Press / Newsroom

The head of the "Hydrogen Technologies" division additionally assumes the representation for institute director Prof. Dr. Andreas Bett as of October 1, 2025.

Deutsche Bahn is the largest electricity consumer in Germany, operating its own power grid of nearly 8,000 kilometers in length. The project "PV4Rail" examined how this grid can be utilized for the feed-in of solar power. The consortium lead by Fraunhofer ISE developed and tested an inverter for the direct feed-in of photovoltaic power, analyzed the photovoltaic potential along the tracks, and conducted techno-economic studies of railway power PV systems. These could become an important component of the energy transition if regulatory and market disadvantages were addressed.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE has been awarded the German Sustainability Award (“Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitspreis”) for companies in the "Research and Development" sector. This was announced today by the Foundation for the German Sustainability Award e.V. The award is given to Fraunhofer ISE for its research and development achievements towards sustainability as well as for its commitment to integrating sustainability into operational processes.

Prof. Hans-Martin Henning was honored yesterday with a scientific symposium to mark his retirement. The director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Freiburg also shaped the Fraunhofer Society's energy research for many years. As chairman of the Expert Council for Climate Issues, he advised the German government on the implementation of the Climate Protection Act from 2020 to 2025 and, in this role, was a vocal advocate for consistent measures.

The transition of the heavy-duty and commercial vehicle sector to zero-emission engines is driving the expected production volume of fuel cells. At the same time, electrolysis is gaining importance as a building block for a low-emission energy economy. New production methods are needed to ramp up the market for both technologies. In this context, Fraunhofer ISE has established a versatile platform for research on the production of membrane electrode assemblies to support component manufacturers as well as machinery and plant engineers in addressing production challenges associated with fuel cells and electrolyzers. The focus is on innovative, continuous processes that enable high throughput rates and cost reductions, such as roll-to-roll manufacturing. Furthermore, pro-duction research considers the entire value chain from catalyst powder to 7-layer MEA, including quality control.