Dr. Frey Brownson is a Member of the Board of Directors of Primegrid Renewable Energy, Incorporated and an internationally recognized solar photovoltaics (PV), climate mitigation policy and strategic planning, and sustainability expert. Brownson is a reputable leader in solar research and education for almost two decades addressing the transformative potential of solar goods and services for the maturing global solar industry. Previously as an Associate Professor of Energy Engineering at the Pennsylvania State University and Director of the Solar Ecology research program at the EMS Energy Institute at Penn State University for over 13 years.

Dr. Brownson has managed and directed a research team of approximately 25 students, faculty, and staff. Over the past decade, Brownson’s project management skills and unparalleled expertise in solar energy have placed Penn State as a leading international institution for solar innovation education consultation (in both distributed generation and grid-supply power). Brownson has developed international partnerships in the United States, Europe and West Africa. Dr. Brownson’s collaborative network involves realizing the potential of solar energy and renewables internationally with a key role of diversity equity and inclusion in the fight against modern climate change.

Brownson coined the phrase “solar utility” as an aid to frame solar project design and development describing the goal of solar design as seeking out client/stakeholders’ highest preference for solar goods and services within each dynamic perspective of the locale (the time and place context constraining project development). Dr. Brownson holds a decade of experience facilitating large workshop cycles and international webinars that center on the goal of solar design and project management. Having taught over 1000 students the core principles and practices of solar project development.

Dr. Brownson’s transformative approaches to technical education has led to the reconfiguration solar training based on community-led practices attending to community country and industry “pride in place” growing trust and reciprocity among stakeholders to enact transformative structural change. Dr. Brownson is the co-founder of Heliotactic LLC an organization focused on helping clients to identify and implement innovative solutions for solar energy and engineering policy decision-making. Dr. Brownson has a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Geology from the University of North Dakota Master of Science (M.S.) in Geology and Doctorate (Ph.D.) in Environmental Science & Technology from the University of Wisconsin—Madison.