Australia's stellar position at the forefront of solar energy development and implementation was highlighted on Friday (December 7) by the unveiling of the Australian Solar Hall of Fame.
An initiative of the Australian Solar Council, the hall of fame's twelve inaugural members include some of the country's leading innovators and entrepreneurs in both residential and commercial solar technologies.
So who are the chosen few? Well it's a list of true stars of the local solar industry.
These include emeritus professor John Ballinger, a pioneer of energy ratings and whose research projects included both the first experimental solar house and the first solar village in Australia.
Not to be outdone, fellow inductees include professor Martin Green, executive research director of the ARC Photovoltaic Centre of Excellence, and emeritus professor Stephen Kaneff.
The latter founded the Energy Conversion Group at the ANU Department of Engineering Physics, the objective of which was to gauge the feasibility of widespread adoption of solar energy.
Chief executive of the Australian Solar Council John Grimes says that Australia's contribution to solar development "has a proud history and a very bright future".
"Australia has punched well above its weight in solar research, development and deployment," said Mr Grimes.
"Our innovators have created multi-billion dollar companies and laid the foundations for big solar globally, and last year Australia installed more residential solar panel systems than any other country in the world."
Posted by Mike Peacock