Engineering the Future x Photovoltaics at UNSW

Join UNSW for the Engineering the Future Panel, featuring five outstanding SPREE alumni who will dive into the top challenges that PV and renewable energy are facing today, with a special focus on the Australian context.

As solar energy reshapes the global energy scene, innovation is at an all-time high, making PV the most affordable energy source worldwide. However, this rapid progress brings new challenges, including managing outdated technology, upgrading infrastructure, and addressing the skills shortage in Australia. Attendees will discuss these issues against the backdrop of current government support, including Australia’s $1b Solar SunShot program which is working to bring PV manufacturing back home

Prepare your questions for our key challenges and panellists:

Panellists:

• Scientia Professor Martin Green, SPREE, UNSW. PV Technology - Martin sees the key challenges facing new entrants being the pace of technological change, with production lines now being replaced every few years as improved cell technology and equipment become available, compounded by the industry’s low margins and frequent 'boom to bust' cycles.

• Dr. Oliver Hartley, Managing Director, Bright Dimension, UNSW. Solar Manufacturing in Australia - Australia will be powered by over 70% from solar energy in the future according to AEMO but has currently no relevant input in the solar supply chain. Where in the supply chain can we leverage Australia’s comparative advantages and develop viable, relevant and timely solar manufacturing that is part of a globally diversified solar industry?

• Dr. Nicole Kuepper-Russell, Chief Strategy Officer, 5B. Labour and Land Shortages - Nicole will be talking about how technologies like the 5B Maverick can overcome increasingly persistent challenges in land and labour shortages. Land is scarce in every project, no matter the size, and the demands for land are increasing. We need to do more with less, and we need to produce more energy on less land. Labour is also scarce and getting harder to get -- we can and need to move past extensive requirements for FIFO workers in remote areas and DC stringing in the field .

• Chris Davies, Group Manager - Future Energy Systems, AEMO. PV and Renewable Energy Integration - Australia is at the forefront of a renewable energy revolution, including world-leading levels of distributed PV on the roofs of our homes and businesses. The changes that this revolution is driving in our power systems are profound, yet Australia is proving to the world that we can safely and reliably supply all our electricity needs at times from solar PV.

• Dr. Rong Deng, Research Fellow and Lecturer, UNSW and Australian Centre of Advanced Photovoltaics, ACAP. PV End-of-Life - With the growing number of PV modules being retired, there is currently no established, affordable, and effective end-of-life solution, which presents a significant challenge for the industry.

Find out more about the speakers here.

Following the panel, let the celebration continue. There will be a toast with drinks and canapés while grooving to the tunes of the fantastic SPREE band, "Groove Diffusion," named after a key process in the "Buried Contact Solar Cell" developed at UNSW. They’ll be playing their greatest hits and top rock-and-roll tracks, so get ready to dance and make some unforgettable memories.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect with experts and celebrate SPREE’s journey at UNSW.

Please note that this event is exclusively for attendees aged 18 and over.
This event is part of the UNSW Engineering the Future series.