Page 174 - ISES SWC50

Dr Heinz Ossenbrink
Country: Germany
Year Started Research/Industry: 1982
Institute: Europeans Commission Joint Research Centre
Still Active in Research/Industry: No

Dr Heinz Ossenbrink ,has a PhD in Nuclear Physics from Hahn Meitner Institute, Berlin and joined the European
Commission’s Joint Research Centre in 1982. He built up the JRC’s activity on Photovoltaics when Europe started
its research and pilot programme for Photovoltaic systems. In 1995 he became Head of the Unit for Renewable
Energy, and expanded research and support activities to Energy Efficiency and Bio-Energy, notably Biofuels. His
work is dedicated to the scientific support of EU legislation for Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency. More
recently, he was developing the Unit’s portfolio to support Africa’s efforts for a renewable energy supply, as well as
projects around “Energy and Location”, which comprise the science support to the “Covenant of Mayors”, research
into the “Decarbonisation of Urban Areas”. His multidisciplinary team comprises about 50 scientists, covering fields
like materials science, physics, electrical and building engineering, energy economy, agriculture and geographical
information systems. His publications cover measurement and testing methods for photovoltaic generators,
economic assessment of renewable energy, global environmental impacts of extended bio-fuel and bio-energy use
and the economic assessment of Energy Efficiency policy as a means for Climate Change mitigation. He served since
1995 as Programme Chair for the series of European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conferences, and since 2005 also
for the European Biomass Conferences. In 2002 he became chair of the International Electrotechnical Commission
Technical Committee 82 (TC82) a role he kept unto 2016 when he retired.

Nicola Pearsall
Country: United Kingdom
Year Started Research: 1985
Title of Research: Photovoltaic solar cells and system optimisation
University: University of Northumbria
Still Active in Research: Yes

Emeritus Professor of Renewable Energy in the Faculty of Engineering and Environment of Northumbria University,
Newcastle, UK. 2020 General Chair, EU PVSEC 2020 conference. Nicola is also director of the Northumbria
Photovoltaics Applications Centre and leader of the Energy Systems Research Group. Nicola undertakes research
and teaching in the field of renewable energy, specialising in photovoltaics. Nicola graduated from the University
of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology with an honours degree in Physics, before gaining her PhD in
indium phosphide solar cells for space applications from Cranfield Institute of Technology. She joined Northumbria
University in 1989 whilst completing her PhD and has held a variety of research and teaching positions, before being
awarded the title of Professor in 2004. Nicola’s research interests are in optimisation of PV systems performance
for a wide range of applications, and the assessment of the environmental impacts during manufacture of solar
cells. With over 25 years of experience in PV research, Nicola has also worked in solar cell device development,
techno-economic assessments of PV technology and environmental impact assessment of energy technologies.
Main research areas:
• Performance assessment of PV system operation and comparison with system design aspects, leading the EC
FP6 Integrated Project PERFORMANCE, which included development of updated European guidelines on PV
system monitoring.
• Several projects involving performance analysis for building-integrated PV systems. Current EPSRC-funded
project mapping PV system performance as part of a UK-India consortium (STAPP – Stability and Performance of
Photovoltaics).
• Environmental impact assessment of PV technology – PEPPER project, funded by the European Commission, led
by Oerlikon Solar and involving a range of European industrial and research partners.
• In collaboration with colleagues in the University, Nicola is also involved with studies on integration of renewable
energy systems into the UK electrical supply network and the built environment.

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