By Evolution Solar Sunshine Coast
An initiative by the Australian Solar Council sees our scientists celebrated in the Solar Hall Of Fame. “Australia has long led the world in solar research and development, and the Solar Hall of Fame honors the brightest lights in our solar system,” said John Grimes, Chief Executive of the Australia Solar Council.
Mr Grimes said “Australia has punched well above its weight in solar research, development and deployment” and has a “proud history and a very bright future.”
Some of the inductees into the Solar Hall of Fame include the following:
Emeritus Professor John Ballinger, AM, FRAIA. He was the founder of the National Solar Architecture Research Unit and was a key pioneer in energy usage in the 1980s and 1990s. He has over 50 solar efficient buildings and 150 publications to his name.
Professor Bill Charters. Prof Charters was a highly awarded and acclaimed mechanical engineer who has advised at state and federal levels as well as been an advisory to the United Nations and other energy agencies worldwide. He was Foundation Chairman to the Victorian Solar Energy Council in 1980 and won the gold medal from the World Renewable Energy Congress in 1998 with multiple awards and commendations in between.
Professor Martin Green AM FAA FTSE. The professor and his team are well known internationally for their work on the highest-efficiency silicon solar cell. As well as the author of six books and several papers, he has won many awards between the years 1999 and 2010 and is a member of the Order of Australia.
Emeritus Professor Stephen Kaneff. As founder of the Energy Conversion Group, he has led many projects as well as the flagship, White Cliffs facility. This facility produced the “big dish” which was once the world’s largest solar dish collector.
Dr David Mills. “A global solar leader, co-developing the absorber coating now used widely on solar hot water systems through-out China.” He was also president of the International Solar Energy Society from 1997-1999.
Professor Graham Morrison. Prof Morrison has been involved in solar thermal energy research and education for over 35 years. He has been director and co-founder of some the biggest and most well-known companies or organizations still alive today.
Associate Profession Monica Oliphant. Originally a physicist, Monica has served on a number of state and federal committees and was president of the International Solar Energy Society from 2008-2009.
Wal Read. He was one of the pioneers of solar thermal engineering in Australia. His work at CSIRO in the 50s made the hot water systems in use around 20% more efficient.
Dr Zhengrong Shi. He studied in NSW before moving to China and starting his company, Suntech Power, which is now the world’s largest producer of solar panels.
Honorary Associate Professor Steve Szokolay AM. This highly awarded associate professor has authored many books, published well over 150 research papers, studied all over the world and has directed or co-founded many of prestigious solar energy societies including founder of the “Solar Energy Progress” now the “Solar Progress.”
Dr Muriel Watt. She has worked in government agencies, private companies and the University of New South Wales on energy related matters since 1980. She is now the Head of Energy Policy & Photovoltaics at IT Australia as well as part time Senior Lecturer at the School of Photovoltaics and Renewable Energy Engineering, UNSW.
Professor Stuart Wenham. He is a world leading solar cell inventor. In his twenty-five year career, he has invented or co-invented eight suites of solar cell technologies that have been licenced to solar makers around the world such as Suntech Power, BP Solar and Samsung.
To see a full list of inductees and their accomplishments in the solar industry, download the full press release here.