Electrical Connection Winter 2016

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14 E L EC TR I C AL CONNEC T I ON W I N T E R 20 1 6
INDUSTRY NEWS
BUILDINGBETTERSOLAR
Scientists have developed a new
silicon solar cell that promises
cheaper manufacturing processes
and better power output.
The collaboration, between
scientists at The Australian National
University (ANU), UC Berkeley, who
led the research, and EPFL groups,
did away with the chemical doping
that conventional silicon cells rely
on and instead used pure silicon
sandwiched between thin films of
different materials.
“For a lot of people this will
broaden their idea of how silicon
solar cells can be made,” says lead
author James Bullock, a PhD student
at the ANU Research School of
Engineering, who conducted the
study while on placement at UC
Berkeley’s Department of Electrical
Engineering and Computer Sciences.
“These cells can be made using
a very simple low-temperature
fabrication procedure, so they have
the potential for cheaper processing
while still having high efficiencies.”
The team’s best solar cell so far
has achieved nearly 20% efficiency,
which is better than the industry
average, says co-author Professor
Andres Cuevas, also from ANU
Research School of Engineering.
“There is nothing to say we can’t
get to the world record efficiencies,
over 25%, using this approach,”
Andre says.
The new design promises a lower
energy footprint for solar cells,
because they are manufactured
below 200ºC, in contrast to
conventional doped cells which are
made at above 800ºC.
The cells also do not require the
often toxic chemicals used to dope
conventional materials.
In the Summer 2015 edition of
Electrical Connection, an article
appeared called Breathing easy, part
two. We’ve since been told that some
of the information provided to us may
be misleading. Specifically, the article
suggests you can dispose of up to
100kg of non-friable asbestos without
a licence by taking it to your local
landfill. Please note that the landfill
must be licensed to handle asbestos.
Secondly, using a power drill at
any speed with a vacuum cleaner is
not best practice. If you absolutely
have to drill into asbestos sheeting,
use a non-powered hand drill after
moistening the surface first.
We here at Electrical Connection
are dedicated to ensuring the
information about working with
asbestos that reaches the market
is correct, and it is an issue that we
will continue to address. We also
strongly recommend checking out the
work the Bernie Banton Foundation
) is
doing in this space and urge you to
actively support this group as it
spreads awareness of the dangers of
mishandling asbestos.
Mature age apprentices represent a
real opportunity to reduce Australia’s
skills shortage, raise productivity
and enrich the electrical contracting
industry, says the chief executive of the
National Electrical and Communications
Association (NECA), Suresh Manickam.
“Generally speaking, the past work
experience of mature apprentices
is valuable to an employer. In other
words, they understand the basics of
an employer’s expectations and the
fundamentals of what is required.
“However, confusion exists across
Federal and State/Territory jurisdictions
and workplace legislation and awards
concerning the terms and definition of
an adult or mature age apprentice.
“Mature age apprentices are often
priced out of the market as they are
perceived to be too expensive when
compared to apprentices who are
recent school leavers; however, their
productivity can often be much higher
as a result of their previous work
experiences and their maturity and
experience provides an important
workplace balance.”
Junior apprentices are paid a
percentage of the minimum wage
rate for the Electrical Worker Grade
5 classification under the Electrical,
Electronic and Communications
Contracting Award 2010. Adult
apprentices are paid at a minimum of
80% of the Electrical Worker Grade 5
classification in the first year and at a full
Grade 1 rate from year two, under the
same award.
“If Australia is serious about the
reskilling, cross-skilling and up-training
of its existing workforce, raising
productivity and boosting employment
for current and future generations, a
mature age wage subsidy makes sense,”
Suresh says.
“Given the benefits that mature age
apprentices bring, NECA calls upon
the Federal Government to support
employers who employ mature adult
apprentices by providing employers
with a wage subsidy. This subsidy
should match the differential between
the hourly rate of a junior apprentice
and adult apprentice across each stage
year of the apprenticeship.”
TOCLARIFY...
“MAKES SENSE”: THEMATUREAGEWAGE SUBSIDY