Philanthropist Mark Tidswell has been a long-term supporter of the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering (SPREE).
Electric vehicle charging stations, funding for Women in Engineering Scholarships and even assistance with academic staffing - philanthropist Mark Tidswell has been a long-term supporter of the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering (SPREE).
The spark for Mark’s generous financial gifts – which are designed to empower students, invest in their future, and elevate opportunities – all started with his children’s local school.
It operated off-grid and when Mark walked into the classroom, back in 2000, he noticed that the lights would dim each time a teacher turned on the kettle. Partnering with an electrical engineer, Mark then upgraded the whole school with a state-of-the-art PV system.
“It was very simple, nothing like today’s technology – just a little display panel in the classroom,” he explained. “But it showed the students what the PV system was producing and just how much energy was being used. So, it was also an educational tool which showed how one piece of infrastructure could get the whole school back on track.”
In 2021, Mark provided a $220,000 donation to fund six charging stations, powered by PERC solar cells that use technology developed at UNSW, on the roof of the University’s Botany Street car park.
The Level 2 chargers can be used by staff, students, or members of the public who pay to park in the car park and make up what is believed to be the largest EV facility in the Eastern Suburbs.
The solar array is also used as a teaching tool for SPREE students and all revenue generated by the EV chargers flows back into the School.
“I’ve always been fascinated by renewable and solar energy, as far back as the late 1980s and early 1990s when I owned boats and was trying to keep batteries alive,” Mark said.
“I think solar power is just a fantastic technology and when I was introduced to what UNSW is doing in this area, it just galvanised it even more.
“I want to assist the transition to renewable energy by supporting undergraduates and postgraduates and helping to sustain the research UNSW has already done in this area.
“When you look at the numbers, it’s amazing. I believe over 85 per cent of the world's solar panels produced today are powered by cells invented at UNSW.”
Previously, in 2016, Mark gave his first gift of $650,000 to UNSW. The generous gift started the Tidswell Family Women in Engineering Scholarship in support of female undergraduates as well as a postdoc research fellow position within SPREE.
This has enabled the postdoc to supervise PhD and 4th year thesis students, as well as engage in a number of research projects including voltage analysis for the Energy Security Board, the impact of batteries on residential and commercial customers, the Enova community energy microgrid in Byron and the SunSPoT solar mapping tool.
“I’m here to create a pathway,” Mark said. “These students are a lot smarter than I am and they’re going to make a huge impact in this realm. My role is to give them a leg up, so that they can pursue their natural path.”
Mark’s support empowers students in the SOLA5056 course, Sustainable Energy in Developing Countries, to travel to Fiji to install a pilot renewable energy system improving energy access, lives and resilience in remote communities.
Additionally, Mark sees the importance of students having hands-on exposure to industry and champions this. He supports a high-achieving student through UNSW’s Co-op scholarship in partnership with ITP Renewables,. He also backs SPREE Honours Awards, enabling students to redesign a solar-powered generator, the Sunflower, in collaboration with Southern Cross University.
“These initiatives, including the Honours awards, are crucial in helping grow the next generation of leaders in the renewable sector as we transition to net zero”, says Mark. “Universities are there for the people,” Mark explained. “If you really believe in philanthropy in terms of making generational benefits, then you have to support these institutions. They provide a role that is unique. I don’t want to see (universities) serve just a small percentage of the population.”
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