APIER: an innovative project from/out of a bright student initiativeAtelier Pédagogique Interdisciplinaire sur l'Environnement et les Energies Renouvelables
The APIER (Environment and renewable energy interdisciplinary /pilot plants for education/ teaching workshops) project is ambitious in wanting to become an Eco area for teaching, research and development.
It was initiated in 2008 by students and has since a solar power plant on canopies in the school’s parking lot.
This project consists of four parts which are:
- Solar'A7: a solar power plant integrated into the engineering curriculum,
- Solar'Lab: a building for practical work on renewable energy,
- An R&D testbed for hydrogen,
- An environmental observatory.
Solar'A7 : a solar power plant integrated into the engineering curriculum
Bringing solar power into the parking lot was realized thanks to several projects integrated into the engineering curriculum at Toulouse INP-ENSIACET and Toulouse INP-ENSEEIHT.
This power plant is a significant achievement for our students, which confirms their ability to take on major challenges.
The group QUADRAN will make sure all the technical data of production from the solar panels will be transferred to a server throughout its use. Access to these data will offer many teaching possibilities available for students.
Follow the production of the Solar'A7 power plant in real time: http://193.253.240.31:9090/inpt.htm
Solar'Lab: a building for practical work on renewable energy
Solar'Lab will add some solar panels with trackers which will be used by Toulouse INP researchers and for the training courses based on solar power production. Some examples of how they can be used for teaching are: big data, time series, environmental studies, manufacturing procedures, modeling…
An R&D testbed for hydrogen
The LAPLACE research center carries out research around hydrogen technology. The lab has rolled out a testbed on site enabling it to test systems of fuel cells and water electrolysis at high power levels (<10kW).
In the near future, solar generators will be installed allowing us to experiment storing renewable electricity via an H2 battery. This platform will be able to serve as a demonstrator on a technically autonomous, “isolated” site.
A lake as an observatory for the environment
The lake on campus and the watershed are going to be used for scientific purposes. The Toulouse INP-ENSIACET students and all of the Toulouse INP will be able to study various aspects there with real in situ conditions such as underground water and groundwater, the atmosphere, the soil and the aquatic environment. Specific equipment will be positioned on the site such as piezometers to reach the water table which fills the lake and to be able to take samples.
