Dr Matthew Stocks

Fellow
ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science
Project convenor, ANU Grand Challenge: Zero-Carbon Energy for the Asia-Pacific

Dr Matthew Stocks has more than 20 years' research and development experience in renewable energy and photovoltaics.

Dr Stocks is based at the ANU College of Engineering & Computer Science. He is also Convenor of the Renewable Energy Systems project in the ANU Grand Challenge: Zero-Carbon Energy for the Asia-Pacific.

Since returning to ANU in 2013, I have been CI on several ARENA funded research projects, all examining aspects of renewable energy generation.  These span from high efficiency solar cell concepts, including silicon based IBC solar cells and tandem solar cells comprising perovskites or GaAs with silicon as the lower bandgap device and through to studies supporting high penetration renewables including 100% renewable energy and sustainable transport.

I have extensive experience in research and development, and commercialisation of silicon photovoltaics.  From 2000-2012, I was involved in the development, technical transfer and subsequent large scale manufacture of the ANU invented SLIVER technology.  I drove the development of the cell manufacturing process at ANU from idea through to proof of concept.  In 2003, I then joined Origin Energy for the design and build of the pilot facility as Process Engineering Team Leader before advancing to Cell R&D manager and ultimately Chief Technologist, overseeing the full suite of SLIVER technology R&D.  I continued in this role when the joint venture Transform Solar, between Micron and Origin, was formed and manufacturing moved to the US.  SLIVER commercialisation was a major endeavour for Origin and partners with over $250M in expenditure, with more than $7M in royalties flowing to ANU.  My development activities spanned the full breadth of SLIVER development, from silicon material refinement through to new product development and certification testing.  Origin’s continued investment was dependent on the successful R&D activities I lead.  

From 1994-1998, I undertook my Doctor of Philosophy Studies in the Department of Engineering at the Australian National University under the supervision of Professors Andrew Blakers and Andres Cuevas.  My dissertation was titled “High Efficiency Multicrystalline Silicon Solar Cells”.  This work encompassed a broad range of skills including modelling, characterisation and process development and device manufacture.  I was heavily involved in the development of quasi-steady state photoconductance measurement which is now the most widely used minority carrier lifetime technique in research and industry.  My PhD studies formed the basis for deep understanding of silicon photovoltaic technology.

Research interests

High penetration of renewable energy in electricity networks
Renewable energy policy
Pumped Hydro Energy Storage
High efficiency silicon devices, including IBC and SLIVER solar cells
Tandem solar cell energy yields
GaAs cells for concentrators and tandem devices
Perovskite/Si tandems

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