Skip to main content Skip to navigation

Warwick Manufacturing Group

Solar Power

Solar Power - Dr Magdalena Cieslak and Dr Farah Villa Lopez

Meet the Academics

Dr Magdalena Cieslak crouching next to the side of a table holding a lamp above a toy solared power car that is on the table

What advice would you give to a young people aspiring to get into a STEM Career?

“Believe in yourself. No matter what your gender, nationality you can work in STEM. Find the passion that drives you.”

Dr Farah Villa Lopez sitting on a bench holding a lamp over a toy solared power car also on the bench

What advice would you give to a young people aspiring to get into a STEM Career?

“Just go for it. If you really enjoy and feel passionate about it, you will manage to overcome challenges.”

To learn more about Magdalena, her academic journey and current role:

Download the transcript.Link opens in a new window

To learn more about Farah, her academic journey and current role:

Download the transcriptLink opens in a new window.

Bringing Science to Life

How do we use solar energy?

Photovoltaic devices transform sunlight into electrical energy. A single photovoltaic device is known as a cell. An individual PV cell is usually small, typically producing about 1 or 2 watts of power. These cells are made of different semiconductor materials and are often less than the thickness of four human hairs. Photovoltaic cells are connected together in chains to form larger units known as panels. This way they can produce various amounts of electric energy.

Solar energy is green and pollution-free. It can work in remote areas that are not connected to the main grid. The use of solar energy also reduces our carbon footprint and makes our living environment better.

An innovative example of using solar energy is photovoltaic-powered vehicles (cars, bikes, buses, planes etc). Such vehicles do not need petrol but can run only on energy coming from the sun. Today, the most common example of solar power is rooftop solar panels. They become very popular because they can provide electric energy for an entire home.

There is no doubt that solar energy will continue to play a key role in the world. With more and more breakthroughs in the solar power field, we will see new inventions in the future.

How to make your own solar updraft tower

Materials Required: 

  • Two tin cans  
  • Sellotape or glue 
  • Two paper clips  
  • 1 push pin  
  • A4 Paper for the paper windmilll
  • Pom pom balls (optional) 

Step by Step Instructions for the solar updraft tower:

1. Prepare two empty tin cans. Carefully wash the tin can and open the other side of the can as well.
2. Stick the two empty tin cans by using sellotape.  
Two tins cans on top of each other on a desk
3. Unfold the two paper clips.  
4. Using sellotape, stick the unfolded paper clips. Once it is done, stick the edges of the unfolded paper clips to each side of the emptied tin can. 
Two tin cans on top of each other on a desk with a metal paper clip goes across the top
5. Use sellotape to stick the push pin with the unfolded paper clip. Make sure that the push pin is taped in the center of the unfolded paper clip.  
6. Fold the paper windmill. More detailed instructions are below.
Paper windmill on a desk
7. Carefully attach the paper windmill in the center, taped side down.  
Tin can with a paper clip across the top and a paper windmill attached on top
8. For safety reasons and to make your own solar updraft tower more attractive, add the pom pom ball or something similar to the top of the push pin.  
Two tin cans attached one on top of each other. There is a paper clip across the top and a paper windmill on top with a pom pom.
9. Prepare two books or boxes that have a similar height and place them under the solar updraft tower. It is to allow the air to flow.  
10. Place the tower under sunlight. Once the tin can is heated sufficiently by the sunlight, the pinwheel will spin. As the sunlight heats the air inside the cans causing a convective updraft. 
Moving gif of the solar updraft tower of two tins cans and a paper windmill spinning

Step by Step Instructions for the paper windmills:

1. Prepare 15 x15cm size (equal to 6” x6”) of paper or cut the A4 size of the paper to this size.

15 x15cm size white paper on a table
2. Draw a line from the corners of the squares diagonally. Cut along these 4 lines nearly to the center of the square. Leave about 0.5 cm uncut.  
white square piece of paper on a desk with diagonal cuts made through it with a small bit left in the center.

3. Bring a corner of each of the 4 triangles to the center and use glue or sellotape to hold them in place. 

Square piece of paper with every other corner folded into the center to make a windmill

To explore this concept further

  • Would a paper tower work instead of tin cans?
  • What if the tower was painted black?
  • What would happen if the pinwheel was bigger or smaller or made of a different material?
  • What would happen if you used more cans?

Resources to download

Teacher Resource pack

Do it at home Instructions

Bringing Science to Life resources was created by interns: Seorin Park and Laura Lotkowska.