Energy Technology

Angèle Reinders research focuses on the integration of photovoltaic (PV) solar energy technologies in mobility, buildings, infrastructures and our environment by applying a design-driven approach. In it, she combines technical research with other relevant disciplines (such as industrial design and socio-economics) to create products and systems that people actually can and like to use. Reinders strongly believes that the sustainable energy revolution can only be successful if engineers take into account human factors, societal context, financial aspects and design and styling.

At present her design-driven research has three core pillars: (1) luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) technologies, (2) performance and reliability assessments of solar systems and (3) solar powered mobility. Her applied research on innovative colored LSC devices ranges from roof tiles to advanced geometrical designs, which have both great design features (color, transparency, form) and high efficiency. The performance of these and other integrated PV modules are tested in the TU/e’s large area solar simulator.

Working together with more than 250 researchers from 37 countries across Europe, she investigates the long-term yields of PV systems in different climates and in various hybrid system contexts, using big data analytics, simulations and machine learning techniques.

Her research on PV-powered mobility focusses on solar-powered electric cars and solar charging stations. In this research she works together with Lightyear, Toyota, TNO, IM Efficiency and Forschungszentrum Jülich. More details about Reinders’ work can be found here. Or check out her recent book Designing with Photovoltaics (2020).

The Energy Technology group is responsible for several Bachelor courses in Mechanical Engineering. Also, several minor projects and bachelor final projects are also offered by the group. The group participates in three Master programs/tracks, which are closely related to the research activities of the group. Several Master courses are taught in these programs. Please click the following links for more information.