Keynote Speaker Ⅰ
Prof. Bram Hoex
University of New South Wales, Australia
Biography: Professor Bram Hoex completed both an MSc and PhD degree from Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands in 2003 and 2008, respectively. From 2008 to 2015, he worked at the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) as a Group Leader and from 2012 also as Director. In 2015, he joined UNSW, where he is currently a Deputy Head at UNSW's School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering. His research is multifaceted, focusing on the development and application of nanoscale thin films to enhance renewable energy devices, the reliability of solar cells and modules, the financial and performance modelling of large-scale solar farms, and the application of artificial intelligence in material science. He has published over 250 scientific papers and is best known for his groundbreaking work on aluminium oxide for crystalline silicon surface passivation, which is now the de facto standard for industrial PERC and TOPCon solar cells. His work has received various international recognitions, including the 2008 SolarWorld Junior Einstein and 2016 IEEE PVSC Young Professional awards. Renewable Energy World listed him in the “Solar 40 under 40 list” globally in 2018.
Speech Title: From the Lab to the Field: Decoding Degradation at Cell, Module, and Field Level for Commercial Photovoltaic Technology
Abstract: In the photovoltaic industry, the emphasis is often almost solely on enhancing solar cell and module efficiency. However, the most important metric for evaluating technology's economic viability is the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), which necessitates not only high efficiency but also extended module longevity. Achieving the lowest possible LCOE requires maintaining annual performance degradation rates below 0.5% per year.
This study will go into the stability of heterojunction and TOPCon solar cells and modules which are now dominating the photovoltaic market, with a special emphasis on understanding and mitigating corrosion-induced degradation. We introduce advanced accelerated cell testing methodologies that offer rapid assessment which are up to a hundredfold faster than conventional module-level testing. This acceleration is crucial for timely insights into degradation mechanisms and their mitigation. Furthermore, we detail our approaches to cell and module-level degradation prevention and present a comprehensive global-scale modelling of selected degradation modes.
Keynote Speaker Ⅱ
Prof. Apel Mahmud
Flinders University, Australia
Biography: Apel Mahmud is currently working as a Professor in Electronic and Electrical Engineering at Flinders University. Prior to joining Flinders University, he worked as an Associate Professor in Electrical Engineering at Northumbria University Newcastle, UK from October 2021 to March 2024. At Northumbria, he was also the Head of Electrical Engineering. Before joining Northumbria, he worked as a Senior Lecturer (from and Lecturer in Electrical & Renewable Energy Engineering at Deakin University, Australia. He also worked as a Lecturer in Electrical & Electronic Engineering at Swinburne University of Technology, a Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne , and a research publication fellow at the University of New South Wales.
In the UK, he has been a part of a £1.85 million research project on the virtual power plant funded by the EPSRC. In Australia, he has been successful in obtaining seven externally funded projects, which attracted more than AUD12.6 million in total.
So far, he published around 300 research articles, including around 130 high quality journal papers. His research interests include nonlinear control of power electronic interfaces for renewable energy applications, power system dynamics (modeling, stability, and control), power system fault analysis for bushfire mitigation, microgrids (AC, DC, and hybrid AC/DC), grid integration of renewable energy sources (small- and large-scale solar and wind), transactive energy management and optimization for microgrids, mmart metering and smart grid data analytics, energy storage systems (small- and large-scale), and nonlinear control theory and applications.
Speech Title: Smart Energy Management Systems for Future Power Grids
Abstract: The integration of intermittent renewable energy sources poses several challenges to both system operators and consumers. One of these major challenges is to properly utilise different resources (such as renewable power generation sources and battery energy storage systems) to achieve maximum techno-economic benefits, for which energy management systems play a crucial role. This talk will cover key aspects of smart energy management systems for future renewable energy-dominated power grids. These aspects will include the optimal resource utilisations, energy sharing, energy trading and control to tackle technical and economic challenges. Moreover, some practical applications of energy management systems (which are currently under trials in Australia and the UK) will be discussed to reflect the industry relevance.
Keynote Speaker Ⅲ
Assoc. Prof. Junhong Li
University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, China
Biography: Junhong Li is an Associate Professor at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC). He earned his Master of Engineering degree from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in 2005 and received his Ph.D. from UESTC in 2012.
His research interests focus on power integrated circuits, high-voltage power devices, third-generation power device drivers, and highly reliable BLDC drivers. He holds two U.S. invention patents and 30 Chinese invention patents, two of which have been successfully transferred.
Dr. Li has published over 30 academic papers in prestigious journals, including IEEE Electron Device Letters (IEEE EDL) and IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices (IEEE T-ED), as well as international IEEE conferences.
Dr. Li has led several important research projects, including National Natural Science Foundation of China General Program project and Youth Fund project, 2 military projects, and several industrial (horizontal) projects. Collectively, these projects have secured total funding exceeding 20 million RMB.
In addition to his research, Dr. Li serves as a reviewer for IEEE EDL, IEEE T-ED, and IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics (IEEE TPEL).
Speech Title: A Novel High-Reliability Motor Driver System Based on GaN Power Devices
Abstract: Gallium Nitride (GaN) power devices, known for their high power density and high switching frequency, are poised to meet the future demands of high-voltage and high-speed electric motor systems. However, their high dV/dt characteristics introduce several reliability issues, such as power device mis-triggering, logic errors, and motor insulation breakdown in conventional half-bridge or full-bridge driver structures. These issues significantly limit the performance enhancements of electric motors, especially in the context of modern green energy applications, where efficiency and reliability are paramount.To address these challenges, we propose a novel architecture for DC brushless motor (BLDC) drivers that eliminates the half-bridge structure. Leveraging the Fourier multiplication property, this architecture generates sinusoidal three-phase winding voltages through modulation, demodulation, phase shifting, and differential filtering. With this design, only low-side devices are required, and the dV/dt becomes independent of reliability concerns, allowing the high-voltage and high-frequency advantages of GaN devices to be fully utilized without compromising system stability.This new driver architecture not only enhances motor stability and output power but also aligns with the goals of improving energy efficiency in electric drives—critical for achieving cleaner and more sustainable power systems. As part of our work, we developed a BLDC driver system to drive the DJI2122 motor at 2286 rpm, using both conventional IRFP240 silicon power devices and RC65D110A GaN power devices. Successful operation with GaN devices has validated the proposed mechanism and the feasibility of this architecture, offering a promising solution for advancing the performance and reliability of electric drives in the context of green energy systems.