Solar Energy - A research and execution project

Downingtown Area School District's Social Media Post (read here)-

"DASD student leaders from the Drishti Foundation USA visited Pickering Valley Elementary School to donate a solar kit, giving students a hands-on opportunity to learn about solar power and sustainable solutions!

The team led every part of the project, from analyzing PV’s solar needs and researching technologies to fundraising, testing, and preparing a live demonstration.

Special recognition goes to the students who made this project possible: Akshara Raparla (Downingtown STEM Academy) - Project Lead; Viraaj Jairath (Downingtown STEM Academy); Akshita Sikhakolli and Shravya Srirangam (Downingtown High School East); Aaditri Manocha (Lionville Middle School); and alumni advisor Aneesh Raparla.

Founded by DASD students and alumni, Drishti is a nonprofit empowering blind and visually impaired individuals through education and healthcare. This solar kit donation also reflects their broader commitment to community, sustainability, and youth leadership.

Passion Project- Solar Energy

For over a year, I have passionately led a solar energy initiative at Pickering Valley Elementary School, my alma mater, driven by a commitment to sustainability and youth education. What began in September 2024 as a simple request to evaluate solar kit options quickly evolved into a comprehensive, hands-on project spanning research, fundraising, implementation, and scientific investigation.

Guiding a dedicated five-member student team, I took the project from understanding the school’s educational needs to selecting and procuring a mobile solar kit perfectly suited for classroom use. After months of fundraising, we chose the BLUETTI AC180 system, balancing portability, efficiency, and instructional value within a $2,000 budget. On September 16, 2025, we proudly demoed the kit for the students and teachers—an inspiring moment that celebrated the curiosity and excitement sparked by renewable energy.

Beyond the installation, this passion project deepened into a global academic exploration. My summer trip to Tibet, where I witnessed widespread solar adoption in even the most remote areas, inspired a comparative study between Tibet’s ~9.4 GW and Pennsylvania’s ~2 GW of installed solar capacity. Combining field observations with policy analysis, I uncovered both challenges and promising opportunities to expand solar energy use closer to home.

To complement this work, I conducted targeted experiments on the solar kit’s performance, revealing a logarithmic relationship between light intensity and voltage, along with a significant 50% efficiency increase when using DC output over AC. These findings enriched the project’s practical and scientific impact.

This ongoing journey has taught me invaluable lessons in leadership, collaboration, scientific inquiry, and community engagement. The research and results have been compiled into a published three-part series:

Solar Kit Evaluation
Tibet vs. Pennsylvania Adoption Study
Efficiency Experiment

I’m honored that the initiative was featured in local media [Daily Local News] and by the schooling district on social media, and I invite you to explore the full research series shared on this page.

I am grateful to my mentor Dr. Bryan Long (Physics teacher, Downingtown STEM Academy), Mrs. Madhu Gurthy, and all those who supported us, I am excited to continue this work and grow youth-led sustainability through Drishti Foundation and beyond.

Published Report

Abstract

This report is a high school level publication and presents a comprehensive examination of portable solar technology and its broader applications across diverse contexts. Part 1 investigates the low-light performance of a Bluetti PV200L panel by recording voltage output over a lux range of 240 to 0.1 lx and demonstrates a clear logarithmic relationship between illuminance and open-circuit voltage. In parallel, AC versus DC charging efficiency of the Bluetti AC180 battery was quantified by charging a smartphone, tablet, and vacuum cleaner, revealing that DC output uses roughly half the stored energy of AC under light loads. Part 2 shifts to a global perspective, comparing solar adoption in Tibet—where high altitude and intense insolation have driven rapid growth to over 9 GW with innovative bifacial panels and storage—and in Pennsylvania, which surpassed 2 GW of installed capacity through policy incentives, distributed rooftop systems, and competitive costs. Part 3 details the evaluation, funding, and deployment of a mobile, all-in-one Bluetti AC180 kit at Pickering Valley Elementary School, highlighting load analysis for classroom devices, option comparisons against fixed installations, safety and operational planning, and a student-centered demonstration strategy. Together, these studies bridge scientific theory, field observation, and educational practice to inform optimal use of portable solar systems in both research and community settings.

ACCESS FULL PUBLISHED REPORT HERE

Part 2 - Geographic patterns - Tibet and Pennsylvania

Solar Energy: Impact in Tibet and Pennsylvania

This report blends grassroots action with global insight, documenting a student-led solar initiative in Pennsylvania alongside field observations from Tibet. It explores how solar energy works, why it matters, and compares adoption patterns shaped by geography, infrastructure, and policy. With data on global solar growth and local case studies, the report highlights both large-scale trends and the transformative potential of small, community-based systems. It concludes with key takeaways on cost competitiveness, grid modernization, and the educational value of hands-on solar solutions.

Download PDF

Part 3 - Efficiency Analysis of a Solar Kit

Efficiency Analysis - Low Light Performance and AC/DC Output

This report examines the performance of a Bluetti portable solar panel system under low-light conditions, focusing on how light intensity affects voltage output. It details a two-phase study measuring voltage across varying lux levels and compares energy consumption between AC and DC output modes when charging devices. Results reveal a logarithmic relationship between lux and voltage, and demonstrate that DC charging is notably more energy-efficient than AC, conserving solar battery power effectively

Download PDF