Professor Allen Barnett
MS, BS, Electrical Engineering University of Illinois; PhD, Electrical Engineering Carnegie-Mellon University
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Professor of Advanced Photovoltaics Contact Details |
About Allen Barnett
Allen Barnett joined the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering, The University of New South Wales, as Professor of Advanced Photovoltaics in September, 2011. He joined the University of Delaware (UD) in 1976 as Director of the Institute of Energy Conversion and Professor of Electrical Engineering. He left UD in 1993 to devote full time to AstroPower, Inc, which became the largest independent solar cell manufacturer and the 4th largest in the World. He returned to UD in 2003 and was Executive Director, Solar Power Program; Research Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; and Senior Policy Fellow, Center for Energy and Environmental Policy.
CURRENT ADVISORY BOARDS
- U.S. Department of Energy’s National Center for Photovoltaics.
- Solar Energy Industries Association, Board Member, President (1995 to 1997).
- IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference Committee.
- Photovoltaics Technical Committee of the Electron Devices Society of the IEEE.
- Australian Research Council Grant Committee Reviewer.
PROFESSIONAL HONORS AND ACTIVITIES
- IEEE William R. Cherry Award, for outstanding contributions to the advancement of photovoltaic science and technology.
- IEEE Fellow Award, “for contributions and technical leadership in the development andcommercialization of photovoltaic solar cells.”
- The Karl W. Böer Solar Energy Medal of Merit for “pioneering high-performance, thin-crystalline silicon solar cells, founding and leading a world-class enterprise for the commercialization of solar electric products, and outstanding continuing service to the solar electric power community.”
- 1999 Public Utilities Fortnightly Magazine – “10 Innovators to Watch in 1999.”
- Guest Editor, Special Issue of the IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, Oct. 1999, Feb. 1980
- Author, Chapter on Photovoltaic Solar Cells, The Electrical Engineering Handbook
- Special Faculty Award, College of Engineering, University of Delaware, 1987.
- Authored 200+ technical papers.
- Issued 23 U.S. Patents.
- Seven R&D 100 Awards for new industrial products,
PERSONAL HONORS AND ACTIVITIES
- Founder, The Michael and Charles Barnett Center for Mitochondrial Research at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia.
- Received first United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation Humanitarian Award with wife, Marsha for commitment and continuous contributions to finding a cure for Mitochondrial disease in March 2001
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, with wife, Marsha, endowed a chair in Mitochondrial Disease, Member of Circle of Care
- Jefferson Award for Public Service.
- Board of Trustees, Delaware Museum of Natural History 1999 -2004
PRIMARY RESEARCH INTERESTS
Very High Efficiency Solar Cells (VHESC) for portable applications that operate at greater than 55 percent efficiency in the laboratory and 50 percent in production are being created. We are integrating the optical design with the solar cell design, and have entered previously unoccupied design space that leads to a new paradigm. This project requires us to invent, develop and transfer to production these new solar cells. Our approach is driven by proven quantitative models for the solar cell design, the optical design and the integration of these designs. We start with a very high performance crystalline silicon solar cell platform.Other research interests include
- Very high performance, low cost crystalline silicon solar cells.
- New materials systems and device architectures for high performance solar to electric conversion
- Solar hydrogen systems
- Solar power product development
- Solar power product transition to production
Very active in the establishment of an enlightened solar power policy at the Federal level, state level and internationally.