Students studying energy engineering are as unique as the major itself. They graduate not only with an ability to understand engineering fundamentals and how those fundamentals apply to the energy challenges of today’s society but also with the skills necessary to help secure an energized future across the globe.
In addition to teaching more efficient uses of traditional energy sources, the energy engineering curriculum in the John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering (EME) at Penn State also focuses on renewable energy. Students engage in design strategies for various forms of renewable energy production and efficient energy utilization, including solar energy. Solar power offers a viable solution for many environmental challenges faced by today’s society.
“The energy engineering curriculum is designed to provide students not only with solid depth in interdisciplinary engineering aspects but also with some business background to take calculated risks while venturing into great projects that provide global energy solutions,” said Sarma Pisupati professor of energy and mineral engineering and undergraduate program chair of energy engineering.
Geographically, some locations are ideal for solar power production. India, for example, has an abundance of sunny days, experiencing almost 300 clear, sunshine-filled days per year. This level of solar insolation puts the country in a position to not only renewably power itself but also presents the opportunity for solar energy to become the economic backbone of India.
Meet Himadeep Nallavadla, chief executive officer and founder of Halo Energie. Nallavadla graduated with degrees in energy engineering, and energy business and finance (EBF), and a minor in environmental engineering. As a dual major student, he extensively researched solar power development, solar design and energy business. During Nallavadla’s junior year at Penn State in 2012, he incorporated Halo Energie Private Limited with the goal of it becoming an independent power producer (IPP) and energy investment company based in India. With the help of fellow energy engineering and EBF dual major Drew Gardner — who provided energy financial modeling support as part of his Schreyer Honors College honor’s thesis — the company slowly began to win solar development bids through India’s Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission.
"Doing a double major at Penn State was certainly a game changer for my life. Although I knew I wanted to get into business, my advisers and faculty gave me the drive and motivation to take that first step. Penn State has prepared me in every possible way to face the outside world and be successful. Penn State has met beyond my expectations, and I couldn't have asked for anything more,” said Nallavadla.
“Himadeep and Drew were so engaged and intent to get as much out of my course as possible (Design of Solar Energy Conversion Systems, EGEE 437), said Jeffrey R. S. Brownson, associate professor of energy and mineral engineering, and solar option lead for the online intercollege master of professional studies program in renewable energy and sustainability systems (iMPS-RESS). Those efforts have come to fruition as a real solar photovoltaic project. It confirmed that motivated EME students can take the tools that we develop in a foundational solar course, combined with experience from energy business learning and project finance and turn those skills into new opportunities for solar energy jobs and international solar photovoltaic projects, while expanding the visibility of a Penn State EME education."