Australia has once again proven its solar success with a solar photovoltaic professor being elected into the Fellowship of the Royal Society.
Scientia professor Martin Green, from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), is a world leader and pioneer in the field of solar photovoltaic science and engineering.
The Royal Society is the UK's national Academy of Science, and is comprised of some of the world's most distinguished minds in the fields of science and engineering, including over 80 Nobel Prize winners.
Every year 44 Fellows and eight Foreign Members are selected from more than 700 candidates.
Richard Dawkins and Stephen Hawking are two examples of distinguished individuals elected to the Fellowship.
"The University congratulates Scientia professor Martin Green on this significant personal achievement. Martin has been a prolific researcher and an incredibly valued teacher at UNSW for nearly four decades," said professor Les Field, deputy vice chancellor (research) at UNSW.
"Under his leadership, UNSW has established itself as a global leader in photovoltaic science, producing hundreds of PhD-qualified graduates and many leading solar entrepreneurs."
Green was involved with the recent world-record for silicon solar cell efficiency at 25 per cent conversion efficiency.
Currently, a team of researchers in UNSW are working on improving the efficacy of silicon through the controlled introduction of hydrogen into the silicon. Mr Green continues to work on making such solar cells more efficient.
"Our UNSW research group would like to be the one to develop a practical cell that takes us from 25% to over 40% efficiency," said Mr Green.
According to UNSW, Mr Green is renowned for developing and commercialising silicon solar cell technologies and has been referred to as the 'father of photovoltaics.'
Mr Field commented that Mr Green is a great ambassador to the UNSW and for renewable energy, acting as a perfect example of how Australian innovation can have a significant global impact.
Posted by Mike Peacock