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Innovative Solutions To Climate Change
WINNER - Leading the Photovoltaics Revolution
Solar Lights the Way
An Australian institution that has produced the world's most economically efficient, highest-performing solar cells has been awarded the IAG Eureka Prize for Innovative Solutions to Climate Change. Research being done at the University of New South Wales School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering is advancing solar energy from a marginal technology to one that may seriously replace fossil fuels.
The prize for innovative solutions to climate change is part of the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes, the Oscars of Australian science. Coveted among science prizes, the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes were announced at a glittering event in Sydney on 19 August attended by a ‘who's who' of Australian science, government, academia and industry.
The conversion of sunlight into electricity - photovoltaics - is fast becoming the world's leading alternative source of energy. The UNSW School has been a true world leader in photovoltaic research for over 20 years, with major breakthroughs and commercial applications in the past 5 years. Cost effective alternative energy production - dollars per watt - is paramount, but the expense of solar cell production has been a major drawback for global uptake.
This School's research takes photovoltaics to a new level. They have already excelled in first generation solar technology, making solar cells from thick silicon wafers. These devices hold many international records as the highest performing silicon cells, converting 25% of sunlight into energy.
Silicon is a powerful but brittle tool for solar use. At second generation, the team used less silicon, depositing very thin layers directly on glass sheets for strength. This technique improved cost benefits and used less silicon, but converts only 8-10% of sunlight into energy.
The School is now advancing to a third generation using nanostructured Silicon-Based Tandem Solar Cells, with the real potential for high performance at low cost.
"The internationally ground-breaking work of the UNSW School has a real impact in providing an alternative to coal-driven energy. Fossil fuel-free homes are not science fiction, and this progressive work fulfils a world imperative," says Australian Museum Director, Frank Howarth.
The UNSW School is also the first international organisation to offer undergraduate training in the area of Photovoltaics and Solar Energy. The School has trailblazed important educational programs, in addition to providing postgraduate and research training opportunities.
The $10,000 IAG Eureka Prize for Innovative Solutions for Climate Change is awarded to an Australian individual, group or organisation for work that demonstrates a commitment to pursuing innovative solutions to the challenges posed by climate change.
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Sponsor
The IAG Eureka Prize for Innovative Solutions to Climate Change is sponsored by Insurance Australia Group.
Description
The IAG Eureka Prize for Innovative Solutions to Climate Change is awarded to an Australian individual, group or organisation for work that demonstrates a commitment to pursuing innovative solutions to the challenges posed by climate change.
prize
$10,000
Purpose
IAG is widely recognised as one of Australasia's sustainability leadership companies, with a particular focus on climate change as a driver for risk in the community.
Climate change represents one of the major risks to the security of people around the world.
Decisive action now is one of the most important steps we can take to reduce the risks from global warming. This action must include action to identify and implement solutions to the challenges posed by climate change and to reduce the impacts of human-induced climate change.
Meeting these challenges will create unprecedented opportunities as climate change demands a new global economy based on lower greenhouse gas emissions, with new energy, transport and other services adapted to both cope with and address climate change.
The challenge of reducing emissions requires technological innovation and the development of new products that are less energy and carbon intensive over their life cycle.
Increasing the use of renewable energy, the potential hydrogen economy, and increasing the efficiency of the generation, distribution and use of fossil fuel electricity creates unprecedented business opportunities.
Other opportunities include the design of infrastructure and energy efficient buildings in the urban environment; new agricultural practices, better ways of storing, saving and using water; and changes in transport systems and car technology.
The IAG Eureka Prize for Innovative Solutions to Climate Change is designed to highlight outstanding work by an Australian individual, group or organisation that demonstrates a commitment to pursuing innovative solutions to the challenges of climate change.
Work entered may be research; development of new technologies or practices; new markets, products or services; or advocacy that addresses the challenges of climate change.
Judging Criteria
Entries must address each of the following criteria:
1) Innovation
In what way is the work and/or its results innovative?
To what extent has the work developed or extended techniques or methods not normally used?
2) Impact
In what way does the work demonstrate commitment to pursuing solution(s) to a challenge of climate change?
What particular challenge of climate change is addressed by the work? What is, or is likely to be, the impact of the work on this challenge?
How has the work been effectively communicated to appropriate audiences?
Conditions of entry
The prize is open to individuals, groups or organisations. Entrants can either enter themselves or be nominated by others.
Work entered for this prize must have been undertaken:
• in Australia by an Australian citizen(s) or Australian resident(s)
• undertaken no more than five (5) years prior to the closing date for entries.
Online entry forms close 5pm AEST Friday 2 May 2008. Hard copy entries will not be considered until and unless an online entry form has been completed.
Completed entries must be received by the Australian Museum no later than 5pm AEST on Friday 9 May 2008. Entries delivered to the Australian Museum after this time will not be considered.
Entries with insufficient sets of documentation will not be considered. Submitted material will not be returned.
The work entered/nominated for this prize may not be entered/nominated for another Australian Museum Eureka Prize.
The deliberations of the judging panel remain confidential. All recommendations and decisions taken are binding and final and no correspondence will be entered into on such matters.
Information provided by the entrant(s) in relation to the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes (including photos), may be used by the Australian Museum for promotional/publicity purposes.
Personal information provided in connection with the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes will be used only by the Australian Museum and only in connection with the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes.
How to enter
1. Complete an online entry form
Complete the online entry form by 5pm AEST on Friday 2 May 2008. Make sure you print out a copy.
2. Prepare five (5) sets of the entry, with each set consisting of:
1. a printed copy of the online entry form as submitted
2. a brief description of the research entered, including objectives and results to date (two page maximum)
3. a brief description of how the work entered addresses each of the judging criteria (two page maximum)
4. a maximum of four (4) written reports addressing each of the judging criteria from assessors who are familiar with the entered research. NOTE: Judges rely on assessor's reports to provide additional perspective and informed opinion on the entry. Assessors should not be personally or directly involved in the work entered in this prize.
You may if you wish also include a copy of your work from at least one externally-refereed scientific publication.
3. Submit the entry
Submit five (5) complete and separate sets of the entry clipped together (not bound). Please do NOT bother with elaborate presentation when submitting the entry. This will be removed before material is sent to judges. The five (5) sets of the entry should be sent to:
Eureka Prize for Innovative Solutions to Climate Change
Australian Museum
6 College Street
SYDNEY NSW 2010
4. DEADLINE for submission of entries
The five (5) sets of the entry must be received at the Australian Museum by 5pm AEST on Friday 9 May 2008. Entries received after this time will not be considered.
