Integrated Photovoltaics

Agrivoltaic systems enable the simultaneous production of renewable energy and agricultural products on the same area. This makes it a key technology for preventing competition for land and meeting the growing demand for solar power.

Floating photovoltaics (FPV) is an innovative technology with the potential to contribute significantly to the energy transition. Installed on floating structures in artificial bodies of water or offshore, FPV power plants can be deployed in flooded mining lakes, gravel pits and reservoirs.

Photovoltaics is regarded as one of the most important pillars of the future energy supply. By the end of 2021, 59 GWP of photovoltaics had been installed in Germany, with about 75 % on roofs and the rest ground mounted. The integration of PV into buildings, vehicles and roads as well as the incorporation into agricultural and water areas and public places in urban centers unlocks vast areas for energy generation with a high economic potential.

In order to determine the solar radiation potential of passenger cars, we are currently investigating and measuring solar radiation on German roads as part of a citizen science campaign with 80 vehicles. The data will be used in new simulation models for solar radiation on traffic routes. This would allow drivers to calculate how far they could drive with solar energy, at what time and on which route.

According to a study by Fraunhofer ISE, photovoltaic systems on Germany’s roofs have a technical potential of approx. 560 GWp. So far, rooftop systems have mostly been installed on house roofs. However, with a widespread expansion of rooftop solar installations, there is a risk that the public’s acceptance of photovoltaic systems could decline. One solution is to use integrated solar modules instead of roofing tiles, which are visually hardly distinguishable from conventional roofing tiles and produce solar power at the same time.

Electricity from photovoltaic systems is an essential component of the energy transition. To generate sufficient energy, large areas have to be equipped with solar modules. Here, road infrastructure can offer a large area of potential.