News

For the energy transition to be successful, 400 GWP of photovoltaic (PV) capacity must be installed in Germany alone by 2045. This goes hand in hand with an enormous demand for valuable resources. In the “SeVen” project, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE aim to make material-intensive components more efficient and cost-effective through innovative medium-voltage technology.

Callum Gannon received the Gerda Ruf Award 2025 for his outstanding master's thesis in the field of solar cell metallization. The juniorscientist conducted his research at the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Freiburg and at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE. Under the title “Development of a Laser Structured Electroplating Mask for III-V//Si Solar Cell Metallization,” Gannon investigated a novel approach to front-side metallization for highly efficient III-V solar cells. The Gerda Ruf Award is funded by the Fritz Hüttinger Foundation.

For their research project on highly efficient solar cells, Prof. Dr. Stefan Glunz from the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE and the University of Freiburg, Prof. Dr. Christoph Ballif from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), and Dr. Stéphane Collin from the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) in Paris have received a Synergy Grant. The funding from the European Research Council (ERC) supports excellent international research teams.

A variety of German and European manufacturers of industrial heat pumps are technologically well-positioned and preparing for the market breakthrough of the technology. Real laboratories with 'early adopters' could provide a boost for a wide market introduction. This conclusion was reached during a workshop organized by the German Energy Research Network (“Forschungsnetzwerk Energie”), which included over 10 manufacturers of industrial heat pumps and heat pump components, as well as representatives from the manufacturing industry. The recently published results report outlines specific recommendations for policymakers.

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

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.

The Center for Solar Energy Research and Applications of Middle East Technical University ODTÜ-GÜNAM in Ankara, Türkiye, and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Freiburg, Germany, signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the 42. European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC 2025). The two research organizations strengthen their collaboration in applied solar PV research. The goal is to facilitate technology transfer and the industrialization of PV products in Europe across the full value chain.

A research team from the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE has won 1st prize in the "Research" category at the INNOspace Masters competition organized by the German Aerospace Center (DLR). The team led by Dr. Jonas De Rose and Dr. David Lackner received the award for their approach to transferring established production technologies from terrestrial silicon photovoltaics to III-V high-efficiency solar cells for use in space.

Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research TNO, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, and the three on-board solar technology system suppliers for vehicles Lightyear, IM Efficiency, and Sono Motors have measured the potential of solar cars on European roads for nine months. The results of the measurements confirm that solar panels on vehicles can be a valuable, mobile source of renewable energy for the transport sector. However, the findings also highlight significant challenges such as shading and user behavior.

The American solar cell manufacturer TALON PV is building a 4-gigawatt manufacturing facility for high-efficiency TOPCon solar cells in the USA, with a targeted start of production by the end of 2026. The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE supports the company in this endeavor. As part of the ramp-up, the research institute is establishing a pilot production line for TALON PV's TOPCon solar cells at its Photovoltaic Technology Evaluation Center (PV-TEC) in Freiburg, Germany. This pilot facility will enable TALON PV to refine both its product design and manufacturing processes. At RE+ 2025, from September 8 to 11 in Las Vegas, scientists from Fraunhofer ISE will provide an overview of different photovoltaic factory concepts and insights into technology selection.