Complete Report - University of New South Wales

the cell. Cells based on “hot” carriers are also being
investigated since they offer the potential for very high
effi ciency from simple device structures. Although
their implementation poses daunting challenges,
systematic progress on addressing these was made
during 2005.
The fi nal Centre research strand involves silicon
photonics where, as mentioned, the emphasis is
upon using our experience with solar cells, using
light to produce electricity, to the reverse problem
of engineering silicon devices that use electricity
to produce light. Devices of this type would be of
great interest in microelectronics since they would
allow optical processes to be integrated with the
normal electronic functions on the same silicon
chip. The Centre holds the international record for
the light emission performance from bulk silicon,
in both electroluminescent and photoluminescent
devices. Emphasis is now upon incorporating these
improvements into silicon microchip-compatible light
emitting devices using silicon-on-insulator wafers
and upon exploiting our expertise in silicon light
emission to develop new techniques for silicon wafer
characterisation.
In addition to these four research strands, the
activities of the former Key Centre for Photovoltaic
Engineering have been integrated into the ARC
Centre of Excellence. The second cohort of students
from the Bachelor of Engineering (Photovoltaics and
Renewable Energy) program graduated during the
year.
This program has been enormously successful,
attracting some of the best students entering the
University. The Centre’s second undergraduate
program, leading to a Bachelor of Engineering
(Renewable Energy), completed its third year of
operation.
Another notable achievement during 2005 was
completion of the Centre’s major third year review.
The Review Committee very favourably assessed
the Centre on all aspects of its operations. Other
highlights originated from the rapidly growing
commercial interest in photovoltaics as a sustainable
and increasingly marketable energy source. Centre
partner, Suntech Power, a largely Australianowned
and managed company operating in China,
successfully fl oated on the New York Stock Exchange
in December, in the largest technology fl oat of the year.
A second partner and Centre “spin-off”, CSG Solar,
also announced the completion of its manufacturing
facility in Germany, as previously noted, and licensee,
BP Solar, announced signifi cant increases in the
performance of its commercial product.
We thank all those who contributed to the Centre’s
success during 2005, particularly the Australian
Research Council for its on-going support. The present
continues to be a most exciting time for photovoltaics
with time drawing closer to a future where solar cells
provide a signifi cant part of the world’s energy needs,
without the problems and escalating costs associated
with the present mainstream options.
………………………………………………
Professor Stuart R. Wenham,
Director
………………………………………………
Professor Martin A. Green,
Executive Research Director
2