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Professor of Engineering, Australian National University

Andrew Blakers is Emeritus Professor of Engineering at the Australian National University. In the 1980s and 1990s he helped produce silicon solar cells with world record efficiencies. He was lead developer of the PERC silicon solar cell, for which he was joint winner of the 2023 Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering. PERC has 80% of the global solar market, cumulative module sales of US$150 billion and is mitigating 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions through displacement of coal. Prof Blakers engages in analysis of energy systems with 80-100% penetration by wind and photovoltaics supported by storage for which he was joint winner of the 2018 Eureka Prize for Environmental Research. His team developed a comprehensive global atlas of a million off-river pumped hydro energy storage sites.

Experience

  • 1991–present
    Professor of Engineering, Australian National University

Education

  •  
    University of New South Wales, Doctor of Philosophy

Professional Memberships

  • Academy of Technical Science & Engineering
  • Australian Institute of Physics
  • Australian Institute of Energy
  • International Solar Energy Society

Research Areas

  • Photodetectors, Optical Sensors And Solar Cells (090605)
  • Renewable Power And Energy Systems Engineering (Excl. Solar Cells) (090608)