UNSW's international leadership as a supplier of photovoltaic technology continues as three new agreements are signed with some of the world's fastest-growing solar cell manufacturers in Asia.
UNSW's international leadership as a supplier of photovoltaic technology continues as three new agreements are signed with some of the world's fastest growing solar cell manufacturers in Asia. One of these is with Suntech Power, the NYSE listed solar cell company formed by UNSW graduate Dr Zhengrong Shi.
The Chinese Government's State Renewable Energy Medium and Long Term Development Program, states that renewable energy is expected to account for 16 percent of China's total energy supply by 2020. Once the Renewable Energy Law came into effect in February 2005, the race was on amongst solar cell manufacturers to see who could make the most efficient and cost effective products. Part of the strategy of these manufacturers in finding the world's best technology today, involved a conversation with researchers from UNSW's ARC Photovoltaic Centre of Excellence.
The Centre is a world-class group working under the Directorship of Professor Stuart Wenham.
"Funding from the ARC and support from UNSW has allowed us to establish one of the world's best solar cell research laboratories," says Professor Wenham. "Combining this with what I believe is the best team of solar-cell researchers internationally has given UNSW a great opportunity to develop world-leading technology.
"The time draws ever-nearer when solar cells will provide a significant part of the world's energy needs so it is important that Australia continues to be at the forefront of these innovations."
The three new deals that were recently signed by NewSouth Innovations, the technology transfer arm of UNSW are with E-Ton Solar Tech Co in Taiwan, CEEG Nanjing PV Tech in China and Suntech Power in China.
"Each of these deals will see valuable funds flowing back to UNSW," says Professor Wenham. "This means we can employ more staff and, most importantly, expose our staff and students to the hands on technical experience of manufacturing. They get us out of the lab and working at 'solar-face' so to speak.
"We are proud to say that these companies have looked at what else is available but have come to UNSW because their assessments show that we have the best technologies today and for the future."
The $1.7million licensing agreement signed with E-Ton Solar Tech in Taiwan, R.O.C. includes a collaborative research program to develop two of UNSW's latest high efficiency solar cell technologies for commercial production. E-Ton is a rapidly growing solar cell manufacturer specialising in high performance products. By combining their existing technology with UNSW's research they hope to ensure they stay at the cutting edge of solar cell manufacture.
The second deal is a $1.4 million licensing agreement with CEEG Nanjing PV Tech in China. This agreement includes a collaborative research program to adapt UNSW's world-record holding PERL solar cell technology to suit large-scale commercial production.
The third deal with Suntech is a research agreement that focuses on developing an innovative way of forming metal contacts to improve solar cell efficiency. This deal follows the successful development of Semiconductor Finger Solar Cell technology which came out of previous collaborative research between UNSW and Suntech.
UNSW's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Fred Hilmer added that Dr Shi's company also generously gave $1.5million to the University last year to support UNSW's photovoltaic research.
The University's reputation as world leader in photovoltaics has been built up over the past 25 years.
"There was a time when there were fears that our technology would be lost to overseas interests but we are now working with companies like E-Ton, CEEG Nanjing PV Tech and Suntech on research at the University. These types of collaborations mean that UNSW will be commercialising our solar technology in Asia and selling it to the rest of the world for decades to come," Professor Hilmer says.
"The benefits flowing back to the Australian economy are enormous. Our push into Asia has come, partly, because of China's green-energy targets and their huge demands for products but we are proud to have the solutions these companies need to drive efficiency and push their manufacturing costs down.
"We are also developing R&D capacity in Singapore with the support of the Singapore Government."
The ARC Photovoltaic Centre of Excellence has collaborative research work also taking place in Japan and Korea, and the technologies these companies produce is sold in products throughout the world.
UNSW will continue to look for commercial deals like these which provide benefit to the University and to the nation.
For more information: Professor Stuart Wenham, 02 9385 5171 or 0411 492 417.