Press / Newsroom

To pave the way for the industrial implementation of highly efficient perovskite-silicon PV modules, the tandem solar cells and modules must be reliably measured. Only then is it possible to make objective comparisons between different cells and modules and to make technological improvements. In contrast to conventional silicon PV modules, however, the calibration is considerably more challenging. A project consortium led by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE is therefore developing methods for characterizing perovskite-based tandem modules in the "Katana" project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate BMWK. The solar simulator specially built for this purpose by the company Wavelabs Solar Metrology Systems GmbH is now in use in the CalLab PV Modules of the research institute.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE has developed a unique modular test stand for photovoltaic inverters with integrated arc fault detection. These integrated warning systems in inverters increase the safety of solar installations by initiating an automatic shut down in the event of arcing. With the newly published international standard IEC 63027, more reliable and realistic tests can be carried out on detectors. Fraunhofer ISE was involved in the development of the new test standard, which was published on May 3 2023.

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, together with project partners, have developed a technical concept and design for a hydrogen production facility optimized for use at sea. Results have shown that it is technically and economically feasible to produce hydrogen directly at sea using a PEM electrolyzer. The work was carried out as part of the two-year »OffsH2ore« project funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).

Rigorous tests on photovoltaic (PV) modules, integrated PV systems, solar thermal collectors, inverters and other solar technologies are carried out, for the most part, in an indoor laboratory environment. Accompanying these are the long-term tests under real weather conditions lasting several years. Now researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE want to use the newly constructed, three-hectare test field near Freiburg, Germany, to combine the results from both test approaches. In particular, PV modules will be able to be evaluated faster and more accurately, by combining and comparing indoor laboratory measurement results with those from the test field. Today, Fraunhofer ISE ceremoniously opened its new outdoor testing facilities in Merdingen.

Prof. Dr. Andreas Bett, director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE and professor of physics at the University of Freiburg, and Dr. Frank Dimroth, department head of III-V and Concentrator Photovoltaics at Fraunhofer ISE receive the research award of the Werner Siemens Foundation (WSS), endowed with one million Swiss francs. The award is based on their scientific work with III-V semiconductor compounds in the field of highly efficient photovoltaics. They, together with five other teams, are finalists in the competition for the foundation's "Project of the Century".