Despite Kansas’ dependence on coal and wind energy, the future for solar energy in the state looks bright, according Brad Loveless, director of biology and conservation programs at Westar Energy.

Though the lack of substantial research on solar energy drives up the cost of solar technology and directs investors into alternatives such as wind and coal, the University of Kansas has started to soak up the sun’s rays for research of its own. Faculty, students and Westar Energy have invested money and research into solar energy, even though the returns on those investments remain largely uncertain.

Filling up with sun

The EcoHawks engineering group is trying to feed their Volkswagen Beetle less fuel.

Working at a West Campus shed the group calls the “Boathouse” on Wednesday, members of EcoHawks started mounting six solar panels to the shed’s roof.

Each panel can supply more than a kilowatt-hour, enough to power a window air-conditioner for an hour. The group wants to transfer energy captured by the panels into a battery used as a fueling station for their 1974 Volkswagen Super Beetle.

“The whole goal of the project is to increase the miles per gallon of the car itself,” said Chris Depcik, associate professor of mechanical engineering.

As the optimal sun season begins, Bryan Strecker, a senior from Topeka, and other EcoHawk members will have to climb onto the roof to tilt the panels about 30 degrees until they complete an automated system used to track the sun across the sky.

Affordable Solar, a New Mexico-based company, donated the first two panels to EcoHawks. The company sold the four additional panels to EcoHawks at a reduced price of $450. The additional panels will allow the older models to stay in place and allow for experiments with the self-moving panels. Each panel is valued at about $800.

“The biggest challenge is mounting the panels themselves,” said Strecker.

The team met a worker at Home Depot who had experience with solar panels and helped develop a mounting bracket for the first two solar panels. The team also had relied on finding information online and making friends at companies, such as Affordable Solar in New Mexico, for guidance simply because solar energy isn’t a popular industry in Kansas.

Strecker said the project team had received discounts and donations from various companies including Affordable Solar. In return, the companies only requested recognition as payment.

“It’s a pretty unique project so when people hear about it, especially solar companies, they are really excited to help out,” Strecker said.

Depcik said that the project’s various components, including the solar panels and the Volkswagen Beetle, makes it especially unique. He said he doesn’t know of anyone else looking to integrate all those technologies.

“The students get to learn in a real world situation how this flow of energy occurs,” Depcik said.

A risky investment

Right now, it’s just a prospect, but it’s a large one.

The KU Center for Research will decide during the next few months whether to install two solar panels, spanning 6,000 square feet. Installed out of the sight of most students on West Campus, the two panels are planned to sit next to the Library Annex, 1800 Westbrooke St. A+f GmbH, a German solar energy company, produces the rotating panels, which haven’t been widely used in the States.

With the capacity to generate 176,000 kilowatts annually, the panels could be a stable source of energy for the annex and offer faculty and students first-hand experience with solar energy, said Carey Novak, director of business relations and development at KUCR.

Novak said the panels would cost $1 million and take about six months to install. If University officials approve the project, several departments are expected to benefit from the panels, including the engineering department.

“It would be a pretty significant statement on KU’s commitment for going toward renewable energy,” said Scott McVey, KU energy conservation and utility manager.

Despite the projected benefits, Novak said the outcome was unknown and that University officials couldn’t know every problem that might go along with the investment.

KUCR is still evaluating all aspects of the project and will make a decision sometime during the next three months.

More than a home

Alice Bean’s house, 3904 W. Eighth St., looks like every other house on the block: green grass, earth-tone siding and a sturdy mailbox standing along the road.

The only difference her neighbors notice as they stroll by is the reflective rays bouncing off her solar panels.

Bean, a professor of physics, bought into green technology in 2008 when she spent about $8,000 — after receiving tax credits — on her first panels. To complement her solar panels, she purchased a Toyota Prius, an energy-efficient water heater, extra insulation and florescent light bulbs. All combine to make her home one of the most efficient, environmentally-friendly in town.

In the ideal situation, where net-metering would allow Bean to sell her solar energy back to Westar for the amount she pays per kilowatt, it would take her 40 years to break even on her initial investment. However, Lawrence doesn’t operate on a net-metering system, so instead of earning 12 cents per solar kilowatt-hour, the price per kilowatt -hour she pays the electric company, Bean earns 1.9 cents. It would therefore take 400 years for Bean to make back her investment.

“You’ll find that’s not very exciting,” Bean said.

Though Westar Energy has considered net metering, Loveless said it could prove costly because someone — most likely customers — would have to pay for transmission lines needed to carry the power, Loveless said.

“From the company perspective, we see value in encouraging renewables,” Loveless said. “But it’s an issue of fairness.”

Bean didn’t spend about $10,000 for the whole process to turn a profit; she said she knew that wasn’t going to happen.

Every time she pulls her Prius into the driveway, Bean sees her panels and doesn’t regret the system that, at the current rate, will take 4 centuries to pay off.

“I didn’t invest in solar panels to make money,” Bean said. “I love my solar panels regardless.”

— Edited by Ashley Montgomery