Press Releases 2018

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE developed and successfully put into operation an inverter for direct feed-in to the 10 kV medium-voltage grid. The inverter contains high-voltage silicon carbide (SiC) transistors which allow for coupling to the medium voltage grid without requiring an additional transformer. The three-phase inverter can be used to regulate reactive power as well as to actively filter undesirable harmonics in the electricity grid. Thus, it actively contributes to the stabilization of future power grids with a large share of renewables.

Global experts in solar power believe the world will reach 1 terawatt (TW) of installed solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity within the next five years. That is the opinion voiced by 95 percent of the approximately 70 authorities who gathered in Golden, Colorado, USA for the second Terawatt Workshop held by the Global Alliance of Solar Energy Research Institutes (GA-SERI). The alliance was formed in 2012 and includes the three world leading solar research institutes, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, NREL (USA), the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology AIST (Japan) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE (Germany).

Photovoltaics (PV) is one of the key technologies of a sustainable energy supply based on renewable energy. Besides silicon-based photovoltaics, which presently dominates the market, there are other materials, such as perovskite, that also show great potential. Scientists are testing the proof of concept of these new types of solar cells. Very innovative is a new process for fabricating solar cells using sustainable and more resource-friendly methods. Hereby the number of production steps can be drastically reduced by reversing the manufacturing process. Such an in-situ concept for printed perovskite solar cells is being developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE. With a record efficiency of 12.6 %, the researchers have now reached an important milestone in the field of printed photovoltaics.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE and teamtechnik, an international leader in production technology, report that it is now possible to connect high efficiency solar cells using electrically conductive adhesives in series production. The results of the joint research project »KleVer« show that the adhesive technology is ready for the market and can be used as an alternative to the widespread soft soldering interconnection technology. Due to the much lower process temperatures of this technology compared to soldering, temperature-sensitive high efficiency solar cells can be connected using adhesives in a gentle and material-saving process. In industrial production, the throughput is only slightly lower than with soldering. The reliability of the adhesive connection was confirmed in tests carried out in a climate chamber.

The interplay between automation and energy technology, IT platforms and artificial intelligence is the focus of the HANNOVER MESSE 2018 being held from April 23-27, 2018. At the renowned international trade fair, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE presents innovations in hydrogen technology at the joint booth »Hydrogen + Fuel Cells + Batteries« (Hall 27, Booth C58). A highlight at the booth will be the presentation of the GreenTec Award 2018 in the category »Energy« on Tuesday, April 24th at 2 pm.

Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) places high demands on solar PV module design. The aesthetics and freedom of design are just as important as the module efficiency, and in manufacturing today, a conflict often exists between individualized sophisticated design, high module efficiency and low costs. In the BIPV-Fab project, the equipment manufacturer SCHMID and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE investigated possibilities for manufacturing customized modules in series production. With the newly developed production concepts, the costs of building-integrated PV modules can be reduced by 35 percent.

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE together with the company EV Group (EVG) have developed a new silicon-based multi-junction solar cell, which can convert exactly one-third of the incident sunlight into useful electricity. This newest result is now published in the renowned scientific magazine Nature Energy.

Market-oriented R&D as well as testing and certification of batteries and energy storage systems support the global energy transformation and further the expansion of electric mobility. Over 30 million euros shall be invested in the new competence center located in Freiburg, Germany.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE is presenting innovative solutions and projects on renewable energy storage and grid integration at the Energy Storage Europe, the leading international trade fair for storage in Düsseldorf, Germany from March 13-15. Fraunhofer ISE is presenting at a joint booth of the Fraunhofer Energy Alliance (Hall 8b, booth B39). Parallel to the trade fair, the 12th International Renewable Energy Storage Conference (IRES) and the 7th Energy Storage Europe Conference (ESE) are taking place. They address two thematic foci: the scientific research on storage technology, legal frameworks, network and market aspects (IRES) and the business and finance aspects for the rollout of these technologies to the global market (ESE). Fraunhofer ISE researchers are involved in leading conference sessions and presenting their results in the fields of thermal and electrical energy storage, sector coupling and Power to Gas/Power to X.

With the transformation of our energy system, the fraction of electricity supplied by fluctuating renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, will steadily increase. This requires more electric storage capacity and an energy management that responds flexibly. Together with partners, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE have set up a novel hybrid energy storage system on Borkum, an island on the North Sea. The system consists of a lithium ion battery and a super capacitor for short term power demands. The hybrid storage is connected to the medium voltage grid with a new type of modular inverter. During the field test lasting one year, the researchers will test and compare the different control strategies in the energy management system.