Edward Piers Moreno Easton, BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering, School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematics has been awarded the university’s Environmental Award for summer 2021 now in it’s fifth year.

Edward’s provides a solution to the inefficient operation of solar panels, which are affected by temperature, by producing a thermophotovoltaic (TPV). By recovering waste heat the panels efficiency is maximised by being cooled, and the excess heat can be used for useful heating. Edward also designed a defrosting solution allowing solar panels to melt snow and ice so panels can be used in cooler climates.

Edwards stands with prototype solar panel

When asked what winning this year’s Environmental Award meant to him, Edward said:

“I am delighted to have won the 2021 Environmental Award since it is a major honour to have been chosen over so many other outstanding projects. When deciding on a dissertation title, I wanted to challenge myself to create a project that I was passionate about and design an innovative solution that had a significant influence on lowering CO2 pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in our world.

Using the award money, I will be able to continue my research and studies in my Master’s degree at Warwick University, which is focused on Sustainable Energy Technologies. I’d like to inspire and familiarise more pupils with the fact that renewables and global sustainability are in our hands to ensure a prosperous future for generations to come. Climate change is not an issue of the future; it is a crisis that exists right now!

I’d like to thank my supervisor, Shaun Lee, for all his help and direction during the project, as well as Dave Kennaird for providing equipment and materials. Special thanks to Francisco Moreno, for his support and knowledge, which has been invaluable.”

We wish Edward every success in developing his research and for his further study at the University of Warwick.