Press / Newsroom

The European Union aims to reduce its dependence on raw material imports while securing the supply of materials needed for the energy transition. This is where the newly launched European project “M-BAT” comes in: It will develop chemical processes for recovering lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and graphite and carry out pilot projects in Spain, Poland, and the United Kingdom. Fraunhofer ISE is contributing its expertise in the field of direct lithium extraction from geothermal brines to the project.

Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE succeeded in breaking their own module record through an optimized interconnection of the solar cells. Their III-V germanium PV module thus achieves an efficiency of 34.4 percent. The solar cells were developed by AZUR SPACE, while the anti-reflective coatings on the front glass were provided by temicon. Visitors to Intersolar / The Smarter E 2026 can see the world’s most efficient PV module at Fraunhofer ISE’s booth A1.440.

Vehicles that generate their own solar power could make a significant contribution to the decarbonization of the transportation sector. Findings from the European research project SolarMoves suggest that so-called Vehicle Integrated Photovoltaics (VIPV)—solar modules integrated into vehicles—can significantly reduce electricity demand and the strain on the power grid. The study found that, in the best-case scenario, a passenger car in Central Europe can generate up to 55 percent of its annual energy needs on its own; in Southern Europe, this figure can reach up to 80 percent.

Excellent wind potential, strong government support, and other favorable factors could make Ireland a key player in the hydrogen economy. This is the conclusion of the HYreland project, which analyzed the technological, economic, and environmental potential for green hydrogen and its synthesis products on the island. For exports to Germany, the most favorable option is via pipeline transport to the ports of Rotterdam or Stade, provided it is available.

Road freight transport is one of the largest sources of CO2 emissions in the German transportation sector; heavy-duty transport accounts for about one-third of transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions. To enable the transition to battery-electric trucks, the necessary charging infrastructure must be available. In many cases, the power available at the grid connection is insufficient for this purpose. The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE conducted a comprehensive feasibility study on behalf of Streck Transportgesellschaft to assess the potential for electrifying an electric truck fleet at the logistics center. According to the study, combining a photovoltaic system, battery storage, and energy management ensures a reliable power supply and represents the most cost-effective solution for logistics centers.