Page 267 - ISES SWC50

Gerhard Weinrebe
Country: Germany
Year joined industry: 1991
Company first worked for: Schlaich Bergermann und Partner (www.
sbp.de)
Technology area: Solar Thermal
Still active in the industry: Yes

Gerhard Weinrebe undfertook his diploma thesis in 1991-1992: Testing of Dish/Stirlings systems: Flux
density measurements in focal area using self-developed hiflux . In 1994-1995 he worked at : German
Aerospace Research Establishment (DLR) as their Program Manager ‘Solar Measurement Technologies’
at the European Solar Research Center ‘Plataforma Solar de Almería’. Spain. In 1995-1996 he was Area
Head ‘Solar Thermal Central Receiver Systems’ at ‘Plataforma Solar de Almería’, Spain. In 1997-2000
he undertook his PhD thesis on ‘Technical, Economic and Ecological Assessment of Power Towers’Since
then, techno-economic optimization of solar systems without neglecting the environmental impact is one
of the specialties.From 1995 to -today: Testing and development of heliostats (incl. ASM150 & Stellio).
From 2000 to 2015 involved with Design and optimization of solar updraft towers; projects in Spain, Australia
and Chile. From 2000 totoday involved with Design and optimization of parabolic trough collectors for commercial
plants (EuroTrough, HelioTrough, UltimateTrough). With team twice winner of the IEA SolarPACES technology
innovation award (2013 & 2010 for troughs)2012-today: Head of Research and Development at sbp sonne2014 –
2016: Development of ‘Stellio’, a 48.5 m² high-performance low-cost heliostat, with efficient pentagonal collector
structure and innovative axes arrangementMember of team that won the IEA SolarPACES technology innovation
award for the Stellio heliostat in 2015 Strong involvement in marketing Stellio for Redstone project in South Africa
and for projects in China. Stellio heliostat was selected for 50 MW molten salt power tower Hami, China.2014-
today: Root Cause Analyses for failures of parabolic trough collectors and PV trackers (not designed by sbp sonne)
for owners and insurers Since 2012: Associate at sbp sonne, since 2020: DirectorSince 2018: Member of IEA
SolarPACES industry advisory board

Kent Whitfield
Country: United States
Year joined industry: 1991
Company first worked for: Arizona State University
Technology area: PV
Still active in the industry: Yes

Kent Whitfield was a project leader for the development of a PV-powered car as an undergraduate at Arizona State
University for the first ever GM Sun Race in Australia in 1991. Hired by ASU as a Laboratory Manager to establish
the first ISO/IEC-accredited testing laboratory in the Americas for PV modules with Bob Hammond, Byard Wood
and Chuck Baccus at Arizona State University (laboratory named the Photovoltaic Testing Laboratory - PTL). He
was manager of a joint venture between Spire and BP Solar called Spire Solar Chicago from 1998-2002 that was
the first organization to bring commercial PV systems to downtown Chicago museums and commercial facilities.
As Research Manager at Underwriters Laboratories he assisted front-line certification staff in the development
of certification services including technical requirements and business plans. Director of Reliability at MiaSole to
develop reliability requirements and testing capability for large-scale CIGS module manufacturing. Kent was Sr.
Director of Quality and Reliability at Solaria for development of a low-concentrating PV module and a supporting
ISO9001/14001 and OHSAS 18001 Quality Management System. He was Director of Reliability, Solar Materials
for SunEdison for deployment of a Design for Reliability within the Solar Materials business composed of both
photovoltaic modules and microinverters and Sr. Director of module engineering for BeamReach Solar managing
an organization responsible for the development of a unique PV module having integrated mounting and racking
hardware, deploying unique materials, and featuring a lightweight construction. Kent is now VP of Quality at
NEXTracker where he oversees global quality and durability.

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