Prof. Michaël Grätzel awarded the Millenium Technology Prize 2010
Prof. Michaël Grätzel
The Winner of the 2010 Millennium Technology Prize is Professor Michael Grätzel (LPI - Laboratory of Photonics and Interfaces) for his third generation, low cost, dye-sensitized solar cells.
The President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen handed the EUR 800,000 Grand Prize and the prize trophy "Peak" to Professor Grätzel at the Grand Award Ceremony at the Finnish National Opera, Helsinki.
The price/performance ratio of Grätzel's dye-sensitized solar cells is excellent. The technology often described as "artificial photosynthesis" is a promising alternative to standard silicon photovoltaics. It is made of low-cost materials and does not need an elaborate apparatus to manufacture. Though Grätzel cells are still in relatively early stages of development, they show great promise as an inexpensive alternative to costly silicon solar cells and as an attractive candidate as a new renewable energy source.
Grätzel cells, which promise electricity-generating windows and low-cost solar panels, have just made their debut in consumer products in June.