Overview
Personal Profile
Silvana Ovaitt is a researcher at NLR working with the performance and reliability group on bifacial photovoltaic (PV) technology. The projects focus on bifacial PV optical and electrical performance and modeling. Her research includes characterization and energy/optics simulation for bifacial and previously for PV-holographic system energy production. In 2018, she edited and published a book, Solar Outreach Handbook.
Research Interests
Bifacial PV
PV field performance and reliability
Circular economy
Professional Experience
Organizer, BifiPV Workshop (2019-2020)
Activity Organizer Lead, International Energy Agency Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme Task 13, Bifacial PV Round-Robin Modeling Comparison (2020)
NLR Ambassador, NLR (2019-2020)
Committee Member, Hispanic Latino Alliance Employee Resource Group at NLR (2020)
Student Leadership Council, Quantum Energy and Sustainable Solar Technologies Engineering Research Center (2016-2018)
Tutorial Instructor, Photovoltaics Specialists Conference (2019)
Education/Academic Qualification
Bachelor, Mechatronics, Instituto Tecnologico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey
PhD, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Arizona
Master, Optics, University of Arizona
Master, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Arizona
Certificate, College Teaching, University of Arizona
Master, Creative Writing, University of Texas at El Paso
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Collaborations and Top Research Areas From the Past 5 Years
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A Systematic Review and Integrated Approach to Modeling of Aging Utility Scale PV Systems
Wehbi, H., Simon, J., Mirletz, H., Ovaitt, S., Mirletz, B., Prilliman, M., Heath, G., Deline, C., Desai, J. & Curtis, T., 2026, 1 p. National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR).Research output: NLR › Poster
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Defining the 50-Year Module: Luck, Design, or Both?
Jordan, D., Ovaitt, S., Mirletz, H., Mirletz, B. & Barnes, T., 2026, 1 p. National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR).Research output: NLR › Poster
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Hands-On PV Experience (HOPE) Workshop, Final Technical Report FY22-FY24
Ovaitt, S., Greenaway, A. & Arnold, R., 2026, 29 p.Research output: NLR › Technical Report
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Solar-Tracker Diffuse-Response Algorithm for Balancing Energy Gain and Mechanical Wear in Photovoltaic Systems: Article No. 597
Adinolfi Borea, R., Ovaitt, S., Cirimele, V., Ricco, M. & Maugeri, G., 2026, In: Electronics (Switzerland). 15, 3, 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Agrivoltaics: Unlocking the Potential of Dual Land Use
Ovaitt, S., Jamil, U., Staie, B., Mirletz, B., Doubleday, K., Macknick, J. & Hickey, T., 2025, 116 p.Research output: NLR › Presentation
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International Energy Agency Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme, Task 13 Bifacial PV (External organization)
Ovaitt, S. (Member)
0001Activity: Membership › Membership of network
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Lean in Energy (External organization)
Ovaitt, S. (Member)
0001Activity: Membership › Membership of network
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Photovoltaic Quality Assurance Task Force Group 15: Repair, Reuse, Recertification, and Recyling of PV (External organization)
Ovaitt, S. (Member)
0001Activity: Membership › Membership of network
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The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) (External organization)
Ginley, D. (Member), Nagarajan, A. (Member), Markel, A. (Member), Bernstein, A. (Member), Solanki, B. (Member), Hodge, B.-M. (Member), Uriarte, C. (Member), Barrows, C. (Member), Perkins, C. (Member), Palmintier, B. (Member), Thomas, D.-M. (Member), Saleem, D. (Member), DeVoto, D. (Member), Khan, F. (Member), Seo, G.-S. (Member), Moreno, G. (Member), Johnson, G. (Member), Cavraro, G. (Member), Dunham, H. (Member), Jorgenson, J. (Member), Zhang, J. (Member), Sanyal, J. (Member), Kisacikoglu, J. (Member), Rivera, J. (Member), Duwadi, K. (Member), Doubleday, K. (Member), Panda, K. (Member), Sedzro, K. S. (Member), Panossian, N. (Member), Guba, N. (Member), Martin, M. (Member), Guerra Fernandez, O. J. (Member), Baggu, M. (Member), Emami, P. (Member), Paret, P. (Member), Koralewicz, P. (Member), Awara, S. (Member), McFly, S. (Member), Dhulipala, S. C. (Member), Ovaitt, S. (Member), Paul, S. (Member), Abraham, S. A. (Member), De Silva M, T. (Member), Singh, V. K. (Member), Zhang, X. (Member), Zhou, X. (Member), Agalgaonkar, Y. (Member), Wright, J. (Member), Pao, L. (Member), Kekelia, B. (Member), Chang, C.-Y. (Member), Kiboma, L. (Member), Ramirez Arbelaez, L. (Member), Chaudhary, R. (Member), Wijekoon, R. (Member), Ahrenkiel, R. (Fellow), Kurtz, S. (Member), Truong, T. (Member), Poudyal, A. (Member), Sekulic, W. (Member), Pawaskar, V. (Member) & Emery, K. (Member)
0001Activity: Membership › Membership of network
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Women in PV Chair, Photovoltaic Specialists Conference Committee (External organization)
Ovaitt, S. (Member)
2021Activity: Membership › Membership of committee
Awards and Honors
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Quantum Energy and Sustainable Solar Technologies Engineering Research Center, Outstanding Outreach Award
Ovaitt, S. (Recipient), 2017
Prize: Honorary award
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University of Arizona Ren Future Leaders Fellowship
Ovaitt, S. (Recipient), 2016
Prize: Honorary award
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World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, Graduate Student Assistant Award
Ovaitt, S. (Recipient), 2018
Prize: Honorary award