Teresa Barnes

Teresa Barnes is a Research Advisor I in Materials Science at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), where she serves as Principal Investigator and Director of the DuraMAT Consortium focusing on photovoltaic module materials reliability. With over 14 years at NREL, her research evolved from thin-film PV and transparent contacts to specialized reliability studies since 2016.

Education:

• PhD in Chemical Engineering, Colorado School of Mines
• Bachelor in Chemical Engineering, University of Maryland

Research Focus: Barnes leads pioneering work in photovoltaics durability, specializing in failure analysis of solar modules, circular economy approaches for PV sustainability, perovskite solar cell development, and materials degradation science. Her research integrates materials engineering with renewable energy transition challenges.

Publication Trends: Recent works (2024-2025) emphasize PV module reliability science and perovskite sustainability pathways, reflecting her leadership in addressing critical failure modes in emerging solar technologies through experimental materials research.

Awards:

• NREL Distinguished Member of Research Staff (2022) - Honors exceptional scientific contributions and leadership

Leadership: Directs the DuraMAT Consortium, a multi-institutional research initiative advancing photovoltaic materials durability through collaborative projects and industry partnerships.