leading universities offering a superior solar energy curriculum.”

The following App State faculty also assisted the students with their project materials:

  • Dr. Tammy Kowalczyk, professor in the Department of Accounting and director of App State’s Impact Clinic.
  • Dr. Ram Poudel, assistant professor in the STBE department.
  • Dr. Brian Raichle, professor in and chair of the STBE department.
  • Dr. Sohad Abu-Elzait, assistant professor in the STBE department.

Solar powering a college campus

Solar District Cup teams designed their solar power systems based on data such as the district’s sustainability goals, electric utility rate schedule, development master plan and other relevant information provided in their division’s district use case. In addition, students were challenged to design battery energy storage systems that could increase solar capacity, shift load to shave peak power usage and serve as a resilience asset.

App State’s district use case for the competition was the Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, a public, historically Black university of more than 600 students located about 30 miles west of Philadelphia. The university is developing a climate action plan with goals to reduce campus consumption of natural gas and electricity — and eventually achieve carbon neutrality at a future date.

View larger image

This graphic shows a proposed solar park for the campus of Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. The park is one component of a three-part solar power system designed by App State students who competed in the 2021–22 U.S. Department of Energy Solar District Cup, taking second place in their division for their design. Graphic submitted

To help the campus meet its climate action goals, the App State team developed a solar power system consisting of three PV array sites, along with a battery storage system. The proposed power system has an anticipated lifespan of approximately 25–30 years, according to the team, with an installation time frame of approximately eight months.

These systems are designed to seamlessly integrate into the day-to-day lives of students, faculty, staff and campus visitors and can be used for demonstrational purposes in coursework, workshops and campus activities:

  • Solar park — A solar park located north of the university’s Science Building would include 10 carport-style solar arrays with picnic tables underneath. This green space, designed for events and/or outside classes, would also feature a small stage that can be used for university ceremonies and other activities.
  • Agrivoltaics site — A proposed agrivoltaics research site, adjacent to the university’s Hill Library, has the potential to offset the library’s electric usage almost entirely over the course of a year. The site’s solar arrays would be built 12 feet above the vegetation planted underneath, which could include pollinating plants, medicinal herbs and/or crops. In addition, the site is designed to serve as an example of multiple land-use management — the arrays produce energy for the university’s grid while the remaining solar energy reaching the ground produces vegetation that supports biology students’ research and the biodiversity of the campus’s ecosystem.
  • Ground-mounted PV array — A proposed ground-mounted PV array would serve as the largest solar site on campus and would be positioned on the campus’s south side, installed atop the underground geothermal heating system. The racks that hold this site’s solar panels are designed for easy setup and removal, to allow for convenient maintenance access to the geothermal system.

“App State’s Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment provides exemplary teaching that both inspires and challenges students through experiential learning, synergistic curricula and community engagement,” Oh said. “Students learn problem-solving skills applicable to real-world problems.”

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App State’s 2021–22 Solar District Cup team members
  • Team co-captain Calvin Horton ’22, of Woodstock, Georgia, graduated from App State in May with a Bachelor of Science in sustainable technology and a minor in building sciences. Subteam: Conceptual Design.
  • Team co-captain Danny Torres ’21, of Montgomery, Ohio, graduated from App State in 2021 with a B.S. in sustainable technology. Subteam: Financial Analysis.
  • Ashley Rankin ’22, of Cornelius, graduated from App State in May with a Master of Art in industrial-organizational psychology and human resource management (IOHRM). Subteam: Financial Analysis.
  • Braxton Lee, of Pleasant Garden, is a graduate student in App State’s IOHRM master’s program and is also pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at App State. Subteam: Financial Analysis.
  • Bryson Allison, of Charlotte, is on schedule to graduate from App State in August with her MBA. Subteam: Financial Analysis.
  • Grace Waugh, of Chapel Hill, is a senior sustainable technology major with a minor in economics. Subteam: Conceptual Design.
  • Hyla Zouzias ’21, of Wilmington, is a graduate student in App State’s technology program with a concentration in appropriate technology. She holds a B.S. in sustainable technology from App State. Subteam: Development and Construction.
  • Jason Harrington, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, is on track to graduate from App State in August with his B.S. in sustainable technology. Subteam: Distribution Analysis.
  • Mikayla Posey ’22, of Colfax, graduated from App State in May with a B.S. in sustainable technology. Subteam: Financial Analysis.
  • Pat Kelly ’20, of Wilmington, is a graduate student in App State’s technology program with a concentration in appropriate technology. He holds a B.S. in sustainable technology from App State. Subteam: Conceptual Design.
  • Ron Kitchings ’22, of Franklin, Tennessee, graduated from App State in May with a B.S. in sustainable technology. Subteam: Financial Analysis.
  • Ross Alexander ’22, of Salisbury, graduated from App State in May with a B.S. in sustainable technology. Subteam: Conceptual Design.
  • Ryan Edrington ’22, of Stoneville, graduated from App State in May with a B.S. in sustainable technology. Subteam: Conceptual Design.
  • Summer Gee ’20, of Wrightsville Beach, is a graduate student in App State’s technology program with a concentration in appropriate technology. She holds a B.S. in sustainable technology from App State. Subteam: Development and Construction.
App State team pitches winning solar solution
App State team pitches winning solar solution

Watch this video to learn more about the winning solar power system that App State students developed as part of the 2021–22 U.S. Department of Energy Solar District Cup competition.

Watch the video
Solar District Cup Class of 2021-2022
Solar District Cup Class of 2021-2022

U.S. Department of Energy

The Solar District Cup challenges multidisciplinary student teams to design and model optimized distributed energy systems for a campus or urban district.

Learn more
Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment
Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment

One of seven departments housed in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, the Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment at Appalachian State University features an integrated array of programs spanning the fields of sustainable design and technology. Its mission is to foster a strong and vibrant culture of inquiry, discovery and innovation that integrates theory with application, problem seeking with problem-solving, local issues with global perspectives and technological progress with environmental stewardship. It offers bachelor’s degrees in sustainable technology and building science, and a master’s degree in technology.

Learn more

About the College of Fine and Applied Arts

Appalachian State University’s College of Fine and Applied Arts is a dynamic and innovative group of seven academic departments, bringing together a variety of perspectives, experiences and real-world education to provide unique opportunities for student success. The college has more than 3,000 undergraduate and graduate majors. Its departments are Applied Design, Art, Communication, Military Science and Leadership, Sustainable Development, Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment, and Theatre and Dance. Learn more at https://faa.appstate.edu.

About the College of Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at Appalachian State University is home to 17 academic departments, two centers and one residential college. These units span the humanities and the social, mathematical and natural sciences. CAS aims to develop a distinctive identity built upon our university's strengths, traditions and unique location. The college’s values lie not only in service to the university and local community, but through inspiring, training, educating and sustaining the development of its students as global citizens. More than 6,400 student majors are enrolled in the college. As the college is also largely responsible for implementing App State’s general education curriculum, it is heavily involved in the education of all students at the university, including those pursuing majors in other colleges. Learn more at https://cas.appstate.edu.

About the Walker College of Business

The Walker College of Business at Appalachian State University delivers transformational educational experiences that prepare and inspire students to be ethical, innovative and engaged business leaders who positively impact our community, both locally and globally. The college places emphasis on international experiences, sustainable business practices, entrepreneurial programs and real-world applications with industry. Enrolling approximately 3,000 undergraduates in 10 majors and 175 graduate students in three master's programs, the Walker College is accredited by AACSB International – the premier global accrediting body for schools of business. Learn more at https://business.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls nearly 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.

“App State is well known in North Carolina for its sustainable technology program. With this win in the national Solar District Cup competition, App State is positioned as one of the nation’s leading universities offering a superior solar energy curriculum.”

Dr. Jaewon Oh, assistant professor in App State’s Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment

App State’s 2021–22 Solar District Cup team members
  • Team co-captain Calvin Horton ’22, of Woodstock, Georgia, graduated from App State in May with a Bachelor of Science in sustainable technology and a minor in building sciences. Subteam: Conceptual Design.
  • Team co-captain Danny Torres ’21, of Montgomery, Ohio, graduated from App State in 2021 with a B.S. in sustainable technology. Subteam: Financial Analysis.
  • Ashley Rankin ’22, of Cornelius, graduated from App State in May with a Master of Art in industrial-organizational psychology and human resource management (IOHRM). Subteam: Financial Analysis.
  • Braxton Lee, of Pleasant Garden, is a graduate student in App State’s IOHRM master’s program and is also pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at App State. Subteam: Financial Analysis.
  • Bryson Allison, of Charlotte, is on schedule to graduate from App State in August with her MBA. Subteam: Financial Analysis.
  • Grace Waugh, of Chapel Hill, is a senior sustainable technology major with a minor in economics. Subteam: Conceptual Design.
  • Hyla Zouzias ’21, of Wilmington, is a graduate student in App State’s technology program with a concentration in appropriate technology. She holds a B.S. in sustainable technology from App State. Subteam: Development and Construction.
  • Jason Harrington, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, is on track to graduate from App State in August with his B.S. in sustainable technology. Subteam: Distribution Analysis.
  • Mikayla Posey ’22, of Colfax, graduated from App State in May with a B.S. in sustainable technology. Subteam: Financial Analysis.
  • Pat Kelly ’20, of Wilmington, is a graduate student in App State’s technology program with a concentration in appropriate technology. He holds a B.S. in sustainable technology from App State. Subteam: Conceptual Design.
  • Ron Kitchings ’22, of Franklin, Tennessee, graduated from App State in May with a B.S. in sustainable technology. Subteam: Financial Analysis.
  • Ross Alexander ’22, of Salisbury, graduated from App State in May with a B.S. in sustainable technology. Subteam: Conceptual Design.
  • Ryan Edrington ’22, of Stoneville, graduated from App State in May with a B.S. in sustainable technology. Subteam: Conceptual Design.
  • Summer Gee ’20, of Wrightsville Beach, is a graduate student in App State’s technology program with a concentration in appropriate technology. She holds a B.S. in sustainable technology from App State. Subteam: Development and Construction.

“This competition has been a wonderful resource as a current student and as a future leader in the sustainable energy industry.”

Grace Waugh, a senior sustainable technology major at App State, on her participation in the 2021–22 U.S. Department of Energy Solar District Cup.

App State team pitches winning solar solution
App State team pitches winning solar solution

Watch this video to learn more about the winning solar power system that App State students developed as part of the 2021–22 U.S. Department of Energy Solar District Cup competition.

Watch the video
Solar District Cup Class of 2021-2022
Solar District Cup Class of 2021-2022

U.S. Department of Energy

The Solar District Cup challenges multidisciplinary student teams to design and model optimized distributed energy systems for a campus or urban district.

Learn more
Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment
Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment

One of seven departments housed in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, the Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment at Appalachian State University features an integrated array of programs spanning the fields of sustainable design and technology. Its mission is to foster a strong and vibrant culture of inquiry, discovery and innovation that integrates theory with application, problem seeking with problem-solving, local issues with global perspectives and technological progress with environmental stewardship. It offers bachelor’s degrees in sustainable technology and building science, and a master’s degree in technology.

Learn more

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Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

The migration of materials from other sites is still incomplete, so if you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Additional feature stories may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Photo galleries and videos published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian

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Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

The migration of materials from other sites is still incomplete, so if you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Additional feature stories may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Photo galleries and videos published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian
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