Dr. Repins is a research fellow active in the Photovoltaics Reliability group at NREL. She has worked for more than 20 years in photovoltaics, including reliability, device processing, characterization, and manufacturing. She brings an in-depth understanding of materials science and device physics to high-impact questions about reliability and product life. 

Dr. Repins serves on the steering committee for the international Photovoltaic Quality Assurance Task Force, is a board member for PowerMark Corporation, and is a member of the U.S. Technical Advisory Group for Photovoltaics, International Electrotechnical Commission Working Group for Photovoltaic Modules, and UL standards technical panel 1703. She recently led a project team to publication of the 2021 edition of IEC 61215, and is principal investigator for NREL’s reliability core program.

Dr. Repins has been honored to work with outstanding teams to achieve a 2004 R&D 100 Award for “Lightweight Flexible Thin-Film CIGS PV Modules,” the world’s first 20.0%-efficient thin-film photovoltaic device, and the most highly cited 2008–2009 paper in the field of energy research.

Prior to joining NREL in 2007, Dr. Repins performed research and manufacturing support in the private sector.

Education

M.S. and Ph.D. Physics, Colorado State University

B.S. Physics, Stanford University

Featured Work

Repins, I.L., Kersten, F., Hallam, B., VanSant, K., Koentopp, M.B., 2020, “Stabilization of light-induced effects in Si modules for IEC 61215 design qualification,” Solar Energy 208.

Deceglie M.G., Silverman, T.J., Johnston, S.W., Rand, J.A., Reed, M.J., Flottemesch, R., Repins, I.L. “Light and elevated temperature induced degradation (LeTID) in a utility-scale photovoltaic system,” IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics 10 (4).

Repins, I.L., Contreras, M.A., Egaas, B., DeHart, C., Scharf, J., Perkins, C.L., To, B., Noufi, R., 2008. “19.9%-efficient ZnO/CdS/CuInGaSe₂ solar cell with 81.2% fill factor,” Progress in Photovoltaics 16(3).

Repins, I.L., Beall, C., Vora, N.K., DeHart, C., Kuciauskas, D., Dippo, P., To, B., Mann, J., Hsu, W.C., Goodrich, A., Noufi, R., 2012. “Co-evaporated Cu₂ZnSnSe₄ films and devices,” Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 101.

Niki, S., Contreras, M., Repins, I.L., Powalla, M., Kushiya, K., Ishizuka, S., Matsubara, K., 2010, “CIGS absorbers and processes,” Progress in Photovoltaics 18(6).

Wolden, C.A., Kurtin, J., Baxter, J.B., Repins, I., Shaheen, S.E., Torvik, J.T., Rockett, A.A., Fthenakis, V.M., Aydil, E.S, 2011. “Photovoltaic manufacturing: Present status, future prospects, and research needs,” Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology A 29(3).

Eisgruber, I.L., Granata, J.E., Sites, J.R., Hou, J., Kessler, J., 1998. “Blue-photon modification of nonstandard diode barrier in CuInSe₂ solar cells” SOLAR ENERGY Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 53(3–4).