October 11th, 2007

On the 10^th of October 2007 prof. Kees Daey Ouwens, founder and director of the FACT Foundation, passed away. We will deeply miss his inspiration, tireless energy, vast knowledge and friendship. We promised him to continue and further expand his work. 

Kees Daey Ouwens started his career at the age of 19 when he produced the first solar cells for Philips in Eindhoven in 1955. He worked in the field of renewable energy ever since which gave him a unique view on renewable energy in a historical perspective. In 1972, even before the report from the “Club of Rome”, he initiated a project for “Solar energy conversion with solid state devices” at the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). He then moved to Utrecht University for solar cell research, and in 1978 he organized the conference “Renewable energy sources for the Third World” at the TU/e. In the eighties Kees became energy advisor for the Province of North Holland and initiated the first autonomous solar PV house in Castricum. He also initiated the PV solar home project in Lebak, Indonesia. In the nineties his efforts moved towards biomass research and applications. He always believed in the vital link between sustainable energy supply and direct income generation for the poor in developing countries. He foresaw a strong role for biomass and started the FACT Foundation in 2005. His dream is now realized in for example the Garalo project in Mali where diesel generators will be powered by oil from Jatropha plants that farmers grow around the village.  

The last months Kees has actively prepared for the future. At his request Erik Lysen will be the new director of FACT, for 1 day per week. Erik is a long time friend of Kees and has worked with him in the area of energy and developing countries since the mid seventies. He is managing director of the Utrecht Centre for Energy research (UCE) at Utrecht University.

Kind regards,

Lex Lemmens, Chairman of the Board of the FACT Foundation