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.

From November 14 – 15, 2011 the “Solar Summit 2011 – International Conference on Highlights and Trends in Solar Energy” will be held at the concert house in Freiburg (“Kongresszentrum Konzerthaus Freiburg”). This fourth event of the conference series is offering, for the first time, a complete overview of all technologies in solar energy conversion. The focus of this year’s conference will be the field of organic photovoltaics. Complementary to the scientific program, members from the solar industry will discuss the market situation and the relevant political events.

Reductions in the electricity generation costs for photovoltaics can be reached through two mechanisms: improving the efficiency of solar cells and reducing their production costs. With advanced processes for metallization of solar cells, both effects can be reached at the same time. In the ETAlab® at Fraunhofer ISE – the laboratory for new solar cell structures and processing steps – the technology of producing solar cell contacts 100% from low-cost materials has been achieved.

Storing power is complicated and expensive, but very often, especially far away from the regular power grids, there is no way around large batteries for grid-independent electricity consumers. It would make more sense to use the electricity when it is generated. This becomes possible with the help of a smart energy management system.

According to the energy plans of the German federal government, by 2020 there should be one million electric cars on German roads, while at the same time 35% of its electricity should be from renewable energy sources. For the storage of fluctuating solar and wind power, electric vehicles will play an important role in the intelligent grid of the future. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE have developed a three-phase charger with 97% efficiency and high power density, to be used in charging stations and in vehicles. With a rated power of 22 kW, the charger is able to load a typical electric vehicle battery to 80% in 45 minutes.

This year the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) celebrates its 30th anniversary. What began as a vision of Professor Adolf Goetzberger, the Institute’s founder, has long become a reality. Founded on July 1, 1981 in Freiburg with 24 pioneers of solar research, Fraunhofer ISE today has developed into the largest solar research institute in Europe with over 1100 employees. Worldwide it is one of the primary initiators of a 100 percent renewable energy supply and an important research partner towards this goal.

On November 14th -15th, 2011, the “Solar Summit 2011 – International Conference on Highlights and Trends in Solar Energy” takes place in the Kongresszentrum Konzerthaus Freiburg, Germany. A new concept defines the fourth occasion of the international conference series. Up to now, the congress has concentrated on a single topic which varies each year. In the future, the conference will present an up-to-date annual overview of all solar energy conversion technologies. Presentations on current research and development results will be accompanied by discussions on market and political issues. In addition, time is reserved for special emphasis on one particular topic that alternates annually. In 2011, the emphasized topic will be organic photovoltaics

More than four out of ten solar cells manufactured today are made from multicrystalline silicon. This material is relatively inexpensive. Conventionally manufactured multicrystalline solar cells available on the market convert around 17% of the incident solar energy into electricity. Another 40% of the solar cells integrated into PV modules are made from monocrystalline silicon. At efficiencies around 19%, monocrystalline solar cells perform better but are more costly to manufacture due to the more elaborate crystal growing procedure. Which type of silicon solar cell will produce electricity more cost-effectively in the future is still an open issue today. In order to spur on the research in this area, eleven companies and thirteen research institutes have come together to form the cooperative research project SolarWinS (Solar Research Cluster to Determine the Maximum Level of Efficiency for Multicrystalline Silicon). Over the next three years, this group, sponsored by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), will explore the efficiency potential of multicrystalline silicon as compared to monocrystalline silicon.

With 540 participating scientists from 21 countries around the world, the first “SiliconPV – International Conference on Silicon Photovoltaics“ took place from 17-20 April 2011 in Freiburg, Germany. Praise about the quality and the atmosphere of the conference was heard from all sides. This new conference series focuses on the scholarly exchange between international scientists working in silicon technology – a field which dominates the solar cell market today.

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Freiburg present the results of two field tests demonstrating the use of electric heat pumps for heat supply of single family houses. Conclusions show that systems which are carefully planned evidence economical and ecological advantages. Ground source heat pumps were found to be especially efficient. In a recently started project involving 100 heating systems, a new idea was to make the acquired measurement results available to the public.

The dye solar cell module is still a young photovoltaic technology. However, in the last few years, this technology has started to extend beyond the laboratory level. The ultimate aim is the successful integration of these solar modules into the building façade.