Press Releases

Research findings from the »IndiFiduell« project attracted considerable attention at the 42nd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC): the poster presentation by Stephan Großer and the team of authors was honored with one of the prestigious Best Poster Awards. In addition to Stephan Großer, Alexander Müller, Robert Göckeritz, Tobias Nitsche, Daniel Buckland, Giuseppe Galbiati, and Bengt Jäckel are among the authors.

Starting today, Dr. Klemens Ilse will head the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP together with Prof. Dr. Ralph Gottschalg and Dr. Frank Zobel. The 35-year-old physicist will continue to lead the "Materials for H2Technologies" group. With this addition to the management team, Fraunhofer CSP will have additional leadership capacity for strategic development.

Cell cracks and microcracks in crystalline silicon photovoltaics modules are caused by various environmental stresses and can reduce the performance and service life of solar systems. However, there is a lack of assessment standards that reliably classify their impact on energy yield. Employees of the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP in Halle (Saale) have developed a standardized nomenclature of cell cracks and other anomalies in the "PV-Riss" project in order to increase legal certainty for manufacturers, investors, operators and insurers.

The use of photovoltaic modules in urban areas often results in partial shading, which leads to considerable energy losses and a higher thermal load over the course of the module's service life. In the "SegmentPV" project, Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP and AESOLAR are developing a segmented and patented photovoltaic module that specifically addresses the challenges of partial shading and thus promises greater energy yield and reliability.

The Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP in Halle (Saale) has developed an interactive online tool for the optimal planning and design of rooftop photovoltaic systems on behalf of the Saxony-Anhalt State Energy Agency. The tool enables companies to design their systems in such a way that the solar energy generated covers electricity consumption as efficiently as possible and achieves high solar coverage rates.

The development of perovskite silicon tandem solar cells consisting of stable materials and manufactured using scalable production processes is the prerequisite for the next technological leap in the photovoltaic industry. Over a period of five years, six Fraunhofer Institutes have combined their expertise in the Fraunhofer lighthouse project “MaNiTU” in order to identify the most sustainable paths possible for the market launch of these tandem solar cells. They were able to show that high efficiency levels can be achieved with industry-oriented processes. However, high efficiencies could only be achieved with lead-containing perovskites. The researchers therefore developed suitable recycling concepts to ensure sustainability.

Green hydrogen, produced by means of water electrolysis using renewable energies, is considered a key element for a successful energy transition. In her doctoral thesis, Dr. Franziska Hönig focuses on the potential of oxygen, which is also produced during electrolysis, in particular for the economic efficiency of decentralized energy systems. Her doctorate is based on the results of the "LocalHy" project, which was carried out at the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP, and was supervised by Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and ITEL - Deutsches Lithiuminstitut GmbH. The dissertation was awarded the Innovation Award of the German Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (DWV) today.

Sustainability and resource efficiency in the photovoltaic industry will have a significant impact on the future of renewable energies. Currently, raw materials and materials are still being used in solar modules that cannot be recycled at all or can only be partially recycled and have weaknesses in terms of environmental compatibility. This is where the recently completed project “E2 - E-Quadrat. Renewable energies from renewable raw materials”. Together with partners, the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP in Halle (Saale) has developed a solar module in which the components that are not directly required for light-to-electricity conversion are made from biodegradable materials, recyclable materials or renewable raw materials.

Sustainability and resource efficiency in the photovoltaic industry will have a significant impact on the future of renewable energies. Currently, raw materials and materials are still being used in solar modules that cannot be recycled at all or can only be partially recycled and have weaknesses in terms of environmental compatibility. This is where the recently completed project “E2 - E-Quadrat. Renewable energies from renewable raw materials”. Together with partners, the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP in Halle (Saale) has developed a solar module in which the components that are not directly required for light-to-electricity conversion are made from biodegradable materials, recyclable materials or renewable raw materials.

Three Fraunhofer Institutes and the Korean Institute of Energy Research (KIER) want to intensify their exchange on hydrogen, photovoltaics and wind energy topics. To this end, a cooperation agreement was signed today in Halle (Saale). The Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS, the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM, Dresden Branch and the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems IWES are involved. The collaboration is intended to support the faster establishment of a hydrogen economy and sustainable energy supply in South Korea and Germany.