• CERAWEEK
  • March 10 - 14, 2025

Danielle Merfeld

Hanwha Qcells

Chief Technology Officer

As Global Chief Technology Officer, Danielle leads Qcells’ research and development for advanced solar products and complete energy solutions. She is focused on accelerating the company’s efforts to enhance technology capability as it embarks on building the United States’ first fully integrated solar supply chain. Prior to this role, Danielle led technical efforts in GE Renewable Energy to develop differentiated products and services across the broadest renewable energy portfolio in the industry, including onshore wind, offshore wind, solar PV, batteries, hydro and grid solutions. She has been a consistent champion for sustainability and diversity and is a regular speaker on Energy Transition topics. Danielle was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2021. She received her B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame, and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Northwestern University. Danielle leads the National Academy of Engineering’s Energy Working Group and serves on the NAE President’s Business Advisory Committee. She also is on the National Science Foundation’s Engineering Advisory Council, and serves on the Executive Advisory Board of the Strategic Energy Institute at Georgia Tech.

Sessions With Danielle Merfeld

Thursday, 21 March

  • 12:30pm - 01:10pm (CST) / 21/mar/2024 05:30 pm - 21/mar/2024 06:10 pm

    NextGen Solar Technologies
    Power/Clean Power

    New materials called perovskites added to the existing silicon layer on the solar cell will allow more efficiency and produce greater electricity. What additional technological advancements in this green energy source are in development and which are already in use?

  • 03:15pm - 03:55pm (CST) / 21/mar/2024 08:15 pm - 21/mar/2024 08:55 pm

    Higher Value, Lower Costs: Growth models for renewables
    Clean Tech

    Renewable energy is poised to continue its torrid growth as the world presses to decarbonize power grids. But the next phase of growth will require delivering on two key fronts: Driving further cost reductions, as the sector has done for decades, while also contributing to a more resilient and reliable energy system by tackling the challenges of intermittency and cannibalization. What technologies will drive the next wave of cost reductions? What strategies are industry leaders exploring to mitigate the challenges of cannibalization, reliability, supply chain vulnerability and sustainability? 

Agenda