UNSW solar pioneer wins top UK engineering prize

Scientia Professor Martin Green is recognised with a major international honour for his outstanding achievements in solar photovoltaics and driving the global shift to renewables.

UNSW Sydney’s Scientia Professor Martin Green, known worldwide as the “father of modern photovoltaics”, has received the Faraday Medal from the UK’s Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) – the organisation’s most prestigious honour. The medal recognises Prof. Green’s outstanding achievements in transforming solar power from a prohibitively expensive and niche technology to the world’s cheapest and most scalable source of electricity.

Prof. Green said it was a great honour to be awarded the Faraday Medal, arguably one of the world’s top gongs for engineering.

“Thank you to the IET for this wonderful recognition. I’m exceptionally proud of the work my students, colleagues and I have accomplished throughout my 50 years at UNSW, and the achievements of everyone who has helped make solar energy the most practical and affordable weapon to combat global warming,” Prof. Green said.

“I’m delighted to join the ranks of earlier medallists such as Oliver Heaviside, George Thomson, Rookes Crompton, Ernest Rutherford, William Bragg, Irving Langmuir and Nevill Mott — names that have populated my textbooks throughout my engineering career.”

UNSW Dean of Engineering Professor Julien Epps congratulated Prof. Green on his selection for the Medal.

“Through five decades of his own research, mentorship of students and colleagues and collaboration with industry to commercialise solar technology, Martin has been the constant driving force to deliver the world’s lowest-cost energy source — a vital tool in the global fight against climate change.

“This award affirms his place among the greatest engineers and scientists of our time,” he said.