Solar energy lecture Print
Posted by Imagine Durban Webmaster   
Friday, 07 August 2009

Photovoltaic Technology Present and Future by Dr Tim M Bruton 

Date: Wednesday, 12 August 2009, 17h30 for 18h00

Venue: Shepstone 1 Lecture Theatre, Howard College Campus, UKZN

Current energy resource constraints and the need to minimise greenhouse gas emissions point to solar energy as the dominant energy supply for the world from the mid 21st century. Current applications include numerous off grid applications but the major market today is in grid connected applications in developed countries. There is a clear trend to larger and larger solar farms. Current technology is largely based on crystalline silicon devices with a growing market segment for thin film devices. The strengths and weakness of each solar cell technology will be discussed. The roadmap to cost effectiveness against fossil fuel generation of electricity is described. The potential of new technologies (so called “third generation“) to achieve solar conversion efficiencies in the range 40 to 80% compared to the present 20% efficiencies will be discussed. 

Dr Tim Bruton has a PhD in Materials Science from Imperial College (1971) and is a Fellow of the UK Institute of Physics.  For 20 years he was involved in the growth of BP Solar which in 2000 became the world’s largest Photovoltaics (PV) operation.  His final position was head of silicon R&D with laboratories in the UK, Spain, USA and Australia.  His team achieved world leading results in mono and multicrystalline technologies and made significant advances in products for building integration and concentrating solar systems. He has published over 70 technical papers. In 2004, he joined the New and Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC) to head the newly established PV Technology Centre. Dr Bruton is now an independent consultant providing assistance to a number of international companies, commissions and conferences.  
 

For more details please contact Professor Jeff Bindon on 031 260 3206.

Bookmark
Hits: 347
Comments (1)Add Comment
Sheryl Hurkens
August 21, 2009
41.0.7.138
Votes: +0
Mrs

Hi Professor Bindon, could you please give me details on where one can purchase solar energy to run a household, ie:geyser/tv/etc. What is the cost and how much space does it need.
Thanks
Sheryl

Write comment
 
  smaller | bigger
 

busy
 
[ Back ]