Page 212 - ISES SWC50

Tony Stocken
Country: Australia
Year joined industry: 1986
Company first worked for: BP Solar
Technology area: PV
Still active in the industry: Yes

Joining as a young engineer in the ‘80’s in the UK and progressing over 30 years to leadership positions in Australasia,
China, Middle East and SE Asia, Tony Stocken has been a true veteran of the Industry. His legacy to the Industry
has been the pioneering of ‘first-of-the kind’ solar PV projects and products. Most notable was his leadership
of BP Solar’s submission and subsequent award of Federal Government’s Flagship project which kickstarted the
subsequent massive investment in Utility-scale solar on the Australian grid. Other projects of note were some of
the first building-integrated PV projects in the Middle East, Australia, China and South Korea back in the early
2000’s; these proved the technology and now, 15 years on, are mainstream in many countries as the technology
has become economic.

Richard Swanson
Country: United States Year joined industry: 1985
Company first worked for: Sunpower
Technology area: PV
Still active in the industry:

In 1985 Richard Swanson founded Sunpower based on the cell technology research he had been researching
at Stanford University since 1974. He continued as a professor Stanford University until 1991 when he then
took on the fulltime role as President of Sunpower. SunPower solar cells powered Honda to victory in the 1993
World Solar Challenge, and powered NASA’s high altitude solar powered airplane, Helios, to 96,500 feet, a record
altitude for any non-rocket aircraft. Sunpower received the NASA Public Service Award for its contribution to the
Helios program. These record-setting cells received the IR100 award in 1995. Sunpower initially focused on cell
production particularly cells for concentrator market however later moved into the market of solar modules with a
manufacturing plant established in the Philippines. Prof. Swanson retired from SunPower in 2012. Prof. Swanson
has received widespread recognition for his work. In 2002, he was awarded the William R. Cherry award by the
IEEE for outstanding contributions to the photovoltaic field, in 2006 he was awarded the Becquerel Award from
European Commission and in 2011 the Karl Boer Solar Energy Medal of Merit.

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