Ulrike Jahn, Senior Expert at VDE Renewables, receives this year's Becquerel Prize from the European Commission. It will be awarded during the digital event ‘European PV Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition’ or ‘EU PVSEC’ for short. The award will be presented by Dr. Christian Thiel, Head of the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. The prize is considered one of the most internationally recognized awards in the field of solar photovoltaics (“PV”). Ulrike Jahn has been selected to receive this award in recognition of her many years of outstanding achievements which contributed towards the development of solar energy.
For more than 30 years Ms. Jahn has been actively involved in the field of quality assurance and continuous improvement of technical criteria for solar PV systems. In numerous publications and at international conferences and industry forums, she has published groundbreaking contributions on the reliability and performance of PV systems together with international experts. In particular, Ms. Jahn's recommendations on system performance evaluation and risk analysis have earned her international recognition from stakeholders across the solar sector.
"Being selected as the winner of this very special award was, naturally, a big surprise for me," said Ulrike Jahn. "I am very happy about this great recognition from the European Commission and thank everyone involved. Many of my long-time companions in research and industry are a part of this success, and without them I would certainly not have been able to receive this award. In my position at VDE Renewables, I am proud to say that we are continuing to champion these activities with many stakeholders in Europe and international networks such as the International Energy Agency (IEA)”.
"Over many years, Ulrike Jahn has been an essential driving force for the continuous evaluation and improvement of solar systems. This is also what the VDE Renewables team, together with Ulrike, stands for," said Burkhard Holder Managing Director of VDE Renewables. "In addition to the solar industry, other stakeholders such as investors and insurers, who are also important drivers for the energy transition, have benefited from these trends. I am very pleased to see that Ulrike has become a recognized face of the solar sector and a role model for the young generations in industry and research. I am certain that she can serve as an inspiration for many to enter into a career in the renewable energy field,” Holder concluded.
Alexandre Edmond Becquerel Prize
The Alexandre Edmond Becquerel Prize was established in 1989 by the European Commission at the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Becquerel’s classical experiment in which he discovered the photovoltaic effect. Its purpose is to honour scientific, technical or managerial merit in the development of photovoltaic solar energy, attained over a long period of continuous achievements, or very exceptionally, for some extraordinary invention or discovery. It is primarily a European Award but not restricted exclusively to European citizens. The Prize is awarded periodically to a single individual. The Prize cannot be shared nor given to an institution or team.
VDE Renewables
VDE Renewables, a subsidiary of the VDE Group, offers quality assurance services for the global renewable energy sector. Based in Alzenau, Germany, the company’s services include quality testing and certification according to the highest safety, reliability and performance standards, as well as independent engineering and technical due diligence. VDE Renewables works closely with all structures of the VDE Group and its internationally renowned network, which include the leading research and development bodies such as the Fraunhofer Institutes and insurance firms such as Allianz and Munich Re. Together with its partners, VDE Renewables supports its customers with their specific requirements, such as gaining access to new markets, differentiating themselves from their competitors or enabling them to receive more attractive insurance or financing conditions. For more information, visit www.vde.com/renewables.