Abstract:

Alternative energy, in particular solar PV, is a major growth area for new companies, materials companies, equipment suppliers and EMS providers in the electronics industry, both in the panels and balance of plant manufacture. Despite recent painful bankruptcy filings by prominent solar PV companies, there is solid growth and strong government investment to develop the next generation thin-film cells under the SunShot and other programs.

This presentation looks at the growth of this industry segment, some of the gaps and showstoppers identified in the iNEMI roadmap and some of the new technology that is quietly enabling many of these developments.

BIO:

Dr. Rae has worked in the electronics, ceramics, nanotechnology and "clean tech" industries for over 25 years in the UK and USA, managing global businesses and technology development at a startup, operating company and corporate level. He currently runs TPF Enterprises LLC, a technology commercialization and business development company he founded in 2009, based at the UB Technology Incubator.

Alan is active in electronics industry associations and standards work. He is Director of Research for iNEMI and is also active with SMTA, IMAPS, IPC, and JISSO.

He holds Director and VP positions with 4 new companies and consults for two Fortune 100 companies in alternative energy. He is Technical Editor for Global Solar Technology, a leading alternative energy publication, is an Entrepreneur in Residence with NYSERDA and a member of the Directed Assistance Committee for NYSERDA's Directed Energy Program.