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Concentrated solar radiation is a very promising renewable energy resource. The best known application is electricity generation in Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants, but other applications have also been demonstrated, such as production of solar fuels, water treatment and research in advanced materials. Europe is a leader in research and development of this technology. In line with this development, the European Union is promoting the opening of key Research Infrastructures (RIs) in solar concentrating systems for both academia and industries for carrying out energy and materials research as well as research in other fields using the extreme temperature conditions in solar concentrators. Within the ‘Solar Facilities for the European Research Area Third Phase (SFERA-III)’ Project, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE provides access to its laboratories.

To strengthen the partnership in the Collaboration Cluster for Photovoltaic Silicon Material Characterization CCPV, representatives of two Australian elite universities, the Australian National University (ANU) and the University of New South Wales (UNSW), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE.

The Croatian Minister for Regional Development and EU Funds, Mrs. Gabrijela Žalac, accompanied by the Croatian Ambassador in Germany, Dr. Gordan Grlić, and Consulate General Ivan Sablić visited the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Freiburg on 28th and 29th of January 2019. The visit was organized to concretize the cooperation in research and development between the two countries as well as to establish a fully integrated photovoltaic manufacturing line (10GW – GreenFAB) in Croatia in the context of regional development.

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE have just released their annual assessment on the net electricity generation for Germany’s public power supply in 2018. Based on the production figures, solar energy showed the largest growth at 16 percent, ahead of wind energy with 5.4 percent growth. At the same time, the net electricity generation from coal, gas and hydropower decreased. In 2018, renewable sources accounted for over 40 percent of the public net electricity generation, i.e. the electricity mix fed into the public power grid.

NexWafe, a Fraunhofer ISE spin off company that is industrializing its breakthrough technology for epitaxial fabrication of silicon wafers for solar photovoltaics (PV), today announced the appointment of Peter Pauli as the new chairman of the board as of September 1, 2018. He is succeeding Prof. Dr. Eicke Weber, who served as the chairman for the past two years. The shareholders and board members welcome Peter Pauli in his new position and express gratitude to Prof. Dr. Weber for his valuable contributions. From 2002 to 2016, Peter Pauli was the driving force in developing Meyer Burger Technology.

From May 22-24, Oslo is hosting the URBAN FUTURE global conference 2019 – one of the signature events of the Oslo European Green Capital 2019. About 3000 city changers from more than 60 countries will be attending sessions with 200 speakers on urban mobility, built environment, green business & innovation and leadership as well as numerous field trips in and around Oslo. The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE is an official partner of the conference.

The international research and development project MinWaterCSP addresses the challenge of reducing the water consumption of CSP plants and improving thermal cycle efficiencies of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants. After three years of work, 13 partners from 6 different EU and non-EU countries have developed new technologies for reducing water consumed for cooling and mirror cleaning. During the 2nd International Conference on the “Reduction of Water consumption in CSP plants” in Stellenbosch, South Africa (7-8 November 2018), the consortium presents its final results.

Digitization, climate change, scarcity of resources and housing shortages - these trends call for society, business and research alike to change their ways. The construction industry also has to develop innovative and sustainable solutions to meet the constantly growing demands placed on buildings. It is becoming increasingly important to think in cross-industry terms and act via networks. The member institutes of the Fraunhofer Building Innovation Alliance are working continuously on interdisciplinary solutions and systems to actively shape the "living spaces of the future". With its special show at BAU 2019, Hall C2, Booth 528, the Fraunhofer alliance will be presenting innovative products and system solutions from its construction research.

Over the past decades, the renewable generation of electricity by photovoltaic solar energy (PV) has come down in costs dramatically and is now economically competitive with conventional generation using fossil fuels or nuclear reactors in an increasing number of markets. Convinced that solar electricity will play a dominant role in the energy supply of 2050 and given the leading role held by European research institutes in the development of PV technology, awardees of the Becquerel Prize collectively drew up a resolution. At the largest European photovoltaic conference, the 35th EU PVSEC in Brussels, the award-winning European scientists collectively expressed their concern that the European photovoltaic industry is threatened to be lost due to the strong competition from Asia. In particular, this pertains to the cell and module production, which makes up a large part of the value chain. This loss presents a strategic risk to the future electricity supply of Europe.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE and the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, invite to the 2018 SOPHIA workshop »PV Module Reliability« from September 4 to 5 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The workshop will feature reliability aspects in connection with new challenges imposed by novel components of PV modules, presently observed failure modes and the further development of suitable test cycles towards service life testing. The workshop will be embedded in a EUROREG workshop which is intended to provide a forum of global trends and current challenges on photovoltaics and nanophotonics in the fields of research, industry and market.