Three professors at Parks College of Engineering, Aviation & Technology are researching wind and solar renewable energy systems with the help of their students. The purpose is to better harness the potential of these energy systems and implement them into the current infrastructure.

“There is an urgent need to move away from fossil fuels into sustainable renewable sources of energy,” Associate Professor of the Electrical & Computer Engineering Department, Huliyar Mallikarjuna said. “Wind and solar are currently viable economically as well as technologically at this time.”

Mallikarjuna is working with Roobik Gharabagi, associate professor and chair of the electrical engineering department, and Sridhar Condoor, associate professor of the aerospace & mechanical engineering department.

Each of them, according to Mallikarjuna, brings some different expertise to the research. Gharabagi specializes in power electronics and Condoor specializes in the design of small wind turbines that can be installed in an urban setting. Condoor recently obtained a patent in hubless wind turbines.

Parks students have been asked by the professors to assist them different areas of the research. Freshman aerospace engineering student, Phillip Reyes, has been asked by Condoor to compare the efficiency and mechanics of windmills present in rural and urban settings.

“I am excited to work on this project because I believe that this renewable energy research is crucial for our future,” Reyes said.

The other students are working in areas that compliment their expertise and interests. The focus of the research is to help gain knowledge of how these renewable energy systems can be better implemented into our cities.

“One of the hurdles that needs to be addressed toward making progress in utilization of renewable energy is developing highly efficient battery storage with large capacity. This research will help in doing that,” Mallikarjuna said.