So Cal Research Initiative for Solar Energy
THE SC-RISE VISION
The
vision of the So Cal Research Initiative for Solar Energy
is to serve as the “honest broker” for information about all aspects of
solar energy. This is a well-established role for CE-CERT, which has
built a reputation as a trusted resource for analysis of controversial
technologies for reducing air pollution and improving energy efficiency.
The Bourns College of Engineering is engaged in cutting-edge solar energy research including high-performance solar cells, low-cost organic solar energy collectors and large-area solar cells using nanowire arrays.
The Center has entered into a collaborative relationship Tohoku University in Japan, global leaders in solar research, as well as the City of Riverside and Riverside Public Utilities.
Five-year goals for the Center include establishment of a testbed facility with at least one gigawatt of installed solar panels, an on-line database repository, and accreditation credentials to certify photovoltaic, concentrated PV and solar thermal technologies. Other goals involve advancing solar thermal storage techniques and design of an intermediate-scale thermal electricity plant to be demonstrated at the CE-CERT complex.