One of mankind's greatest challenges is to find ways to replace the diminishing fossil fuel supply. The most obvious energy source is the sun, origin of most energy found on Earth. The Winner of the 2010 Millennium Technology Prize, Professor Michael Grätzel, Director of the Laboratory of Photonics and Interfaces at Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), has responded to the challenge with his dye-sensitized solar cells.
"The constraint of solar energy has traditionally been its price. 'Grätzel cells' provide a more affordable way of harnessing solar energy. Grätzel's innovation is likely to have an important role in low-cost, large-scale solutions for renewable energy," says the President and CEO of Technology Academy Finland, Dr Ainomaija Haarla, explaining why Grätzel was selected as the winner.
The decision was made by the Board of Directors of Technology Academy Finland, based on the recommendation of the International Selection Committee.
The price/performance ratio of Grätzel's dye-sensitized solar cells is excellent. The technology often described as "artificial photosynthesis" is a promising alternative to standard silicon photovoltaics. It is made of low-cost materials and does not need an elaborate apparatus to manufacture. Though Grätzel cells are still in relatively early stages of development, they show great promise as an inexpensive alternative to costly silicon solar cells and as an attractive candidate as a new renewable energy source.
Grätzel cells, which promise electricity-generating windows and low-cost solar panels, have just made their debut in consumer products.
Plastic electronics and ARM microprocessors also win
Two other innovations that answer some of the challenges of sustainable development and energy consumption also received prizes of €150,000 and "Peak" trophies during the award ceremony. This year's Millennium Laureates went to Professor Sir Richard Friend, plastic electronics, which has been used to produce organic Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), electronic paper, cheap organic solar cells and illuminating wall paper. Friend is the Cavendish Professor of Physics at the University of Cambridge.
Meanwhile, Stephen Furber, Professor of Computer Engineering at the University of Manchester, is the principal designer of the ARM 32-bit RISC microprocessor, an innovation that revolutionised mobile electronics. The ingeniously designed processor enabled the development of cheap, powerful handheld, battery-operated devices. In the past 25 years, nearly 20 billion ARM based chips have been manufactured.
"Each and every one of these innovations excellently fulfils the most important of our requirements: they benefit mankind as broadly as possible, both today and in the future," says Dr Stig Gustavson, Chairman of the Board of Technology Academy Finland.
For additional information:
2010 Millennium Technology Prize
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