Press Releases 2015

The transformation of the energy system in Germany is a declared political goal of the federal government. By 2050, greenhouse gas emissions are to be reduced by at least 80 percent under 1990 levels. This necessitates a massive reduction in energy-related CO2 emissions, forcing a fundamental restructuring of the present energy system towards a largely carbon-free energy supply. The transformation requires major investments and will not happen of its own accord. Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE now presented a study which investigates the system and cost developments of the German energy system transformation in line with meeting the declared climate targets. The study covers the period starting from today up to 2050. The model-based study considers all relevant energy sectors and energy carriers to provide a detailed analysis on how Germany can achieve its climate goals through efficient energy use and renewable energy. Considering various scenarios, simulations show different, cost-optimized pathways for achieving the energy transformation.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE has installed 70 photovoltaic modules on the outer façade of one of its lab buildings. The modules were developed and produced by the Institute and demonstrate the interplay of different technologies. Together with industry, Fraunhofer ISE developed a crystalline PV module called “TPedge” using a process that saves both time and money and replaces the lamination step. Innovative back-contacted solar cells from the Institute’s own production are integrated into the module. When the energy-efficient lab building was inaugurated in 2013, a few of the PV modules were installed on the façade for test purposes. Now the solar façade is complete and all 70 modules are in operation.

Owners of home photovoltaic systems will soon be able to make their households even more sustainable, because PV power is also suitable for charging personal electronic vehicles. A home energy management system created by Fraunhofer researchers incorporates electric vehicles into the household energy network and creates charging itineraries.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE has set a new efficiency record for silicon solar cells. For the first time, an efficiency of 25.1 percent has been measured for a both sides-contacted silicon solar cell. Having a simple rear side contact without any patterning, this type of solar cell converts one quarter of the incident sunlight into electricity. The new concept for the solar cell rear side holds great potential for further increases in efficiency.

Recently NexWafe GmbH was spun out of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, in order to bring the Institute’s kerfless EpiWafer technology to the market and rapid commercialization. In the EpiWafer technology, a thick crystalline silicon layer is epitaxially deposited and subsequently detached after growth to produce a freestanding wafer of standard thickness. Due to the radical changes in the manufacturing value chain, EpiWafers can be produced at an appreciably lower cost compared to the traditional wafer manufacturing process. The EpiWafer is a direct substitute for conventional n- or p-doped silicon mono-crystalline wafers.

Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE have developed a new version of reference cells for calibrating solar cells. At the institute’s calibration laboratory, a new cell type based on negative, conductive silicon material (n-type), was incorporated while the structure of the reference cell was optimized. For the calibration of different types of solar cells, the reference cell’s spectral response can be accurately adjusted using optical filters, thereby significantly reducing any measurement uncertainty. The new version of the reference cells meets all international standards (World PV Scale and IEC 60904-2). The new cells will allow test laboratories and cell and module manufacturers in particular to significantly improve the quality of their measurements. The outdoor version of the cell also makes it possible to take exact measurements of solar insolation in the field.

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE have developed a highly compact and efficient inverter for use in uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) for electrical devices. The demonstrator, which contains innovative silicon carbide components, was developed in cooperation with an industry partner and achieved an efficiency of 98.7 percent. The research and development findings can be applied to other areas of electronic power conversion in which weight and efficiency play a key role, e. g. electric mobility or portable power supply.

Solar power gained from photovoltaics (PV) will soon be the cheapest form of electricity in many regions of the world, as a recent study on long-term scenarios by Fraunhofer ISE on behalf of Agora Energiewende shows. In sunnier regions, for applications in rural areas, one kilowatt hour (kWh) gained from solar energy already today is cheaper than a kWh produced by a diesel system, which is due to the fast growing global market for PV. In this context, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE and the Canopus Foundation will put the focus of the second »Solar for All« contest on solar village and mini-grid solutions and their highly recognized potential for rural development. Further information on submission criteria will be released late 2015.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE has opened its new test and development center for heat pumps and chillers in Freiburg, thus doing justice to the central importance of these technologies in the energy transition. The Institute offers industry completely new possibilities to have their components, devices and entire systems developed and tested to ensure highly efficient heating and cooling performance.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE is bundling its research activities in the field of battery systems in a new laboratory. Together with its partners, it offers the industry a unique array of services: from investigations of single battery cells through the development of complete battery systems up to the optimal integration of entire storage systems in different applications with respect to both power and communications technology. The researchers use the laboratory to investigate, among other things, the thermal behavior of battery cells and modules using a highly precise calorimeter. The results enable battery systems with maximum safety, long lifetime and high power efficiency to be developed.

Das Fraunhofer-Institut für Solare Energiesysteme ISE weiht sein neues Labor für Wasserelektrolyseure in Freiburg ein. Damit wird es möglich, Anlagen im Megawatt-Leistungsbereich zu untersuchen und zu charakterisieren. Die auch am Institut entwickelten Polymer­elektrolyt­membran- (PEM-) Elektrolyseure lassen sich extrem schnell regeln, so dass fluktuierende Stromerzeugung aus regenerativen Energien netzdienlich zur Wasserstofferzeugung für die Mobilität, aber auch für die Energiespeicherung genutzt werden können. Anlagen dieses Typs könnten die Problematik des geplanten Netzausbaus zeitlich entschärfen.

Since being founded more than 30 years ago, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE has covered a wide range of complementary technologies, optimally preparing it for the challenges facing the energy transformation. In addition to solar technology research, the systemic aspects and questions regarding energy storage also played a role right from the start. Today energy storage technologies and efficient heating and cooling processes are two topics particularly in the focus of the energy transformation. Fraunhofer ISE has now consolidated its activities in these areas at its new site on the Auerstrasse in Freiburg. The new location offers much more space which has allowed the Institute to significantly expand its laboratory equipment. On July 2, 2015, the new center for storage and heat conversion technologies was officially inaugurated in the presence of representatives from several German federal ministries as well as from industry associations and the industry itself.

Due to the rising penetration of photovoltaics, heat pumps and electric vehicles (EV) in the power distribution grid, the requirements for grid flexibility and stability are increasing. Just how existing power grids can be made fit for the future was the topic of a cooperative German, Danish and Dutch project in which the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE was involved. Over a period of three years, the project partners from research and industry took well-proven techno-economic modelling and optimization tools and implemented them into the new NEMO tool suite. This forward-looking tool prepares the distribution grid for the energy system of the future, by predicting the interaction between decentralized suppliers and consumers in realistic future scenarios. After the test phase was successfully completed in all three countries, a workshop was held to present the capabilities and advantages of this new tool to distribution and transmission grid operators as well as associations, grid service providers and system operators.

Germany and France are European leaders in the fields of semiconductor technology and solar cell research. In order to strengthen the already existing collaboration between the CEA’s technological research unit, CEA Tech in Grenoble and Chambery, France and the German Fraunhofer ISE in Freiburg, the two partners have concluded a collaboration agreement to create a common “Virtual Lab”. With this lab, Fraunhofer ISE and CEA Tech intend to combine forces in near-industry research to further develop high efficiency multi-junction solar cells, educate young scientists and work together to develop prototypes of next generation ultra-high efficiency solar cells. The launch of the joint lab officially began in May 2015 with the signing of the collaboration agreement.

The global market for photovoltaics (PV) is expected to grow by 25% in 2015, with similar increase in the years to follow. The price for PV modules has come down drastically, however, there is still great potential for further reduction in the value chain. However, the industry needs disruptive approaches to increase the module efficiency and to reduce the material and energy consumption in production. In this context, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE announces the start of a new spin off company: NexWafe will transfer Fraunhofer ISE’s kerfless wafer technology into production. Founder and CEO of NexWafe is Stefan Reber, formerly Head of the Department Crystalline Silicon – Materials and Thin Film Solar Cells at Fraunhofer ISE. The start-up is being supported by seed funding from Fraunhofer Venture.

This year's SolarWorld Junior Einstein Award has been presented to Michael Rauer, who conducted the research for his PhD at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE under the external supervision of the University of Konstanz. The 31-year-old impressed the jury with his thesis on aluminum pastes for silicon solar cells, entitled "Alloying from Screen-printed Aluminum Pastes for Silicon Solar Cell Applications". The award ceremony was held on June 10 at Intersolar Europe, the world's leading exhibition for the solar industry.

As the capacity of renewable energy continues to expand, controls for public grids need to adapt and become more dynamic. This also increases the requirements on the electrical properties of the power electronics connected to the grid. To ensure the reliability of power electronics in this context, Fraunhofer ISE has been carrying out tests in accordance with different standards and guidelines for many years. Since the end of April, the TestLab Power Electronics is accredited by Germany’s national accreditation body (DAkkS) and now offers an even wider range of testing services to its customers than before. With the accreditation, Fraunhofer ISE expands its strong international reputation as one of the leading power electronics laboratories worldwide.

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is investing in a new solar research center in South America. The aim of the new Fraunhofer Center for Solar Energy Technologies, founded by the Fraunhofer Chile Research Foundation and located in Santiago de Chile, is to better exploit the solar energy potential in the sun-rich country, thereby reducing the dependence on fossil fuels. With particular emphasis on regional implementation, the focus shall be on the further development of solar thermal and photovoltaic technologies and applications with partners from research and industry. Scientists from the Fraunhofer Chile Research Center for Solar Energy Technologies (FCR-CSET), the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE and the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile will together perform research on electricity and heat production using solar energy. Now the new research center for solar energy was inaugurated in the presence of the Chilean undersecretary of Energy Jimena Jara.

Experts from industry, research and organizations will get together in Munich to discuss the newest developments, innovations and trends in the energy storage sector at the upcoming ees Europe conference. From June 9-10, 2015, eight sessions are devoted to themes covering the entire value chain of energy storage technologies. The scientific organization of the conference will be managed by Fraunhofer ISE. The Institute will also be presenting its own research results on lithium ion battery formation. The first ees Europe conference is to take place at the same time as the established ees Europe exhibition in conjunction with Intersolar Europe, the world’s leading exhibition for the solar industry.

Worldwide the installation of photovoltaic (PV) power plants is increasing rapidly, with 55 gigawatts of newly installed solar power expected in 2015. Testing and quality control on a high level are becoming more and more important for banks and investors. Fraunhofer ISE is keeping pace with this demand by recently achieving accreditation status for its PV module calibration laboratory, thus turning CalLab PV Modules into the first accredited lab with a measurement uncertainty of 1.6%. On March 24, 2015 the German accreditation body “Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle GmbH Dakks” confirmed the competence of CalLab PV Modules under the terms of DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005 to carry out calibrations in the field of photovoltaics.