Dr Rajendra Pachauri, Chair of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Director General of TERI (The Energy Resources Institute), opened a new Energy Conversion Laboratory at Heriot-Watt University on 26 February.
Energy Conversion Laboratory
In the Energy Conversion Lab researchers are developing low cost, environmentally friendly solar cell technology, which has a low upfront capital investment requirement, and is therefore suitable for countries around the world. The PV sector that looks set for double digit growth in the coming years with this low cost technology now having great commercial potential.
Professor Hari Upadhyaya, who recently joined Heriot-Watt University, leads the team on energy engineering at the University's School of Engineering and Physical Sciences and has over 20 years' experience in thin film PV, establishing low cost (non-vacuum) and conventional (vacuum based) thin-film materials.
Working with industry on key projects such as these is vital to Heriot-Watt University as we continue to develop commercially viable solutions to global challenges through expanding our research intensification.
Professor Steve Chapman, Heriot-Watt University
Following the Lab opening, Dr Pachauri, was then taken on a tour of the University including learning more about Carbon Capture technologies from Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer and was shown the new high speed rail testing rig by Professor Peter Woodward.
The Principal, Professor Steve Chapman and Professor Alan Miller, Deputy Principal Research and Knowledge Transfer joined Dr Pachauri on the tour of the facilities with the Principal commenting "I am very impressed with the cutting-edge research Heriot-Watt is doing in solar cell technology, carbon capture and storage, as well as high speed rail. Working with industry on key projects such as these is vital to Heriot-Watt University as we continue to develop commercially viable solutions to global challenges through expanding our research intensification."