Dr. André Augusto, a Research Scientist working at Solar Power Laboratory at Arizona State University/QESST  delivered recently an invited talk to energy experts from The Energy Research Office in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The discussion focus was the future of commercial photovoltaic technology and how silicon-based solar cells are grasping new markets by delivering thinner solar cells.

The Energy Research Office (EPE in its Portuguese acronym) aims to support the Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) on energy policies with studies and research on energy planning, addressing different sectors of energy such: electricity, oil, natural gas and its derivatives and biofuels. The studies cover the areas of engineering, economics, modeling, policy and environment and where they overlap.