Abstract
With the growing awareness from all over the world to conserve energy, research and application of renewable energy systems have become continually researched as the future energy source. In this research seminar discussions and research output of recent advances in the solar industry is presented. The reduction in solar cells costs and the desire to conserve energy, makes the upsurge of building integrated/applied photovoltaic (PV) systems within the built environment a viable option. However, there are thought provoking questions relating to its efficiency, absorption/conversion rates, impact from the climate, aging effects, amongst others. In addition, the issue of temperature remains a significant concern. As a result, different technologies have been introduced in an attempt to avert these concerns. During this session, participants will be introduced to the basic concept of PV modules and its integration within the built environment. Results from two ongoing projects will be discussed together with the practicalities within tropical countries. There would also be the possibility to introduce a modelling tool.

Biography Dr. Emmanuel Adu Essah is the Undergraduate Programmes Director and a Lecturer in Sustainable Technologies within the School of Built Environment at the University of Reading, UK. His research interest is broadly in Building Services (Energy management in buildings, Indoor Air quality), including effects of air movement and insulation on moisture transfer within buildings and risks arising from condensation in buildings and in Renewable Energy Systems. In 2013 he was appointed as a Co-I of Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), REELCOOP EU project on renewable energy electricity generation (Topic: research cooperation and knowledge creation in the area of renewable energy with Mediterranean partner countries). As a Co-I, since 2015, Dr Essah has been working on a Climate KIC project involving the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (QEOP) investigating the potential for the park to be a Smart and Sustainable Districts. Dr Essah has also undertaken extensive studies of energy use in buildings and how it informs the overall energy budget of a country. Studies in this field have been explored in countries in Africa – notably Ghana, Botswana and South Africa.

• Admission is free.
• Tea break will be served at 3:00 pm.
• UoRM staff RSVP by responding to the internal event invitation.
• All are welcome, RSVP by 12 August 2016.