In recognition of his outstanding services to solar energy, the International Solar Energy Society (ISES) has honoured Prof. Joachim Luther with the ISES Special Service Award. The Prize Committee particularly emphasised three aspects leading to the choice of Joachim Luther as this year's prize-winner: his outstanding efforts concerning "Solar Energy", the ISES scientific journal, which improved greatly in quality and image during his period as Editor-in-Chief from 1999 to 2002, his continuing support and advice to the International Solar Energy Society, and his contributions as a member of the ISES Board of Directors from 1992 to 2001.
Since 1993, Joachim Luther (64) has been the Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Freiburg, where he also occupies the Chair for Solid State Physics and Physical Foundations of Solar Energy Application at the University of Freiburg. Under his leadership, the staff of Fraunhofer ISE has more than doubled to its present value of 410, and has an annual operating budget of around 25 million euros, not including investments. Projects directly with industrial partners account for 35 % of this budget. Joachim Luther has a high international reputation. Apart from his contributions to the International Solar Energy Society, he has been and still is involved in numerous international and national bodies. For example, Professor Luther advised the German Federal Government on global environmental change from 2000 to the end of 2004 as a member of the "Wissenschaftlicher Beirat Globale Umweltveränderungen". He belonged to the Energy Research Working Group of the "Wissenschaftsrat der Bundesrepublik Deutschland" from 1996 to 1998. Between 1997 and 2002, he was the President of the EUREC Agency, which represents 40 research institutes from all EU countries and has advisory status with the EU. Further, Prof. Luther co-ordinates the work on energy within the Global Research Alliance GRA, in which nine internationally renowned institutions for applied research co-operate. The scientist is the author of numerous publications on energy research, sustainable energy supply, photovoltaic generation of electricity and solar and energy-optimised building.
The ISES Special Service Award is the third prize which Joachim Luther has received this year. At the beginning of June, during the 20th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference in Barcelona, the EU Commission honoured him with the Becquerel Prize for his services encouraging close co-operation between solar research and industry. In July, the TÜV Rheinland Group awarded him the 16th International Rhineland Prize for Environmental Conservation during a ceremony in the Cologne Town Hall.
With members in more than 100 countries, the International Solar Energy Society sees its role as a globally active information provider on topics relating to both solar energy research and its applications. With its publications and professional meetings, ISES presents a vigorous world-wide forum for exchanging knowledge on solar energy.
