On Monday April 16, 2012 the 8^th International Conference on Concentrating Photovoltaic Systems (CPV-8) begins in the Spanish city of Toledo. This is one of the most important events in the branch. Black Photon Instruments, a spin-off company of the Fraunhofer Institute of Solar Energy Systems ISE will be represented at the conference with its own exhibition stand for the first time. Located at Booth No. 18, the company from Freiburg will present measuring instruments and sensors to improve the efficiency of concentrating photovoltaic systems. With this specialization, Black Photon Instruments has successfully entered one of the many market niches in the solar branch.

Given the growing importance of photovoltaics for the provision of electricity from renewable energy sources, the issues of reliability and efficiency of PV modules are becoming increasingly crucial. The workshop ”PV Module Reliability”, which will take place on May 3 and 4, 2012 in Lugano, is devoted to this complex key topic. Under the auspices of the EU project ”SOPHIA”, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE and the ISAAC Supsi invite the international public involved in the field of photovoltaics to discuss the current state of the art and to attempt to integrate existing industry requirements into the durability of modules in research and testing practices.

The market launch of fuel cell systems is picking up speed. With the objective to develop standards for the approval, certification and standardization of hydrogen and fuel cell components and systems, an expert platform made up of three German research institutes has now been formed. The participating institutions are the Center for Fuel Cell Technology (ZBT) in Duisburg, the Fraunhofer Institute of Solar Energy Systems ISE in Freiburg as well as NEXT ENERGY in Oldenburg.

The fraction of renewable energy in the energy mix is continually increasing. The development of storage solutions for an energy supply based on one hundred percent renewable energy is speeding ahead. Renewably generated hydrogen plays a central role in this scenario, enabling a zero-emission energy supply across all applications. The Fraunhofer Institute of Solar Energy Systems ISE in Freiburg presents a look into the future of fuel cell and hydrogen technology at the Hanover Trade Fair 2012 from the 23^rd to the 27^th of April, 2012 in Hall 27, Booth C60.

On March 2, 2012, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems inaugurated a solar hydrogen filling station. Sponsored by the Ministry of the Environment Baden-Wuerttemberg, the publically accessible filling station serves not only as a demonstration platform but also represents a milestone in the progressive network of hydrogen filling stations being set up in the State of Baden-Wuerttemberg. The energy transformation with the significant expansion of renewable energies needs hydrogen both as a long-term storage and as fuel for the mobility sector. Using electricity generated from solar or wind power, hydrogen is produced by means of electrolysis.  Once tanked with hydrogen in a fueling time of about only 3 minutes, fuel cell cars can travel a distance of more than 400 km.

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.