They were interviewed by MCCD representatives, who organized them into specialized teams based on their backgrounds, experience and interests: solar panel design, battery systems and financial analysis. The teams worked collaboratively with MCCD and each other throughout the course of the project to evaluate whether a solar energy backup system could improve power reliability at the Stroudsburg facility \u2014 regularly sharing findings to ensure that all system components would function together cohesively. <\/p>\n
To strengthen the technical accuracy of their work, the students also consulted with industry professionals, including owner of Northeast Site Contactors, Brian Winot, who provided insight into site work; Danielle Morris from A&R Solar, who discussed solar system design and implementation; and Shawn McGlynn and Paul Morgan of SFM Consulting, who advised students on municipal and building code considerations.<\/p>\n
The solar panel group researched array configurations, calculated system sizing requirements, and reviewed building and environmental codes to ensure any future design would meet regulatory standards. <\/p>\n
The battery team investigated energy storage technologies, explored battery placement within the facility, and evaluated safety and accessibility concerns. <\/p>\n
The financial team analyzed the building\u2019s historical electricity usage, estimated installation costs, researched grid integration strategies, and projected long-term financial returns from a potential solar system. <\/p>\n
Student Takeaways <\/p>\n
According to the students, one of the project\u2019s most valuable aspects was learning how interconnected engineering decisions are in real-world applications. Each group conducted research on its respective tasks, but every decision affected another group\u2019s work. <\/p>\n
\u201cWorking across different teams was a challenge,\u201d they said. \u201cHowever, it was also a great learning tool in preparing us for future jobs in the real world.\u201d <\/p>\n
Unlike textbook assignments with straightforward answers, the MCCD project required students to navigate uncertainty, interpret real utility data, and make engineering decisions based on practical constraints. <\/p>\n
One of the biggest surprises came when students analyzed the district\u2019s actual electricity consumption. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe highest energy usage provided was 19,436 kilowatt-hours during a one-month winter period,\u201d the students reported. \u201cFor a government building that only operates Monday through Friday, that usage compares to a very large home using electricity seven days a week.\u201d <\/p>\n
They discovered that designing an effective energy resilience system would require balancing energy needs with the facility\u2019s physical limitations. Battery storage space proved especially challenging. <\/p>\n
Finding a Solution <\/p>\n
The end result was a comprehensive proposal for a solar energy resilience system capable of running the MCCD building\u2019s needs during power outages that is tailored to the building\u2019s space constraints. <\/p>\n
Originally, MCCD envisioned enough battery capacity to power the building for up to three days during outages. However, the students\u2019 research revealed that approach would be prohibitively expensive and difficult to accommodate within the building\u2019s available space. <\/p>\n
\u201cTheir recommendation to use a solar array during the daytime to reduce the need for battery storage was a great approach. The most valuable finding from this study is that solar is a feasible solution to our power reliability problem,\u201d Wagner said. <\/p>\n
While the solar system presented by the students is not being installed at this stage, MCCD said it is analyzing its budget and looking for grant opportunities to bring this project to fruition: \u201cThe feasibility study provided by the Penn State Scranton students will be key in establishing need and solutions typically required for grant applications.\u201d <\/p>\n
Preparing future engineers <\/p>\n
For Daneshmand, the project reflected the core goals of Penn State Scranton\u2019s mechanical engineering program: combining technical theory with hands-on application. <\/p>\n
Students were required to evaluate multiple design alternatives, justify decisions with data, and present recommendations to a non-technical audience \u2014 all skills commonly required in professional engineering practice. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe primary objectives were to develop students\u2019 ability to approach open-ended engineering problems, integrate technical analysis with economic and practical considerations, and communicate their findings effectively,\u201d Daneshmand said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat stood out most was their ability to adapt to the complexity of real-world data and constraints. Unlike textbook problems, there was no single correct answer. Students had to make assumptions, evaluate trade-offs, and refine their approach iteratively. The collaboration also reinforced the importance of community partnerships in higher education and exposed students to regional infrastructure and energy challenges facing public-service organizations in northeastern Pennsylvania,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n
\u201cPartnerships like this are extremely important. They bridge the gap between theory and practice and help students understand how engineering decisions create real value.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"They were interviewed by MCCD representatives, who organized them into specialized teams based on their backgrounds, experience and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":209734,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[178,180,179],"class_list":["post-209733","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-scranton","tag-scranton","tag-scranton-headlines","tag-scranton-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/209733","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=209733"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/209733\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/209734"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=209733"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=209733"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=209733"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}