A Cost and Technical Analysis of the Ability of Incumbent and Developing Solar Energy Technologies to Address the World's Energy Demands (Printed Electronics & Photovoltaics USA 2010)

Dr. Michael Woodhouse received a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Physical Chemistry under the guidance of Professor Bruce Parkinson at Colorado State University. For his dissertation he first developed a methodology to rapidly deposit novel metal oxide semiconductors on transparent conducting substrates using inkjet printing. Combinatorial libraries of these materials were then screened for their ability to function as light-driven catalysts for hydrogen production in a custom-made scanning laser system. The method uncovered a couple of novel materials for the solar production of hydrogen and was also extended to optimize their composition and processing conditions.

 

After graduate school he began his career at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) as a postdoc under Dr. Brian Gregg and Dr. Teresa Barnes. During that time he was focused on the development of new materials and architectures for organic-based solar cells. After nearly three years as a postdoc, he transitioned to a position that is focused on the technical and economic analysis of incumbent and developing solar technologies.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is one of the Department of Energy's national laboratories. NREL advances the science and engineering of energy efficiency, sustainable transportation, and renewable power technologies and provides the knowledge to integrate and optimize energy systems.