Dr Ian Forbes

I am a Reader in the Department of Physics and Electrical Engineering, at Northumbria. As an active researcher in the field of photovoltaics, my mission is to contribute to transforming the way the world generates, stores and consumes energy.  Photovoltaics (PV) offer a clean and sustainable method of harnessing the largest and least geographically restricted, inexhaustible renewable energy source, which has the potential to reduce energy usage and energy dependency. In particular this technology offers an opportunity for the developing world to create new systems for generating and distributing energy that are not constrained by the restrictions of grid systems used in developed economies.

I studied Materials Technology at the University of Surrey, which stimulated my interest in materials and their benefits to society. My placement year enabled me to gain a valuable insight into materials research in industry in the UK and Sweden. After graduating and working for GEC Optical Fibres, in London, I decided to develop my knowledge of optoelectronics and undertook a postgraduate course at Newcastle Polytechnic under a Department of Trade and Industry funded programme.

I was attracted to the elegance of photovoltaic technologies and was pleased to accept the offer to study for a PhD in indium phosphide (InP) based solar space cells by Newcastle Photovoltaic Applications Centre. Making InP based cells that were jointly the first to be flown in space was very satisfying and being part of a group that pioneered European thin film PV research strengthened my interest in this field.

I was the first in the UK to develop the 2-stage process of selenisation of sputtered metallic multilayer precursors and apply this technology to new sustainable materials. Sustainability includes the whole lifecycle, materials availability and production and the energy and carbon required for the whole PV system including installation and decommissioning.

I have developed interests in Thermophotovoltaics (TPV) – the conversion by PV cells of high temperature radiation, environmental impact assessment of thin film PV and contributed to promote the solar PV in national government and research council development of renewable energy strategies.

I collaborate widely with leading researchers and companies in the sector in pursuing my specialism. In the UK I have strong links with Universities of Bath, Bristol, Cranfield, Loughborough and Swansea and as well as major European research groups. I am particularly keen to strengthen the links academic researchers have with the leading companies in the industry.