The new energy changeover is in the making. In Germany political boundary conditions have been established to protect the climate and to move our energy system away from fossil and nuclear fuels and towards more efficiency and renewable energy sources. Worldwide Germany holds a leading position in developing the technology required for such an energy transition.  At the Hanover Trade Fair 2012, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE will demonstrate its wide breadth of R&D.

The TPedge module, jointly developed by Bystronic glass and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE has successfully completed the mechanical load test and hail impact test. The characteristic features of the TPedge module technology are the local fixing of the cell array – without lamination – and a glass edge sealing. The TPedge modules in the full-format measuring 1636 mm x 985 mm were subjected to the mechanical load test up to a force measuring 2400 N/m² and the hail impact test with ball speeds of 23 m/s.

Fraunhofer researchers have teamed up with their French colleagues at the Carnot-Institut Laboratoire d‘électronique des technologies de l‘information CEA-LETI to develop reusable substrates for III-V multi-junction solar cells – and on December 5, 2011, were presented with the Franco German Business Award for their work.

Since more than 15 years, the development and production of highly efficient multi-junction solar cells based on III-V semiconductors have connected the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE and AZUR SPACE Solar Power. This strategic partnership has now been confirmed for the next twenty years by the signing of an agreement of cooperation. In the coming years, Fraunhofer ISE will work exclusively with AZUR SPACE, Heilbronn on new generations of solar cells for applications in space.