Arne Jacobson

Background

About Arne Jacobson

Arne Jacobson is Director of the Schatz Energy Research Center and Professor in the School of Engineering at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt ("Cal Poly Humboldt"). He has a Ph.D. from the Energy and Resources Group at the University of California, Berkeley, a master’s degree in Environmental Systems (Environmental Resources Engineering option) from Humboldt State University, and a bachelor's degree in Physics from Earlham College. As the director of the Schatz Center, Dr. Jacobson leads a team of about 50 faculty, staff, and students engaged in research in topic areas such as renewable energy systems, climate resilience, clean transportation, and access to energy. Dr. Jacobson is actively engaged in technical and policy research related to offshore wind energy, solar power, and improved energy access for low-income people in off-grid areas of Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. His three decades of international work experience includes a leadership role in developing and implementing VeraSol, the world’s leading framework for quality assurance for off-grid solar products. Dr. Jacobson currently serves as co-chair of the off-grid solar working group (Joint Working Group 1) of Technical Committee 82 (photovoltaics) of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). During a sabbatical year in 2010/11, Dr. Jacobson served as a senior advisor in the Office of Policy and International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy.