2024 is a milestone year for the School of Photovoltaics and Renewable Energy Engineering (SPREE), marking 20 years since our first graduates and 50 years since Scientia Professor Martin Green began Photovoltaics (PV) research at UNSW.
Join us for the Engineering the Future Panel, featuring five outstanding SPREE alumni who will dive into the top challenges that PV and renewable energy are facing today, with a special focus on the Australian context. This will be followed by the anniversary celebration festivities.
As solar energy reshapes the global energy scene, innovation is at an all-time high, making PV the most affordable energy source worldwide. However, this rapid progress brings new challenges, including managing outdated technology, upgrading infrastructure, and addressing the skills shortage in Australia. We will discuss these issues against the backdrop of current government support, including Australia’s $1b Solar SunShot program which is working to bring PV manufacturing back home.
Martin Green is a Scientia Professor at the University of New South Wales, where he founded the solar group back in 1974. This group's contributions to photovoltaics include holding the record for silicon solar cell performance for 3 of the last 4 decades. His former students also founded the modern manufacturing industry through multiple Australian-Chinese joint ventures over the 2000-2010 period, leading to dramatic solar cost reduction and much faster than expected market penetration.
Key challenge: PV Technology - He sees the key challenges facing new entrants being the pace of technological change, with production lines now being replaced every few years as improved cell technology and equipment become available, compounded by the industry’s low margins and frequent 'boom to bust' cycles
More information on his career can be found here
Oliver has over 25 years’ experience in the renewable energy industry and is the managing director of Bright Dimension, a consultancy company supporting the transition to a clean energy future. In 2021, he successfully sold his company Epho Pty Ltd to AGL. Epho was one of Australia’s largest commercial and industrial solar company. Prior to Epho, Oliver worked in management roles across solar cell research and manufacturing, as well as M&A in the solar industry. He carried out his PhD research at the UNSW and is on Industry Advisory Committees at UNSW.
Key challenge: Solar Manufacturing in Australia - Australia will be powered by over 70% from solar energy in the future according to AEMO but has currently no relevant input in the solar supply chain. Where in the supply chain can we leverage Australia’s comparative advantages and develop viable, relevant and timely solar manufacturing that is part of a globally diversified solar industry?
Find Oliver on LinkedIn here
Nicole joined 5B in August 2020. As Chief Strategy Officer, she is responsible for developing, communicating, and executing 5B’s strategy. Nicole also leads 5B's work across government relations, communications, marketing, and people and culture. Her expert knowledge in photovoltaics combined with her passion for addressing the reality of climate change makes her a perfect fit for 5B.
Nicole has over 10 years of management consulting experience with Bain & Co, working across strategy development, innovation, performance improvement, and organisational design in the energy and industrial sectors. She also has deep subject knowledge and expertise in photovoltaics, having completed a PhD in solar cell devices at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). Nicole holds a Bachelor of Photovoltaic and Solar Energy Engineering, and a PhD in Photovoltaic Manufacturing in Developing Countries - the iJET Cell. Her co-supervisors were the late Prof Stuart Wenham and Alison Lennon.
Key challenge: Labour and Land Shortages - Nicole will be talking about how technologies like the 5B Maverick can overcome increasingly persistent challenges in land and labour shortages. Land is scarce in every project, no matter the size, and the demands for land are increasing. We need to do more with less, and we need to produce more energy on less land. Labour is also scarce and getting harder to get -- we can and need to move past extensive requirements for FIFO workers in remote areas and DC stringing in the field.
Find Nicole on LinkedIn here
Chris leads AEMO’s Future Energy Systems department, whose core function is to establish and implement a strategy for the engineering and operational readiness efforts that will prepare Australia’s National Electricity Market (NEM) for future operational conditions, including 100% instantaneous penetrations of renewables. In his 8 years at AEMO, Chris has overseen a progressive body of work to prepare for a high renewable power system, including the Future Power System Security Program, AEMO’s Renewable Integration Study (RIS), the NEM Engineering Framework, and most recently the Engineering Roadmap to 100% Renewables.
Chris completed a Bachelor of Photovoltaics and Solar Energy Engineering at UNSW in 2007.
Key challenge: PV and Renewable Energy Integration - Australia is at the forefront of a renewable energy revolution, including world-leading levels of distributed PV on the roofs of our homes and businesses. The changes that this revolution is driving in our power systems are profound, yet Australia is proving to the world that we can safely and reliably supply all our electricity needs at times from solar PV.
Find Chris on LinkedIn here
Dr. Rong Deng has been with SPREE for 11 years, beginning with a Bachelor of Engineering and a PhD in Photovoltaics. She is now a research fellow and lecturer, focusing on PV end-of-life management - an area crucial for making PV truly sustainable.
Over the past 7 years, she has become a recognized global expert in this field. Currently, Dr. Deng leads PV recycling initiatives at the Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics, where she develops novel technologies and assessment frameworks, actively engages with industry stakeholders, and raises public awareness through media. In addition, Dr Deng serves as a director at the Australian PV Institute, Australia’s lead on IEA PVPS Task 12, and as an expert member of the Australian Federal PV product stewardship scheme. Her work in PV end-of-life management is crucial for creating value, generating jobs, improving resource efficiency, and building a resilient, sustainable supply chain for the solar industry.
Key challenge: PV End-of-Life - With the growing number of PV modules being retired, there is currently no established, affordable, and effective end-of-life solution, which presents a significant challenge for the industry.
Read more about Rong's research [here] and connect on LinkedIn [here].
We look forward to seeing you
