The 2022 Millennium Technology Prize was awarded to Professor Martin Green from Australian University of New South Wales for developing the PERC (Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell) solar cell. President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö presented the prize in Helsinki on 25 October 2022.
The PERC cell, developed by Professor Green and his team, was launched in 1983, and today PERC technology covers almost 90% of the solar cell market.
In his congratulation speech, President Niinistö said that climate crisis is one of the interlocking challenges our planet is facing, but there is still time to act.
“Today, we are celebrating the progress that has been made in one of the cornerstones of energy transition, namely solar energy. Solar cells play a significant role in solving the climate crisis by reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.”
“Professor Green’s innovation of solar cells is a prime example of technology, which can be used by people anywhere in the world. By the rich and the poor alike. Solar panels can be installed on modest rural houses in villages, as well as in wealthy neighbourhood of big cities.”
The Millennium Technology Prize is one of the most highly esteemed awards in the field of science and technology. The one-million-euro prize, highlighting the wide-ranging impact of science and technology on the wellbeing of societies, was now presented for the tenth time.
President Niinistö is the patron of the Millennium Prize. The prize is awarded by Technology Academy Finland (TAF).