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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.

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.

Simply reducing emissions will not be enough to achieve Germany’s goal of greenhouse gas neutrality by 2045. It is also necessary to actively remove CO₂ from the atmosphere using so-called negative emission technologies (NETs). A new study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE analyzes the role of NETs in achieving climate goals. According to the study, key factors include a broad mix of different NET technologies, as well as an integrated strategy for the energy system, the ramp-up of NETs, and sustainable biomass use. By 2045, NETs will remove between 39 and 51 million tons of hard-to-avoid CO₂ emissions.

Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE have succeeded in reducing the silver consumption of TOPCon solar cells to 1.1 milligrams per watt peak. Currently, TOPCon solar cells require an average of 10 to 12 milligrams of silver per watt peak. To the reduction, they tested an electroplating-based inline metallization process on pilot systems developed by RENA Technologies GmbH. By combining ultrashort UV laser structuring with the electrochemical deposition of nickel, copper, and silver, the research team produced M10-sized TOPCon solar cells with an efficiency of 24 percent. Compared to PERC solar cells, TOPCon solar cells have higher silver consumption, hence solar cell manufacturers are under particular cost pressure to reduce it.

ISC Konstanz and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE have conducted an analysis of the market situation for PV manufacturing equipment on behalf of the VDMA. The study forecasts that the global annual capital expenditure (CAPEX) for PV manufacturing equipment is projected to rise from 16.6 billion dollars in 2025 to 43.8 billion dollars by 2035, resulting in a cumulative global market volume of USD 250-300 billion in the next ten years. The study provides a comprehensive overview of global PV manufacturing, key technological trends, and the competitiveness of European machinery and equipment manufacturers.

Intelligent storage technologies are needed to ensure the success of the energy transition. Thermal storage systems can efficiently store heat from renewable energies. The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE is conducting research into the use of 3D printing technology to manufacture thermal energy storage systems from ultra-high-performance concrete. The institute is collaborating with partners from industry and research to achieve this goal.

A recent comparison of measurement results between CalLab PV Modules of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE and the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) reveals that the two organizations deviate by less than 0.15 percent on average from the reference value when measuring the power of photovoltaic modules. Regular comparisons between independent calibration laboratories are an important component of their quality assurance process, guaranteeing that the PV industry can trust the results. In recent years, many module manufacturers' power ratings have diverged increasingly from Fraunhofer ISE measurements, with the median divergence reaching roughly 1.4 percent in 2025.

The Espirito Santo Research and Innovation State Funding Agency (FAPES), the State Secretariat for Science, Technology, Innovation, and Professional Education of Espírito Santo (SECTI) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE have signed a Memorandum of Understanding. This agreement aims to intensify cooperation in the areas of research and development as well as scientific infrastructure. A comprehensive assessment of Espírito Santo’s current energy system was launched as the first joint research project in February.

The expected addition of around 73 terawatts of new photovoltaic capacity by 2050 will require large quantities of raw materials, including copper and aluminum. Resource requirements and investment costs can be significantly reduced if the voltage level of the PV system is raised to medium voltage. The “PVgoesMV” project aims to demonstrate, through the construction and operation of two pilot plants, that this step is technically feasible and economically viable for large-scale PV plants. These are the world's first PV plants with a 3 kV string inverter. Manufacturers of all key system components for a PV park are supporting the project, which is scheduled to run for three years.