From Trenton to Timbuktu: AU alumnus Brad Berwald returns to speak about solar energy

Solar energy is aiding the world from New Jersey to Africa, AU Alumni and senior sales engineer for Morningstar Corporation Brad Berwald told the AU faculty and students on Oct. 31 at the Roon Lecture Hall.

Solar modules are benefiting a wide variety of people, Berwald said.

Berwald graduated from Alfred with a degree in electrical engineering and then completed a master’s degree in business administration. He was invited back to Alfred by the Environmental Studies Seminar series.

Morningstar Corporation is using solar energy to help countries all over the world, Berwald said. He told the audience the scientific background of Morningstar’s specific off-grid solar module and detailed the positives and negatives of using solar energy.

Berwald said that there are currently two types of solar energy systems: on-grid and off-grid. The on- grid system connects directly to the user’s electric meter with no means of storage, and the off-grid system deals with storing solar energy in a battery bank. Berwald explained that Morningstar Corporation focuses on the off-grid system thus enabling Morningstar Corporation to possess a diverse market that is interested in using off-grid solar technology. This market ranges from powering lighting in rural homes and high way traffic signs to powering telemetry (instruments used to tell the weather).

“The best thing of the solar modules is that it is infinitely skilled,” Berwald said.

Berwald pointed out that although solar energy is a very promising energy source it is by no means flawless. The process to build modular technologies uses toxins such as cadmium and arsenic, very dangerous materials, he said.

“Solar energy is clean producing, but it is not the perfect source,” Berwald said.

However, solar energy is a safer energy source for many countries such as Ecuador. Morningstar Corporation and Berwald have helped Ecuador provide a safe and long lasting fluorescent light through their off-grid systems instead of dangerous kerosene lighting Ecuador readily used before.

Although solar energy may not be the perfect source it definitely is a revolution in the right direction.

“Morningstar is intrigued by the future,” Berwald said.