Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE

R&D for Energy Transition

The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Freiburg, Germany is the largest solar research institute in Europe.
With a staff of about 1 400, we are committed to promoting a sustainable, economic, secure and socially just energy supply system based on renewable energy sources. We contribute to this through our main research areas of energy provision, energy distribution, energy storage and energy utilization. Through outstanding research results, successful industrial projects, spin-off companies and global collaborations, we are shaping the sustainable transformation of the energy system.


In the market-oriented business areas of Photovoltaics: Materials, Cells and Modules​, Photovoltaics:​ Production Technology and TransferSolar Power Plants and Integrated PhotovoltaicsElectrical Energy​ StoragePower Electronics and GridsClimate-Neutral​ Heat and BuildingsHydrogen Technologies as well as System Integration, the Institute develops materials, components, systems and processes. For this purpose, we have an excellent laboratory infrastructure at our disposal. In addition, we perform analyses, carry out studies, provide consultations and offer our clients testing and certification procedures. Fraunhofer ISE is certified according to the quality management standard DIN EN ISO 9001:2015 and according to the standard DIN EN ISO 50001:2018 for energy management.

 

Fraunhofer ISE - Newsletter

You are interested in up-to-date information on our R&D activities?

 

Fraunhofer ISE -
Annual Report 2024/25

[PDF  10 MB]

Current Press Releases

 

Press Release #13 / 23.4.2025

"Wallbox-Inspektion" Project Develops First Quality Standard for Wall Chargers

A consortium has developed the first test procedure for solar-optimized controlled charging and used it to test wall chargers. 

 

Press Release #10 / 10.4.2025

Fraunhofer ISE evaluates common UV tests for TOPCon modules for practical relevance

The latest results of their comparative indoor and outdoor tests show that the currently used UV tests rate the degradation of TOPCon silicon PV modules significantly higher than the actual performance reduction. 

 

Press Release #8 / 12.3.2025

Solar module output often overstated

Since around 2017, the negative discrepancy between the performance data of the PV module manufacturers and Fraunhofer ISEs' measurement results has been increasing.

 

Press Release #6 / 3.3.2025

How will hydrogen come to Baden-Württemberg?

Fraunhofer ISE has investigated how Baden-Württemberg can be supplied by imports of hydrogen and its derivates in the future. 

News and Events

 

Trade Fairs, Conferences and Workshops

28.4.2025

Silicon Heterojunction Solar Cells Realized with Record Savings in Silver

Without a significant reduction in silver content, the global demand for photovoltaics to ensure a sustainable, climate-neutral energy system cannot be met. Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE have now produced silicon heterojunction solar cells (SHJ) with a total silver consumption of just 1.4 milligrams per watt peak. This is about one tenth of the current standard in industrial production. To achieve this, they strongly reduced the silver content in the metallization paste for the front side metallization and completely replaced silver with copper paste on the rear side. An optimized printing process also ensured very fine electrical contacts. The copper-metallized SHJ solar cells even achieved a higher efficiency than their reference cells with traditional silver contacts.
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15.4.2025

Sustainable Energy Transition: Werner Siemens Foundation Supports Research on High Efficiency Tandem Photovoltaics

The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE has been conducting world-leading research on highly efficient III-V multi-junction solar cells for over 20 years. To further develop this promising next generation PV technology and lead it to economic success, the institute is now receiving prominent support: The Werner Siemens Foundation will fund the project "Sustainable Energy Transition through High Efficiency Tandem Photovoltaics" with 14 million euros until 2032.
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8.4.2025

A decade of solar energy research: Fraunhofer Chile celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Center for Solar Energy Technologies

On April 3, 2025, Fraunhofer Chile celebrated the 10th anniversary of its Center for Solar Energy Technologies (CSET) with a festive event. The research center supports the development of a sustainable solar economy and the energy transition in Chile. The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE was the initiator of the CSET's establishment and has closely cooperated with Chilean partners in various research fields since its inception.
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17.3.2025

Rewetting More Peatlands with Photovoltaics

Can photovoltaics on rewetted peatlands reduce land-use conflicts in Germany and make rewetting more attractive for the agricultural sector? Researchers from the Universities of Greifswald and Hohenheim, together with the Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, want to answer this question. The ‘MoorPower’ project aims to investigate the general feasibility of photovoltaic systems on peatland areas that will be rewetted at the same time. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is providing a grant sum of seven million euros for a period of three and a half years.
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Current Posts from "Innovation4E", the Research Blog of Fraunhofer ISE

We want to share our expertise with you. The research blog of Fraunhofer ISE  »Innovation4E« offers a platform for information and exchange.