Page 67 - ISES SWC50

Derrick McDiarmid
Country: Zimbabwe
Year joined industry: 1968
Company first worked for: Solamatics
Technology area: Solar Thermal and Solar PV
Still active in the industry: Yes

Derrick McDiarmid began manufacturing solar water heaters under licence to Beasley Industries (Australia) in 1968.
This led to the formation of Solamatics which continues in this field today. As PV became commercially viable,
Derrick pursued opportunities for involvement in this field and installed a 3kW system for a rural hospital, and
several PV pumping systems in 1983/4. In 2008 the PV activities had grown sufficiently that a separate company
was formed (Ultimate Power Solutions) to provide better focus for the two activities. Derrick has been involved in
developing standards in South Africa and Zimbabwe, and has attended ISES conferences in 1979,81,83,87,91,93,95
(as conference organiser), 2001, 2003. Under Derrick’s guidance Solamatics, with Danish Aid funding developed a
PV vaccine refrigerator to WHO approval, and has installed several large institutional solar water heating systems in
cooperation with a Danish company - Arcon Solvarme. Currently Derrick provides design guidance and consultancy
for larger scale solar water heating systems for Solamatics and design for domestic, commercial and off-grid
systems for Ultimate Power Solutions. He is a Member of the Zimbabwe Institute of Engineers (retired), was a
founder member of the Solar Energy Society of Zimbabwe (formed in 1974, but now defunct), and the initiator in
the formation of the Solar Energy Industries Association of Zimbabwe in 1984.

Stanford Ovshinsky

Country: United States
Year joined industry: 1960
Company first worked for: Energy Conversion Devices
Technology area: PV
Still active in the industry: No

Born 1922 in Ohio, Stan Ovshinsky only completed high school education and initially pursued a career as machinist
in car tyre mould factory. He explored ways to harness the sun; 1979 began streamlining mass production of
inexpensive amorphous silicon solar panels [US Patent No. 4,519,339]. In 1960 he started Energy Conversion
Devices and soon after, his inventions drew widespread attention. At the time of his death, Stan held more than
400 patents. In 1982 he told researchers in his lab that experimental battery presented to him in a beaker would
one day power an energy-efficient car; his Nickel–Metal Hydride (NiMH) [US Patent No. 4,623,597] has powered
electric and hybrid vehicles since the early 2000s. The wholly-owned subsidiary, United Solar Ovonic (Uni-Solar),
was the first, and at one time the world’s largest, producer of flexible solar panels. Panels were made of 11 triple
junction amorphous silicon solar cells connected in series with 11–13% in conversion efficiency, and encapsulated
in ETFE, high light-transmissive polymer. These ‘solar shingles’ were manufactured in rectangular strips with
wiring at one end, glued to any suitable supporting surface and used on roofs, motorhomes, semi-trailer cabs and
similar applications. In 1998 Ovonic NiMH batteries were used in Chevrolet S-10 EV and 1999 General Motors
EV1, many other hybrid vehicles in production today. ECD sold its subsidiary, Ovonic Battery Company, in 2012
to BASF Corporation. In 1999 Stan was honoured with ISES Karl Boer Solar Energy Medal of Merit, and as Hero
for the planet by Time Magazine while in 2005 he was inducted into the US-based Solar Energy Hall of Fame.
He was a Fellow - American Physical Society and American Association for the Advancement of Science, and received
Diesel Cold Metal Medal (Germany), Coors American Integrity Award, Toyota Award for Advancement and three
honorary doctorates.

ISES SWC50 - The Century of Solar-Stories and Visions | 49