National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)NREL HomeInnovation for Our Energy Future
About NREL Science and Technology Technology Transfer Applying Technologies Learning About Renewables
Photovoltaic Research Performance and Reliability R&D

  
Performance and Reliability R&D

R&D Capabilities
Indoor Testing
Field Testing

Research Staff


Research Staff

Group photo of the staff.
The Performance & Reliability R&D Group.

David Trudell Gary Jorgensen Bill Sekulic Joe DelCueto Cheryl Kennedy John Pern Bill Marion Tom McMahon Mike Kempe Carl Osterwald Kent Terwilliger Peter McNutt Bob Hansen Steve Glick

Our Group is founded on the expertise and interaction of 16 talented individuals.

Members of the Group have diverse backgrounds in physics, engineering, chemistry, building design, remote sensing, electrical design, and material science.

Photo of Sarah Kurtz.

Sarah Kurtz, PhD, Acting Reliability Group Manager

SERF/W107

303-384-6475

Specializes in:

Promoting renewable energy in whatever way is needed

Known for:

Developing multijunction concentrator cells and supporting the concentrator PV industry

Back to Top

Photo of Tom McMahon.

Tom demonstrates the Outdoor Test Facility (OTF) infrared camera, which he uses to help pinpoint failed cells within PV modules.

Tom McMahon, PhD, Task Leader

OTF/203

303-384-6762

Task focus:

PV Module Packaging R&D

Specializes in:

Testing PV arrays, modules, and cells to duplicate and diagnose field failure

Known for:

24 years of experience in PV research, and counting; problem solving for customers

Back to Top

Aerial photo showing photovoltaic field arrays at NREL's Outdoor Test Facility. Photo credit to Patrick Corkery.

Carl works on testing and analysis of PV systems like the ones shown here at the OTF.

Carl Osterwald, Task Leader, Principal Engineer

OTF/206

303-384-6764

Task focus:

PV Module/System Technology Testing and Validation

Specializes in:

Module reliability, long-term module testing, accelerated module testing, and data analysis

Known for:

Module reliability testing, PV metrology, PV standards development

Back to Top

Photo of Joe DelCueto.

Joe has worked extensively to develop the 5-chamber PECVD system in SERF/W213.

Joe DelCueto, PhD, Senior Scientist

OTF/205

303-384-6104

Task focus:

PV Module Packaging R&D; PV Module/System Technology Testing and Validation

Specializes in:

Exploratory reliability and performance R&D, as well as module design, materials, thin films materials development, and packaging research and modeling; data analysis

Known for:

Developing in-house materials deposition capabilities, including use of PERT, 5-chamber PECVD, HVTB

Back to Top

Photo of Ed Gelak.

Ed's focus is the testing and validation of PV modules and systems.

Ed Gelak, Research Technician

OTF/108-02

303-384-6230

Task focus:

PV Module/System Technology Testing and Validation

Specializes in:

PV systems installation, testing, and maintenance; module reliability; long-term module testing

Known for:

PERT system module integration and monitoring; maintenance on street lamp and walkway lighting systems; maintaining equipment calibration logs and performing quality work

Back to Top

Photo of Steve Glick.

Steve has worked together with a team of researchers to set up the 5-chamber PECVD system in SERF/W213.

Steve Glick, Scientist

SERF/E100-02

303-384-6650

Task focus:

PV Module Packaging R&D

Specializes in:

Materials science of photovoltaic module materials

Known for:

5-chamber PECVD task operation support; material deposition of thin-film moisture barriers; alternative encapsulant formulations development; reliability and encapsulant performance studies related to photothermal degradation

Back to Top

Photo of Mike Kempe.

Mike places samples in an environmental chamber to determine the effect of humidity on polymer adhesion.

Mike Kempe, PhD, Scientist

FTLB/168

303-384-6325

Task focus:

PV Module Packaging R&D

Specializes in:

Coordinating and performing materials durability testing

Known for:

Interest in the role of polymer chemistry and physics in module degradation; lap-shear, water-vapor transmission, and water-solubility testing of encapsulants; using results in finite element analysis to determine length of time it takes for water to enter a module

Back to Top

Photo of Cheryl Kennedy.

Cheryl examines data from the 3-chamber PECVD system in FTLB/153-01.

Cheryl Kennedy, Senior Scientist

FTLB/168-33

303-384-6272

Task focus:

PV Module Packaging R&D; CSP Optical Materials R&D; Hydrogen Reactor Development and Design; Photolytic Reactor Materials Testing R&D

Specializes in:

Durability of advanced solar reflectors, absorbers, and transparent polymer films; development of advanced solar reflectors, high-temperature absorbers, and barrier coatings; thin-film PVD deposition

Known for:

Understanding performance and durability of optical materials, accelerated testing equipment capabilities, and applications; thin-film deposition of reflective and barrier coatings; 3- and 5-chamber deposition system capabilities and applications

Back to Top

Photo of Bill Marion.

Bill works on systems performance modeling, shown on the computer screen behind him.

Bill Marion, Principal Scientist

OTF/202-01

303-384-6793

Task focus:

Module/System Technology Testing and Validation

Specializes in:

Solar Radiation Resource Information and PV module and system performance modeling

Known for:

Advanced capability in PV modeling; IV curve translations

Back to Top

Photo of Matthew Muller.

Matt is standing next to PV shingles on a roof in the OTF array field.

Matthew Muller, Engineer

OTF/209-01

303-384-6164

Task focus:

PV Module/Array Performance Testing

Specializes in:

Testing building-integrated PV; implementing a high-accuracy tracker for testing CPV modules; data acquisition and analysis

Back to Top

Photo of John Pern.

John applies his talent and expertise as both a chemist and a materials scientist to a range of work, including research and development of new PV encapsulants and fuel cell proton exchange membranes (FCPEM).

John Pern, PhD, Senior Scientist

SERF/E119

303-384-6615

Task focus:

PV Module Packaging R&D

Specializes in:

Encapsulant and solar cell performance reliability; PV encapsulant formulation and fuel cell proton exchange membranes (FCPEM) developments; accelerated exposure tests; molecular-level analysis

Known for:

PV encapsulant chemistry; PV cell degradation; polymeric materials development and testing; electrochemical, instrumental, and spectroscopic analysis

Back to Top

Photo of Jose Rodriguez.

Jose is the newest member of our team.

Jose Rodriguez, Technician

OTF/108-04

303-384-7819

Task focus:

System Design, Installation, and Testing

Back to Top

Photo of Bill Sekulic.

Bill helps design, install, and monitor PV systems such as this one, in the OTF array field.

Bill Sekulic, Master Research Technician

OTF/123

303-384-6362

Task focus:

PV Module/System Technology Testing and Validation

Specializes in:

PV systems design, testing, maintenance; data acquisition; Labview programming; computer and electrical systems development

Known for:

Creative solutions to data acquisition problems, organizational skills, and getting the job done right

Back to Top

Photo of Kent Terwilliger.

Kent works with an assortment of accelerated testing equipment, including the Atlas CI65, to troubleshoot experiments and test samples.

Kent Terwilliger, Research Technician

FTLB/168-131

303-384-6254

Task focus:

PV Module Packaging R&D; CSP Optical Materials R&D; Solar-Heat Glazing R&D

Specializes in:

Packaging/durability of thin-film modules; durability testing of solar mirrors and polymeric glazings

Known for:

Troubleshooting and repairing environmental test chambers

Back to Top

Photo of David Trudell.

David designs and builds test beds, and he has a reputation for getting it done right the first time.

David Trudell, Engineer

OTF/117

303-384-6330

Task focus:

PV Module/System Technology Testing and Validation

Specializes in:

Designing and building effective test beds from the ground up-mechanical, electrical, electronic, cabling, data wiring, computer interfacing

Known for:

Assisting other national labs and industry in duplicating his test bed designs at their facilities; OATS testing and monitoring; overseeing OTF Mac server operation; RMIS monitoring

Back to Top


Printable Version

Skip footer to end of page.