Silicon solar cell developer wins £300,000

The prestigious Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) this week awarded the AF Harvey Engineering Research Prize, worth £300,000 ($560,000), to a silicon solar cell engineer from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), the world record holder in silicon solar cell efficiency.

Scientia Professor Stuart Wenham and his team discovered a mechanism to control the charge state of hydrogen atoms to correct deficiencies in silicon - the most costly part of a solar cell due to the need to purify it.

“Our patented advanced hydrogenation technology will allow lower-quality silicon to outperform solar cells made from better-quality materials, producing higher efficiencies at significantly lower cost,” Professor Wenham said.

“Most solar cells fabricated commercially at the moment are in the range of probably 17-19% efficiency, whereas our new technology, we believe, will take us to about 23%.”

Professor Wenham acknowledged the Australian Renewable Energy Agency for helping to fund the project. The prize money will contribute to the next stage of research and the project is expected to be completed in 2016.

“Our UNSW team is now working with the world’s biggest solar manufacturers through collaborative agreements with NewSouth Innovations to commercialise this low-cost technology,” said Professor Wenham.

IET President Barry Brooks said Professor Wenham’s research and leadership in the field “have enabled commercial exploitation of the technology for the benefit of the global community seeking renewable energy solutions at affordable prices”. Indeed, Professor Wenham said photovoltaics are “very close to competing with fossil-fuel-generated electricity in a lot of countries”.

Professor Wenham will deliver a special IET lecture in London on 21 May 2014 to commemorate his award. The lecture will be streamed live. For more details, visit http://www.theiet.org/harvey.

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