70th Steinmetz Memorial Lecture Solar Photovoltaics Technology: The Beginning of the Revolution

ABSTRACT: 

The prospects of current and coming solar-photovoltaic (PV) technologies are envisioned, arguing this solar-electricity source is at a tipping point in the complex worldwide energy outlook. The co-requirements for policy and technology investments are strongly supported. The emphasis of this presentation is on R&D advances (cell, materials, and module options). The contributions and technological pathways for now and near-term technologies and status and forecasts for next-generation PV are evaluated. Insights into technical and other investments needed to tip photovoltaics to its next level of contribution as a significant clean-energy partner in the world energy portfolio.

The need for R&D accelerating the now and imminent technologies balanced with work in mid-term approaches is highlighted. Moreover, technology progress and ownership for next generation solar PV mandates a balanced investment in research on longer-term (the revolution needs revolutionary approaches to sustain itself) technologies having high-risk, but extremely high performance and cost returns for our next generations of energy consumers. Issues relating to manufacturing are explored.especially with the requirements for the next-generation technologies. This presentation provides insights (some irreverent) into how this technology has developed.and where we can expect to be by this mid-21st century.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER: 

Lawrence L. Kazmerski is Executive Director, Science and Technology Partnerships at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colorado - having served as Director of the National Center for Photovoltaics for the period 1999-2008. He received his B.S.E.E. in 1967, M.S.E.E. in 1968, and his Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering in 1970 - all from the University of Notre Dame. He served in a postdoctoral position at the University of Notre Dame Radiation Research Laboratory (Atomic Energy Commission), January through August 1971, and was on the electrical engineering faculty of the University of Maine before coming to SERI (NREL) in 1977. His research at Maine included NSF- and ERDA-funded work in thin-film photovoltaics and the report of the first thin-film copper-indium-diselenide (CIS) solar cell. He was SERI's first staff member in photovoltaics, hired specifically to establish efforts in the characterization of photovoltaic materials and devices; he led NREL efforts in measurements and characterization for more than 20 years. For more information about the Steinmetz Memorial Lecture, please go to http://engineering.union.edu/SteinmetzMemorialLectures

********The lecture is free and open to the public*********

There will be a banquet at Hale House before the lecture, subsidized by the Steinmetz Lecture Fund.

5:15pm Social hour (cash bar)
6:00pm Banquet
7:30pm in the Nott Memorial
Dinner cost is $8 per person
Entrees are served with appetizer, salad & dessert

Reservations and payment are requested by Friday, April 17, 2009
Please send the following information, along with check payable to IEEE
Schenectady Section to:

Cherrice Traver, Dean of Engineering
Steinmetz Hall
Union College
Schenectady, NY 12308

Please enter number of people for each entree:

Chicken Piccata......................  _________

Penne Pasta with Mushrooms, Sundried
Tomatoes & Artichoke Hearts..........  _________