Media releases

• Event to highlight focus of renewed Brock, Niagara Parks partnership

  Tuesday, April 23, 2024 | By Brock University

  MEDIA ADVISORY: April 23 2024 – R0053

  Brock University and the Niagara Parks Commission are strengthening their partnership to support environmental stewardship, cultural heritage and experiential learning in the community.

  Media are invited to attend an event Monday, April 29 at 3:30 p.m. that will see the two organizations formally renew their partnership with an enhanced Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

  The Niagara Parks Commission is committed to protecting the natural and cultural heritage along the Niagara River for the enjoyment of area residents and visitors.

  A previous MOU signed by the two institutions spanning from 2018 to 2023 engaged the University’s Environmental and Sustainability Research Centre and included research collaborations, experiential education opportunities, reports and program development. The new five-year agreement builds on this foundation, including more expansive academic focuses and community impacts such as cultural heritage and communications, in addition to continued environmental stewardship efforts.

  During the event, leaders from Brock and Niagara Parks will showcase past partnership successes and upcoming areas of focus to highlight the importance of this strategic engagement and its impact on the region.

  The in-person event will take place at Queenston Heights Restaurant in Niagara-on-the-Lake. To RSVP, fill out the online registration form.

  What: Partnership celebration and renewal of a Memorandum of Understanding

  Who: Brock University and Niagara Parks Commission

  When: Monday, April 29 at 3:30 p.m.

  Where: Queenston Heights Restaurant, Niagara Parks, 14184 Niagara River Parkway, Niagara-on-the-Lake

  RSVP: By filling out the online registration form.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews: 

  * Maryanne St. Denis, Manager, Content and Communications, Brock University mstdenis@brocku.ca or 905-246-0256

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  Categories: Media releases

• Low-cost solar power options the future of green energy, says Brock expert

  Friday, April 19, 2024 | By Brock University

  EXPERT ADVISORY: April 19 2024 – R0052

  As Earth Day nears, prompting people to reflect on their conservation efforts, an international expert in solar cell research at Brock University is working to make green energy more accessible to all.

  Jianbo Gao, Assistant Professor in Brock’s Department of Chemistry and Affiliated Professor in the Yousef Haj-Ahmad Department of Engineering, is leading novel research in photovoltaics, a method of converting solar radiation into electricity.

  One of the pioneers of quantum dot solar cells, Gao has seen his solar cell work certified by National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) on the prestigious solar cell efficiency chart.

  His research is challenging conventional silicon technology, which has been the dominant material used in solar panels for several decades, by introducing highly efficient solar absorbers, such as perovskite material, that are significantly less expensive.

  Perovskite material can be easily applied to any surface using an ink jet printing process or spin-coating method. It can be uniformly printed on flexible rolls of film and applied to any surface, such as windows on buildings and cars, bus shelters, or even on people’s clothing and accessories.

  “Its simple production and low cost make it highly efficient, accessible and affordable,” says Gao. “The average household electricity costs 15 cents per kilowatt-hour. The goal with this new material is to achieve less than one penny per kilowatt-hour.”

  Gao’s research into perovskite as a solar absorber is published in the American Chemical Society’s journal ACS Nano and is conducted in collaboration with international partners from Clemson University and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory as well as the U.S.-based NREL, which is a world leader in solar cell research.

  It is collaborations like these that will make his research sustainable, says Gao, who is currently pursuing new collaborations with Canadian and international organizations to further his research into a new generation of photovoltaics.

  The new material being explored is less expensive than traditional silicon technology but also more efficient than perovskite photovoltaics.

  “It’s double the efficiency, or even higher, while being incredibly affordable,” says Gao.

  He offers the example of a satellite, which requires an extremely highly efficient solar cell to power it. One square metre of the type of solar cell currently used to power many satellites costs about US$5,000. The new material would be at least 10 times less expensive for the same size.

  Gao says the new photovoltaic technology can also be semi-transparent, so not only can solar cells be integrated into building windows to power things, but they can also help shield light, which can help reduce unwanted heat and sun exposure.

  Amidst climate change, a global energy crisis and worldwide efforts to reduce fossil fuel use, Gao says both novel materials he is researching can contribute to advancing renewable energy alternatives.

  “Solar energy can power anything,” he says. “The impact of inventing new low-cost, highly efficient solar cell alternatives is profound and urgent. It could change the future of energy in Canada and address the worldwide energy shortage for humankind.”

  Jianbo Gao, Assistant Professor in Brock’s Department of Chemistry and Affiliated Professor in the Yousef Haj-Ahmad Department of Engineering, is available for media interviews on this topic.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

  * Maryanne St. Denis, Manager, Content and Communications, Brock University mstdenis@brocku.ca or 905-246-0256

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  Categories: Media releases