Expert to discuss solar industry challenges, opportunities

Meng Tao

Meng TaoMeng Tao, a professor of electrical engineering for the Laboratory for Terawatt Photovoltaics at Arizona State University, kicks off NAU’s spring Engineering Seminar Series with a free public lecture at 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, in the Engineering Building, room 101.

Tao will discuss the practical challenges of meeting global energy demands through the use of solar panels, including energy and raw material limitations in manufacturing current solar panels.

He argues that without significant technological breakthroughs, the current panel technologies combined could only meet 1 percent to 2 percent of global energy demands in 2100. Tao will discuss several directions in research and development to move toward a sustainable solar industry.

For information, email Sarah.Hunter@nau.edu.