Eurosolar awards 13 prizes for renewable energy
In December, the European renewable energy association, Eurosolar, presented solar prizes to organizations and individuals from Spain, Italy, Turkey, Switzerland, and Germany. In addition, two non-European awards were made.

First Solar‘s Glenn Hamer leaves industry for Republican Party
Glenn Hamer, former executive director of the US lobby group Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) who in April 2004 became head of strategic planning and business development at First Solar LLC, has left the Arizona-headquartered manufacturer of CdTe thin-film modules to work as executive director of the Republican Party in Arizona.

With legacy intact, Bjorseth leaves REC
Alf Bjorseth, the founder, CEO, and former president of Norway's Renewable Energy Company (REC), on Sept. 30 left the company he built with his legacy intact, as REC heads toward a stock market listing in the first half of 2006. He is succeeded by new president and CEO Erik Thorsen. 

US inverter manufacturer PV Powered hires new CEO
Bob Chamberlain is the new CEO and chairman of US grid-tied inverter manufacturer PV Powered, headquartered in Bend, Oregon. 

GE replaces head of solar unit
Ali Iz, general manager of GE Energy's solar technologies division since the company took over bankrupted PV manufacturer AstroPower in March 2004, surprisingly has moved on to another, as yet undefined position within the company. 

New head at Tenesol Germany aims for larger market share
In May, French energy giant Electricité de France (EdF) and the oil multinational Total both boosted their shares in the Lyon, France-based PV company Total Energie SA to 50 percent, and beginning in September the company will operate under the name Tenesol SA (see PI 6/2005, p. 9). But along with the new name, the German subsidiary is also taking on new contours.

Three awards for Joachim Luther
The European PV conference in Barcelona presented the perfect opportunity to award one of the highest honors in the area of solar energy.

PV community mourns the death of Mark Fitzgerald
Mark C. Fitzgerald, a major force in developing renewable energy certification standards and a well-known figure in the PV community, died on June 16 after a long struggle against cancer. 

NREL's Kazmerski elected to National Academy of Engineering 
Larry Kazmerski, director of the National Center for Photovoltaics at the US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in the US state of Colorado, has been elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering (NEA).

Sharp's US solar division appoints Ed Smeloff to management team 
Sharp Electronics Corp. has hired Ed Smeloff as senior manager for project development to its solar systems division in the US. According to the Jan. 17 announcement, Smeloff will take over responsibility for the development of Sharp's commercial project business at Sharp's Huntington Beach, California office.

Q-Cells expands board of directors
On its way to becoming one of the largest cell manufacturers in the world, Q-Cells AG once again has beefed up its board of directors.

SEIA hires natural gas trade group VP as new executive director
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the US trade group for solar energy manufacturers, component suppliers, and distributors, has hired a new executive director. 

Sklar returns temporarily to head SEIA as Hamer resigns
Scott Sklar, who headed up the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) for 13 years until stepping down in 2000 (see PI 10/2000, 23), has once again taken up the post – at least temporarily.

Kyocera names Steven C. Hill president for US solar unit
On Jan. 1, Steven C. Hill was named president of Kyocera Solar Inc., the Scottsdale, Arizona-based US subsidiary of Japanese company Kyocera Corp. dealing with PV products.

Ajeet Rohatgi wins Rappaport Award
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has presented the second annual Paul Rappaport Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Award to Ajeet Rohatgi.

Sunways board shrinks as CFO steps down
After three years, Bernd Fessler, CFO of the German solar cell and inverter manufacturer Sunways AG, leaves the company on Dec. 31.

Hans Willemsen appointed new head of Shell Solar
As planned, Shell manager Hans Willemsen took over the lead of Shell Solar in Amsterdam from Philippe de Renzy-Martin on Oct. 1. De Renzy-Martin, who has headed the company since May 2000, is taking a position in Paris as general manager of Shell subsidiary Butagaz (see PI 8/2003, p. 35).

Ludwig Bölkow is dead
Ludwig Bölkow passed away on July 25 in Grünwald near Munich, Germany. The aircraft pioneer and co-founder of Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm GmbH contributed to the development of the airbag, the German magnetic monorail Transrapid, as well as the world's first jet fighter. In the field of PV, Bölkow become well known for his vision of PV fulfilling the world's energy needs.

De Renzy-Martin to leave Shell Solar in September
Philippe de Renzy-Martin, who has been in charge of Shell Solar since May 2000, is planning to move back to Shell Oil on Sept. 1, 2003. 

Jack Stone is dead
His highest level of popularity Jack Stone gained was through the newsletter NCPV Hotline of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

Leading PV analyst Bob Johnson retires from Strategies Unlimited
In March Bob Johnson, probably the world's foremost consultant on the PV market, has retired as director of the PV department of the Mountain View, California-based company Strategies Unlimited after 21 years. 

Martin Green to receive 2003 Karl Böer Solar Energy Medal
The Australian PV researcher Martin Green will have to clear some space on his already crowded trophy sideboard. On Feb. 26, he was chosen as the recipient of the 2003 Karl Böer Solar Energy Medal of Merit from the University of Delaware (UD), USA. Green will receive the medal and $40,000 USD for his »significant pioneering contributions to the promotion of solar energy« at the award presentation on April 28 at UD. 

BP Solar appoints new managing director
In early February it became public that BP Solar's CEO and president Harry Shimp will not extend his contract. 

2002 European Solar Prizes awarded
On Dec. 4, the NGO Eurosolar and the German Development Bank (KfW) awarded the 2002 European Solar Prizes in 11 categories. KfW board member Detlef Leinberger and Eurosolar president Hermann Scheer presented the awards, which are honorary rather than financial.

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