The father of modern solar power hopes to one day see a ferry named in his honour running on renewable energy.
Martin Green's legacy as the head of the most successful solar cell research group on the globe was recognised on Friday with the naming of a new Parramatta River-class ferry in Sydney.
While solar power's origins date to the 1860s, the PERC solar cell the University of NSW Scientia Professor invented in 1983 and his team developed to its potential now accounts for more than 90 per cent of worldwide silicon solar module production.
Paying tribute to his team including those who had gone on to kickstart China's solar industry, Prof Green said the ferry honour was "completely unexpected".
"It's a very unique honour," Prof Green told AAP.
"That ferry trip from Circular Quay to Parramatta has always been my favourite so having a ferry named after me, doing that trip every day is really something very special."
The Tasmanian-built vessel will carry passengers from late January.
It uses 60 per cent less diesel than its predecessor and is built in a way to allow future conversion to electric power.
"One day we might see an all-electric fleet on Sydney Harbour that powered indirectly by solar at least," he said.
In the meantime, the man who embraces the nickname as the father of modern solar power is setting his sights on making more efficient panels.
A multi-material cell developed by Prof Green's team has the world record conversion of 40.6 per cent, about double the average silicon solar panel used in residential systems.
"Four different materials within the stack ... is going to be what's ultimately feasible," he said.
"But finding materials that have all the great properties of silicon - abundance, non-toxicity, stability and (ability to) make good cells from it - that's been very difficult.
"That's the challenge I'd like to solve before I retire."
The Martin Green will join sister ferries honouring other pioneering scientists and innovators, including botanist Frances Bodkin, marine biologist Isobel Bennett and radiophysicist and astronomer Ruby Payne-Scott.
