Press Releases

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.

In the highly competitive photovoltaic industry, technical innovations can bring decisive advantages, especially for European market participants. The prerequisites for this are functioning competition and the ability to enforce the protection of intellectual property. This is where the new "IP Protection" project comes in, in which the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP in Halle (Saale) is researching preparative and analytical methods together with partners in order to be able to provide legally secure evidence of patent infringements.

The recycling of components from end-of-life solar modules is an important approach to the sustainable use of resources. This allows certain components of solar modules to be reused or converted into new products. The recently launched joint project "RETRIEVE" aims to make this possible: When recycling solar module components, the goal is to improve the material quality so that it meets the current requirements for reintegration into the photovoltaic value chain. The Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP is contributing its expertise in material analysis and process optimization to the project, which will run until March 2027.

For the sixth time in a row, the Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS in Halle (Saale) has made it onto the list of Germany's most innovative companies compiled by the market research service provider Statista and the business magazine "Capital". The Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP is also represented in the ranking, which is based on the assessment of innovation and industry experts.

Ulrike Jahn has joined the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP as a Senior Scientist. This is the first time the research institute in Halle (Saale) has filled such a position. The physicist comes from VDE Renewables and is one of the world's leading experts for quality assurance in photovoltaics.

Solar cells made in Europe can set themselves apart from the competition through highly efficient technologies and compliance with environmentally friendly produc-tion processes and standards. This is where the EU-funded joint project PILATUS comes in, which aims to create three digitalised pilot lines for the production of silicon wafers, solar cells and PV modules in Europe by 2025. The aim is to transfer the latest back-contact technology for heterojunction solar cells to mass production. The Fraunhofer Centre for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP is applying its expertise in the field of inline and offline diagnostics and metrology of solar cells using its digitally controlled measurement and classification platform.

South Africa could play an important role in the coming years as a reliable producer of green hydrogen — including as a supplier for Germany. However, the storage and distribution of this resource currently poses challenges. This is where the recently launched Fraunhofer joint research project HySecunda comes in, which is a cooperation between nine Fraunhofer institutes and the Fraunhofer Academy. The project aims to find optimized solutions for produc-ing, storing and certifying green hydrogen. In addition, the consortium is sup-porting efforts to build capacity in the region and in current projects on hy-drogen-based fuels for the aviation industry.

Stefan Lange from the Fraunhofer Centre for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP in Halle (Saale) has been awarded the Heinz Bethge Prize for Materials Science, worth 500 euros, by the Heinz Bethge Foundation for Applied Electron Microscopy for his dissertation entitled "Parasitic oxides at buried interfaces in modern silicon solar cells". His findings can contribute to a better understanding of the fundamental properties of the layer systems in a solar cell and the associated electronic properties.

The quality and manufacturing of the encapsulation and backsheet films play an important role in the reliability of a solar module. Only if the quality, processing and compatibility of the films are right, protection of the interconnected solar cells against environmental influences can be guaranteed and the module be ready for use for decades. Together with partners, the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP is investigating new types of encapsulation and backsheet films for PV modules that should have a service life of at least 40 years.

In order for the sunlight to be optimally utilized by photovoltaic modules, they must be cleaned regularly. Chemical cleaning additives are intended to enhance the cleaning effect. However, these can bring with them a high potential for damage. The Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP has developed a test method to investigate the material compatibility of such cleaning agents and effects on the functionality of modules.

Photovoltaic (PV) modules are designed for a service life span of more than 25 years. However, first signs of damage to the electrical insulation can already be observed in many modules after only being in use for 4-8 years. This applies often to modules with polymeric back sheets. The Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP, along with four other research institutes, is working on an improved field-relevant test method for these back sheets. Materials and processes are thereby tested under real operating conditions for an operational service life span of more than 20 years.

In cooperation with seven partners from industry and research, the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP in Halle (Saale) is scaling up climate-neutral photoelectrochemical generators separating hydrogen from water to commercial capacity.

Inverters are the essential key component for feeding the electrical energy generated by solar modules into the power grid. How can failures and malfunctions of these inverters be reduced? The Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS is investigating this question in cooperation with DiSUN Deutsche Solarservice GmbH and DENKweit GmbH as part of the "robStROM" project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.

In their joint “VR4PV” project, the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP, the Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation IFF, DENKweit GmbH and Dexor Technology GmbH conducted research on how to reduce the operating costs of solar parks and thus generate solar energy more cost-effectively in the future. Using a digital twin, novel measurement methods and machine learning, the research partners succeeded in optimising the operational management of photovoltaic parks.

On the initiative of the European Metropolitan Region of Central Germany, the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP and the Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, around 40 stakeholders from the eastern German solar industry and representatives from the States of Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, Thuringia and Brandenburg gathered today in Halle (Saale). The workshop focused on the potential of the solar industry to create value for the region and the possibilities of institutional, cross-state cooperation.

How can microstructural defects that affect the overall performance of an electrolyzer be located non-destructively? Until now, this has been difficult as common methods are non-imagining. Here the "VACE-LIT" method developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials IMWS offers a solution.

The encapsulation of solar cells is of great importance for the overall performance of a solar module. Only if this has a seamless finish, protection of the solar cells from environmental influences can be guaranteed. In a new project, Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP and its partners are investigating the ideal degree of cross-linking for module reliability in order to increase the stability, reliability of supply, system performance and productivity of photovoltaic systems.

The Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP in Halle (Saale) has been awarded as one of "Germany's most innovative companies" for the fourth time in a row. The ranking is compiled by the business magazine »Capital« in cooperation with the market research service provider »Statista« and is based on surveys among industry and innovation experts.