Page 48 - ISES SWC50

Benjamin Doron

Country: Israel
Year joined industry: 1955
Company first worked for: National Physical Laboratory
Technology area: Solar Thermal
Still active in the industry: No

In early 1950’s Benjamin Doron was a assistant to Harry Tabor working in selective surfaces. He designed test
equipment, conducted tests, and finally lead the technology transfer to MIROMIT a solar collector company established
by Mr. Sobotka . Doron built and tested a Vacuum isolated solar collector in 1958 which was industrialized 20 years
later by LUZ company and now use 1 thousand MW of solar through power plants as well as Chinese solar water
heaters. As assistant to Harry Tabor Doron built and tested the first lab model Solar ponds in 1958. Later in Solmat
Ltd and Ormat was involved in R&D in particular turbidity control. Doron co-authored the U.S.Patents: 4,595,505
(1987) Methods of suppressing growth of algae in solar ponds.

Fred Treble (1915-2010)

Country: UK
Year joined industry: 1959
Company first worked for: Royal Aircraft Establishment
Technology area: PV
Still active in the industry: No

Fred Treble after distinguished work in aerospace engineering, joined a group of Britain’s Royal Aircraft Establishment
(RAE) in 1959 to investigate new means of generating electricity for the growing satellite industry. Photovoltaics
proved to be the most promising, and thus began his long involvement with PV technology development and
application. In 1960, he was appointed head of the Solar Cell Group in the Space Department at RAE, where
he remained until his retirement in 1977. He was responsible for all aspects of PV systems for satellites and for
managing R&D contracts on crystalline silicon and CdS cells and modules. On retirement, Treble established
himself as a consultant and worked closely with the European Commission programmes on the selection and
monitoring of PV R&D and demonstration projects. He collaborated with the Joint Research Centre (JRC), ISPRA,
to develop test and measurement procedures. His work on the European PV Pilot projects highlighted the need for
design qualification tests. Results of this work have since become international standards. Throughout his career
he was active with various bodies including the UK-ISES and British Photovoltaic Association (PV-UK), serving
on committees and giving lectures. He was recognised as a Pioneer in Renewable Energy at the 1994 World
Renewable Energy Congress and in 2000 he was awarded the prestigious Becquerel Prize.

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