Natural Resources >> CEO Interviews >> August 23, 1999
DR. ALLEN M. BARNETT is President and CEO of AstroPower, Inc. AstroPower
is currently the largest United States owned solar electric power
component manufacturer, fifth largest in the world and is one of the
fastest growing solar electric power manufacturing companies. Dr.
Barnett serves on the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) Board
of Directors. He also serves on the Advisory Board of the National
Center for Photovoltaics (NCPV) of the US Department of Energy. Prior to
founding AstroPower, Dr. Barnett successfully led three different
organizations into positions of technical leadership in the development
of high-technology products. He has been active in photovoltaic research
and development since 1975, specializing in thin-film materials and
device design. He pioneered the development and manufacture of thin,
crystalline silicon solar cells on low cost substrates. An experienced
inventor, Dr. Barnett has been awarded 23 patents and has been the
recipient of six R&D 100 awards for new industrial products. In
addition, he has authored or co-authored 198 technical publications.
From 1976 through 1993, Dr. Barnett was a Professor of Electrical
Engineering at the University of Delaware. Dr. Barnett received his PhD
in Electrical Engineering from Carnegie Institute of Technology and his
MS and BSEE from the University of Illinois. Dr. Barnett will receive
The Karl W. Boer Solar Energy Medal of Merit in April 2001 for
pioneering high-performance, thin-crystalline silicon solar cells,
founding and leading a world-class enterprise for the commercialization
of solar electric products, and outstanding continuing service to the
solar electric power community. In 1996, Dr. Barnett received the IEEE
William R. Cherry Award for outstanding contributions to Photovoltaic
Science and Technology. He was also elected a Fellow of The Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers in January 1998 for contributions
and technical leadership in the development and commercialization of
photovoltaic solar cells. Profile
the stage for the readers.
Dr. Barnett: AstroPower was formed in 1983, to develop a better solar
cell for the direct
