Page 129 - ISES SWC50

David Katz
Country: United States
Year joined industry: 1979
Company first worked for: Alternative Energy Engineering (AEE)
Technology area: PV
Still active in the industry: Yes

David Katz, was the founder and former CEO of AEE Solar Inc., which is now part of SunRun, and is the current
president of Tamarack Solar Products and Backwoods Solar Electric Systems. David is also the cofounder and technical
advisor of Simusolar Ltd., a company that provides solar water pumps to farmers in rural Tanzania and Uganda, east
Africa. Katz founded Alternative Energy Engineering in 1979 one of the first companies in the US selling off-grid solar
electric power systems. David printed his first catalog in 1981, and today the AEE Solar catalog is widely regarded as
the one of the industry’s most useful solar PV resources. Katz sold Alternative Energy Engineering to Idaho Power in
1999 and it became part of Applied Power Corporation (APC), where he was the director of sales. APC was acquired
by Schott Glass in 2000 and was renamed Schott Applied Power Corp. Katz served as Schott’s director of purchasing
where he convinced Sharp to sell their solar modules in the US, causing a large drop in module pricing. In 2002 Katz
purchased the company from Schott and renamed it AEE Solar. In 2005 AEE Solar was acquired by Mainstream
Energy Corporation, of which Katz was the CEO and a shareholder. He is a key figure in the USA off-grid community
having helped thousands of remote homeowners electrify their homes. His pioneering work in solar water pumping
and micro-hydro power systems are unparalleled. David is a hands-on tinkerer, preferring to personally test/review
virtually all the products that appear in the AEE Solar catalog. In his spare time, he in an inventor and has developed
products including a solar powered ATM with wireless communications used at outdoor solar and concert events.
Katz’s graduated from the University of Maryland in 1973 with a degree in Electrical Engineering.

Polaris Lamaris
Country: Greece
Year joined industry: 1974
Company first worked for: SOLE SA
Technology area: SOLAR THERMAL
Still active in the industry: Yes

Panos Lamaris is considered the solar pioneer in Greece. A native Cypriot, he moved to Athens in the early 1970s –
and brought the solar technology with him from his home island. In 1974 he founded his own company called Sole,
a manufacturer of solar thermal systems and collectors, and in 1978 he became a founding member of EBHE - The
Greek Solar Industry Association, where he held the president position for 13 years. Through his activity the Greek
solar industry has become the first globally, with a booming in sales in the mid 80’s whereas solar markets were
collapsing in other European countries. His impact on the solar thermal industry went beyond the borders of Greece
and in 1992 he became a founding member of Solar Heat Europe/ESTIF and its first president, being re-elected for
another two terms and holding the position for a total of 6 years. During his presidency, the first European detailed
market study on solar thermal systems “SUN IN ACTION I” was published. Between 1994-2003 Panos Lamaris
was part of the Center of Renewable Energy Sources (CRES) initially as a Board of Directors member, and later on
as a Vice President of the Board. He was also the president of CEN TC 312 (Commité Europé EN de Normalisation)
from 1995-2001 and during his presidency, the common European testing and certification standards EN 12975-
1-2 and EN 12976-1-2 were established. In addition, a substantial contribution was given for the preparation
of the “White Paper” on renewable energy sources by the EU. In 1999 he was awarded by ISES for his 25 years
pioneering in the field of Solar Thermal Energy and his contribution to the development of the European Renewable
Energy Plan.

ISES SWC50 - The Century of Solar-Stories and Visions | 111