Revision 553043319 of "Wikipedia talk:Articles for creation/Donald E Osborn (2)" on enwiki

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*{{afc comment|1=So many of these sources are books or articles that Osborn authored or co-authored.  See [[WP:SELFPUB]]; self-published sources can't be used to establish the notability of a subject. [[User:Howicus|Howicus]] ([[User talk:Howicus|talk]]) 14:09, 1 May 2013 (UTC)}}
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'''Donald E Osborn''' new article content ...
Donald E Osborn has been called “the father of distributed solar commercialization” in the US and the “pied piper of photovoltaics” <ref name="SwitchingTo">Switching To Solar, Bob Johnstone, Prometheus Books, 2011, ISBN 978-1-61614-222-3</ref>. As the Manager of SMUD Solar and Superintendent for Renewable Resources at the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), Osborn was responsible for developing and implementing the first large scale, customer sited, distributed generation of photovoltaic (PV) systems in the US. “By 2001 Osborn’s group at SMUD had installed over a thousand PV systems, totaling nearly 10 megawatts’ worth of solar electricity. This was a serious amount representing over half the grid-connected PV in all of the United States at that time” <ref>Switching To Solar, Bob Johnstone, Prometheus Books, 2011</ref>.  The SMUD Solar Program directly paved the way to the highly successful California Solar Initiative and other PV commercialization programs across the US that have resulted in an explosion of solar with over 7,700 MW installed by the end of 2012 with 3,313MW installed in 2012 alone <ref>http://www.seia.org/research-resources/solar-industry-data</ref>. Since leaving SMUD in 2002, Osborn has been the partner and President of Spectrum Energy Development Inc.

[[File:Donald Osborn and Dave Collier at photovoltaic Solarport at CalExpo.jpg|thumb|Donald Osborn and Dave Collier at photovoltaic Solarport at CalExpo]] 


[[File:Gov Schwarzenegger and Donald Osborn at Solar CalEPA.jpg|thumb|Gov Schwarzenegger and Donald Osborn of Spectrum Energy at solar PV array on roof of CalEPA Building 2006]]

== Key Positions ==

•	2002–date: Partner/President Spectrum Energy Development Inc
•	1991-2002: Manager/Superintendent SMUD Solar Program
•	1981-1991: Director University of AZ Solar & Energy Research Facility
•	1977-1981: Assoc Dir Arizona Solar Energy Commission
•	1975-1977: Research Engineer Helio Associates

•	Chairman/Board Solar Electric Power Association (UPVG)
•	Director Solar Energy Industries Association
•	Director/Policy Chairman American Solar Energy Society
•	Chairman/Commissioner State of Arizona Solar Energy Commission

== Key Honors ==

2000 ASES Charles Greeley Abbot Award, 2001 International Energy Globe Award, UPVG/SEPA Award for Leadership in Solar Energy (4 times), Fellow of the American Solar Energy Society.

[[File:World Energy Globe 2001 Donald Osborn.jpg|thumb|Winner of the 2001 World Energy Globe Adward, Donald Osborn (center)]]

== Professional Career ==



=== 1975 Helio Associates ===

In 1975, Osborn started off as a Research Engineer for Helio Associates, Inc in Tucson, AZ, a small energy R&D spin-off of the University of AZ. At Helio he was responsible for the optical and systems analysis, and computer modeling on the "Fixed Mirror Distributed Focus" project, a photothermal power plant design for the Electric Power Research Institute <ref>D. B. McKenney, R. R. Walters, D. E. Osborn, et al., "Fixed Mirror Distributed Focus Solar Thermal Power System," Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), July 1976</ref>. He was also responsible for heat transfer analysis and computer simulation development for low temperature solar collector grain drying simulation modeling for the U.S. Department of Agriculture <ref>Donald E. Osborn, Aden B. Meinel and William T. Beuchamp, "A Solar Collector Modeling Technique for Grain Drying Application," in Sharing the Sun - Solar Technologies in the Seventies, Vol. 7 (International Solar Energy Society, Winnipeg, Canada, August 1976</ref>.

[[File:DEO ISES 1976.jpg|thumb|Donald Osborn presenting at 1976 International Solar Energy Society Conference]]

=== 1977 Optical Sciences Center, U of AZ ===

In 1977 he became a Research Engineer for the Optical Sciences Center at the University of Arizona. He was responsible for thin film computer analysis and solar photothermal and photovoltaic program development. His research projects included work on thin film coating for high temperature photothermal conversion and developemnt of a "Tower Reflector" for a photothermal project for Union Carbide Corporation<ref>C. W. Chen, G. W. Hopkins, D. E. Osborn, et al., "Optical Design of a Solar Collector for the Advanced Solar Thermal Electric Conversion/Process Heat Program," Final Report to Union Carbide Corporation, Optical Sciences Center, University of Arizona, October 1977.</ref>

=== 1977 Arizona Solar Energy Commission ===

In late 1977 Osborn joined the Arizona Solar Energy Commission, State of Arizona as Associate Director and Solar Engineering Manager.  At the Commission, he directed and provided solar engineering, analysis and program management, developed and implemented the Arizona Solar Legislation Package and related regulations and consumer protection programs<ref>Donald E. Osborn, "Solar Energy Overview and Incentives," invited address, 1978 National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (NRECA) Regional Meeting, Region X, October 1978</ref>. While at the Commission he also served as the Director of the Arizona office of Western SUN Regional Solar Center (Federally funded “State Solar Officer” for Arizona where he developed and managed the Local Government and Energy Conscious Community programs<ref>Diane Harper Olivenbaum and Donald E. Osborn, Editors, "Solar Energy and Energy Conservation Codes and Standards for Local Governments," Arizona Solar Energy Commission, Office of Energy Programs, League of Arizona Cities and Towns, Arizona Association of Counties, December 1979.</ref>, the Arizona Passive Design Competition and the Class "B" Passive Solar Monitoring project<ref>Donald E. Osborn, Charles Sherman, Stephen Byrne, and Paul Huddy, "Solar Design Calculations for Arizona Homes," Western Solar Utilization Network and Arizona Solar Energy Commission, UC 59, WSUN/149d, Spring 1982.</ref>, consumer protection and State Special Projects. He served as the General Co Chairman of Solar Jubilee, the 1980 Annual Meeting of the American Section of International Solar Energy Society (now ASES), held June 1980 in Phoenix, Arizona.  The Jubilee was the largest solar conference to that date (and for more than a decade after)with more than 2,000 registrants, 160 exhibitors, and over 24,000 visitors.<ref>"Phoenix Hosts National Solar Conference", Twila de Vries and John Yellott, Arizona Highways, May, 1980</ref> At the Commission Osborn served under three Governors. Upon departure from the State Agency in 1981, he received a special commendation from Governor Bruce Babbitt for "outstanding service to the State . . . great contribution to the advancement of solar energy in Arizona . . . combining a high level of technical expertise with leadership."<ref>Sunletter, Spring, 1982, Arizona Solar Energy Association</ref>

=== 1981 Solar & Energy Research Facility, U of AZ ===

In 1981 Osborn joined the Solar and Energy Research Facility (SERF) at the University of Arizona in Tucson where he was the Director and Senior Research Specialist.<ref>"The Solar and Energy Research Facility", published by the College of Engineering and Mines, University of Arizona, 1987</ref>. At SERF he directed implementation of and conducted RD&D programs in areas of solar thermal, photovoltaics, photochemistry, materials, passive solar design, and energy efficiency/management. As Director, he was responsible for a 5-fold increase in sponsored research funding during period of decreasing national solar funding and was the Principal Investigator on numerous sponsored projects for DOE, SERI (NREL), SNL, ASEC, NASA, AZDOT. These projects included:  the DOE/SERI/SNL sponsored project "Spectrally Selective Beam Splitters Applied to Thermally Decoupled, Combined Quantum /Thermal  Conversion in Concentrating Solar Systems" involving the design and application of thin film interference stack and liquid optical filters to optimize the spectral performance of hybrid quantum (PV)/thermal (PT) systems<ref>Donald E. Osborn, A. H. Macleod, M. Jacobson, et al., "Spectrally Selective Beam Splitters Applied to Thermally Decoupled, Combined Quantum/Thermal Conversion in Concentrating Solar Systems," DOE/SERI Contract No. XK 4 04070 01, Phase I Final Report, January 1986</ref>; for solar cooling projects including "Bi Desiccant Solar Cooling System" project for ASEC investigating the application of binary desiccant systems for space conditioning<ref>Donald E. Osborn and Simon Hanson, "Bi-Desiccant, Staged, Solar Cooling System," ASEC Contract No. 800-87, Final Report, June 30, 1987</ref>; for research projects on photochemical/photothermal systems including the SERI project "Solar Thermal Water Reclamation and Toxic Waste Destruction<ref>Donald E. Osborn, Raymond Sierka, and Medhat Latif, "Water Problems, Solar Solutions:  Applications of Solar Thermal Energy to Water Technologies," Chapter IV, Water Security and Security Through Water Technology, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Georgetown University, 1988</ref>," and NASA projects "Membrane Concentrators for Advanced Solar Dynamic Power Systems in Space" and "Photochemical Generation of Energetic Radicals for Processing Lunar Materials<ref>Donald E. Osborn and David C. Lynch, "Innovative Techniques for the Production of Energetic Radicals for Lunar Materials Processing Including Photogeneration Via Concentrated Solar Energy", Annual Progress Report - 1991, NASA Space Engineering Research Center for Utilization of Local Planetary Resources, University of Arizona, September 1991</ref>; research in photovoltaic systems including "3 KW Thin Film PV Demonstration and Test Facility"<ref>Donald E. Osborn, "Monitoring and Performance of a 3kWe PV Facility," American Solar Energy Society (ASES) Solar 90 Proceedings, March 1990</ref>; and passive solar home design and evaluation including the "Arizona Solar Design Homes Class B Performance Monitoring Project."<ref>Donald E. Osborn, Rocco Fazzolare and T. Triffet, "Monitoring of Arizona Solar Design Homes - Final Phase," EES, University of Arizona, ASEC Contract No. 401, June 1983</ref> which included the data collection and analysis of performance of four passive/hybrid homes in different climate zones of Arizona. He was also the Chairman and Coordinator for DOE National Conferences on Microcomputer Applications for Conservation and Renewable Energy (1985 and 1986) and the National Conferences on Microcomputer Applications in Energy (1988 and 1990).

=== 1991 Sacramento Municipal Utility District Solar Program ===

In 1991, Osborn “moved on to the Sacramento Municipal Utility District to oversee the development of community-wide solar-powered homes, a program that has become a model”.<ref>Phoenix New Times, June 30, 1993</ref> SMUD was then headed by legendary "Utility repair man", SMUD’s General Manager S. David Freeman. "To lead the push into renewables, Freeman brought in an expert in the field. When he was contacted by SMUD in 1991 Don Osborn was heading up the solar energy research facility at the University of Arizona" <ref name="SwitchingTo" />.  As the Superintendent of Renewable Generation and Manager of SMUD Solar Program, Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) Osborn founded and managed the SMUD Solar Programs for over ten years. Osborn was responsible for developing and implimenting all phases of the SMUD Solar and Distributed Technologies Program including renewable energy, distributed generation, advanced applications, and renewable energy RD&D. He was espically responsible for the highly successful utility program for the sustained orderly development and commercialization of PV.<ref>Donald E. Osborn, “Sustained Orderly Development and Commercialization of Grid-Connected Photovoltaics: SMUD as a Case Example”, Keynote Address, World Sustainable Energy Conference, Wels, Austria, March 2001</ref> The SMUD Solar Program, under Osborn and colleague Dave Collier (who was SMUD Solar's Principal Electrical Engineer), was responsible for the first broad commercialization of grid-connected PV in the US that lead to the California Solar Initiative and the growth of today’s PV market.<ref name="SwitchingTo" />.  

"During the first years of the “PV Pioneer Program” the homeowner simply lent his roof—and paid a small surcharge to SMUD for that favor—with the PV connected into the utility side of the meter, to give SMUD experience in the application of distributed PV resources within its system, and to gain the confidence of SMUD’s customers for having PV on their homes.  This then evolved into their “PV Pioneer II” program, in which the homeowners pay a subsidized amount for their systems, but claim complete ownership of them and gain the benefit of the power into their side of the meter, in a “net metered” configuration with the grid." <ref name="PastPresent">“SMUD PV PROGRAM REVIEW - SMUD’S PV PROGRAM: Past, Present, and Future”, Donald W. Aitken, Warren Schirtzinger, Steven Strong; SMUD Consulting Services Contract No. I-143, December 30, 2000</ref>

"SMUD backed up their PV Program with strong technical support, quality control and quality assurance, and warranty backing, resulting in excellent system performance with high availability and reliability. ... But with an unwavering consistency of vision, SMUD soon became a model for other utilities to follow, also becoming known worldwide for their courage and their mounting grid-connected PV experience, and receiving national and international recognition and honors for the utility and for its employees." <ref name="PastPresent" />

The SMUD Solar Program resulted first commercialization of grid-connected, distributed generation of PV in the US. By 2002, SMUD was responsible for the design, installation and operation of over 10 MW of PV in some 1000 PV systems (at the time the world's largest Distributed Generation PV system) most of which were on customer homes and buildings through the SMUD PV Pioneer Program. In 2002, the SMUD PV systems were over half of all grid-connected PV in the US.The SMUD Solar Program also resulted in the sales and installation of over 3000 SDHW systems. Osborn also implemented the “Net Zero Energy Home Builder’s Program”. Osborn managed the world’s first, multiyear, large scale PV procurement contracts (10 MW, 5 year)while achieving the consistently lowest cost PV systems in the world across many applications.
 
While at SMUD, Osborn was responsible for the operation, management, and redevelopment of the national PVUSA (PV for Utility Scale Applications)in nearby Davis, CA. PVUSA was funded by DOE, CEC and member utilities to demonstrate and evaluate developing PV technologies and systems in the utility environment. 
 
Osborn is considered a leading expert on PV utility integration and commercialization. He was also responsible for the Distributed Generation Technologies Program including PVUSA, fuel cells and microturbines, energy RD&D, geothermal heat pumps and advanced HVAC systems.

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, in their “Review for NRDC of Sacramento Municipal Utility District Public Benefits Programs”, "Overall, SMUD is one of the most innovative, aggressive, and successful utilities anywhere in promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy.  SMUD has developed an organizational culture that has integrated energy efficiency and renewables as core values and keys to its future role, and has cultivated a customer base that understands, supports, and responds to these values.”<ref>Gordon, F., Hewitt, D., and Pratt, J., Review for NRDC of Sacramento Municipal Utility District Public Benefits Programs, Final Report, Prepared for Natural Resources Defense Council, Pacific Energy Associates, Inc., Aug. 12, 1999</ref>

Don Aitken, then Senior Staff Scientist for the Union of Concerned Scientists and a leading national solar expert, pointed out that "It is critically important to note that SMUD’s rapidly reducing costs are the result of the utility’s decision to be a substantial and consistent player in the PV market, year after year.  This has been shown to be the key to accomplishing the economic benefits of “Sustained Orderly Development” of the solar electric utilities." <ref name="PastPresent" />

In the late 2000 review of the SMUD Solar Program by Aitken, Steven Stong (a leading and well respected PV Practioner) and Warren Schirtzinger, it was pointed out that "SMUD was a true pioneer in proving that people will choose renewables if given the opportunity, and that they will pay more for environmentally-superior power generation…there is no doubt that SMUD’s program is one of the major programs in the world, and it is worth caring about". <ref name="PastPresent" />

=== 2002 Spectrum Energy Development Inc ===

Upon leaving SMUD is 2002, Osborn founded, with several colleagues from SMUD, Spectrum Energy Development Inc. (SEDI) where he is a partner and President. SEDI is a solar PV engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company in California providing large scale PV systems and services to commercial, agricultural, affordable housing, utility, and governmental clients. SEDI has completed projects ranging from 20kW to 1,000kW. Of particular note has been the development of PV systems serving affordable housing complexes across California where PV eliminates the electric bills of low-income residents.

=== Professional Service ===

Osborn served as Chairman and Board member of the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA, formerly the Utility PhotoVoltaic Group) and as a Director of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). He has served numerous terms as a member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Policy Committee of the American Solar Energy Society (ASES). 

Osborn is an engineer with 30 years of professional experience in solar energy and energy management in the utility, commercial, academic, government and industrial sectors. Osborn has a MS in Energy Engineering and BS in Engineering Physics from the University of Arizona and is the author of over 125 solar and energy publications. Osborn is listed in Who's Who in Technology Today and American Men and Women of Science. He is a member of Solar Energy International Advisor Board and the Industry Advisory Board for Refocus - the international renewable energy magazine. He served on the Selection Committee for Link Energy Foundation Graduate Fellowship and as a reviewer for Optical Engineering. Osborn was the Chairman of Arizona Solar Energy Association - 1979/1980/1985 (served on Board 7 years), General Co-Chairman of AS/ISES (ASES) 1980 Annual Conference, Chairman and Commissioner for the Arizona Solar Energy Commission (1987), Member Tucson/Pima County Metropolitan Energy Commission (1990, 1991) and Director of National Conferences on Microcomputer Applications in Energy (1985, 1986, 1988, 1990). Memberships have included: ISES, ASES, SEIA, CalSEIA, ASHRAE, AAAI, ASTM, AEE, SPIE.  Author of over 125 professional publications. 

Osborn received in 1990 Special Recognition (National (DOE) and Arizona) Awards Program for Energy Innovation. Under his leadership, the SMUD Solar Program received the UPVG Award for Leadership in Solar Energy four times. He received the prestigious International Energy Globe 2001 Award (Linz, Austria)<ref>O.Oe. Energiesparverband, Landstraße 45, A-4020 Linz, Austria, Press Release, March 5, 2001, www.esv.or.at</ref>. 

Osborn was awarded in 2000 the Charles Greeley Abbot Award, the most prestigious honor given by the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) for his “persistent and effective contributions to the many fields of solar energy.” Osborn is an ASES Fellow. He is living in his third solarized home.

[[File:Donald Osborn PV solar roof PV.jpg|thumb|Donald Osborn on his home, a SMUD PV Pioneer Roof]]

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* [http://www.SpectrumEnergyDev.com/ Spectrum Energy Development Inc website]
* [http://http://www.ases.org/ American Solar Energy Society website]


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