Recognition For Driving a Cleaner Future
Earlwood-based Associate Professor Brett Hallam has received the Prime Minister’s Prize for Science for ground-breaking work to strengthen the renewable energy sector.
The Barton constituent and senior consultant at ITP Renewables is a nationally and internationally renowned leader in developing new technology to boost the efficiency and reliability of rooftop solar panels.
Assoc Professor Hallam specialises in the field of hydrogen passivation, which is the stabilisation of photovoltaic cells from chemical reactions.
Put simply, this is a process which can help protect rooftop solar cells from light induced degradation and boost the performance of the product.
The University of Sydney Associate Professor’s patented approach has been found to improve solar cell performance by as much as 10 per cent.
This technology is driving growth in the renewable energy sector leading to lower generation costs and faster uptake rates.
Rooftop solar is now the biggest contributor to renewable energy growth in Australia, with the industry set to deliver direct benefits to more than 8 million additional Australians by 2030.
Associate Professor Hallam was awarded a $50,000 prize at the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science presentation dinner at Canberra on Monday, 21 November.
Quotes attributable to Barton MP Linda Burney:
“Within this decade, 82 per cent of Australia’s energy supply will be renewable – and innovative thinkers like Brett Hallam are helping to drive the transition and reduce energy costs.
I congratulate Associate Professor Brett Hallam for receiving the Prize for New Innovators.
“A/Prof. Hallam’s discoveries have improved the performance of solar cells by 10 per cent, a significant increase in the field. In 2021, technologies A/Prof. Hallam founded provided benefits to Australian consumers of approximately $500 million and $17 billion globally. These figures are rapidly increasing as the industry continues to expand.
“This is wonderful recognition for Brett Hallam’s work, which is an inspiration to everyone who has a passion for science and building a cleaner future.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic MP:
“Our country is filled with smart people who are applying their know-how in ways that are making a difference for our nation and the world.
“I was so pleased to present Associate Professor Brett Hallam with the Prime Minister’s Prize for New Innovators. His work will dramatically improve the performance solar cells and boost the global renewable energy economy.
“The Albanese Labor Government will continue to back these ideas and provide more pathways for commercialisation of great Australian discoveries.
Quotes attributable to senior consultant at ITP Renewables and Associate Professor and Scientia Fellow in the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering at the University of New South Wales Brett Hallam:
“I grew up in country Victoria and my dad’s a plumber. When I was growing up, I spent time installing solar hot water systems with him and I was always fascinated about how they could turn sunlight into electricity.
“Beyond the research, what I love about my job is working with an amazing team and seeing how they achieve and grow as our technology grows.
“Some of the team I've worked with have now gone to other companies in Australia and around the world and [are] doing amazing things to help deploy solar panel technologies.
“To receive the Prize for New Innovators is exciting and I’m extremely honoured, because it is for technology we developed during my PhD at UNSW.
“I hope my work can help inspire other researchers as they continue to grow and fall in love with science.”