Press Releases 2024

The Institute of Psychology at the University of Freiburg and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE conducted a joint study on the social acceptance of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). The conclusions showed that the acceptance of integrated photovoltaics in urban areas is generally very high and that PV on modern buildings is viewed more positively than on historic buildings. The study also showed, however, that when PV modules are colored to match the building's roof or façade so that they are practically invisible, then the social acceptance is increased to the point where no difference is detected between the different building types.

A new study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE shows potential technological transformation paths towards climate neutrality by 2045 at the state level in Germany. The cross-sectoral energy system model "REMod" was used to quantify cost-optimized development paths for the energy, transport, industry and building sectors - including their necessary infrastructures. A variety of possible scenarios were considered. The study confirms the central role of electrification in a cost-efficient transformation, yet also the supplementary role of hydrogen for the industry, transport sector and power plants. The results indicate that a significant grid expansion is needed to transport electricity and hydrogen from northern Germany to the main consumption centers in western and southern Germany. In an energy system based largely on renewable energy, both energy generation and energy consumption must be made more flexible.

Batteries are a key building block for a successful energy transition, whether for the electrification of transport, the stabilization of the power grid or balancing fluctuations in green electricity. The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE has been conducting research along the entire battery value chain for many years. Now with today’s inauguration of the Center for Electrical Energy Storage, the institute has access to state-of-the-art laboratories which enable cutting-edge international research. Currently the institute’s research focus is on improving the sustainability, safety and performance of battery storage systems.

Large amounts of green hydrogen and power-to-X (PtX) products are indispensable for the industry’s transformation to climate-neutral processes. To guarantee the competitiveness of these industries in Germany, not only is hydrogen production within Germany necessary but also the cost-efficient import of PtX products. On behalf of the Federation of German Industries (BDI) and the World Energy Council (WEC), the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE has investigated the production and supply costs of hydrogen in and from Colombia. The study that was published today focuses on three promising regions: Cartagena/Barranquilla, La Guajira, Valle del Cauca. Besides the technological conditions, environmentally and socially relevant criteria such as protected areas or indigenous communities were also considered.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE is developing easy-to-use and reproducible solutions for replacing gas and oil heating systems in existing multi-family homes with partners in the project “LC R290”. The research focus is on heat pumps that use the refrigerant propane (R290). With a consortium of twenty companies from the heating and housing industries, the research institute has developed initial implementation concepts for heating systems that will be presented to a specialist audience at the Chillventa trade fair in Nuremberg from October 8 to 10.

The newest edition of the study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE on the electricity generation costs of various power plants shows that photovoltaic systems now produce electricity much more cheaply than either coal or gas-fired power plants, even in combination with battery storage. Fraunhofer ISE has been calculating the so-called electricity generation costs (LCOE), the average generation costs per kilowatt hour of electricity, for Germany at regular intervals since 2010. For the first time, the new analysis also includes the LCOE for agrivoltaics, hydrogen power plants and new nuclear power plants. In addition to the current situation for 2024, the researchers also provide a forecast for cost trends up to 2045.

Can Germany meet its electricity demand with renewables? How much electricity is imported from nuclear and coal-fired power plants? Will a solar eclipse lead to a blackout? Ten years ago, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE launched the "Energy Charts" data platform to objectify the debate on the energy transition. Today, the website offers detailed interactive data not only on electricity generation, climate data, emissions and exchange prices for Germany but also on the electricity generation for 42 Eu-ropean countries and the European electricity exchange. This makes it one of the most comprehensive data platforms on the European energy market today.

At 140 terawatt hours, more renewable electricity was generated in Germany in the first half of 2024 than ever before, accounting for 65% of net public electricity generation. Generation from fossil fuels continues to decline as do the electricity prices on the exchange. These are the findings of the half-year data on net public electricity generation presented today by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE. The analysis is based on the data platform energy-charts.info.

Enormous quantities of raw materials are required for the conversion of the energy system, for example, in the form of copper and aluminum cables to connect renewable generators to the grid. One promising approach to save raw materials is to move from the low to the medium-voltage level in renewable energy power plants. The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE sees a huge potential for savings with higher system voltages, especially in large PV power plants. The institute is planning first pilot power plants with this technology and is aiming for a broad market launch together with industry. To kick-off its new research topic "Medium Voltage – A Resource-Efficient Way to Interconnect", Fraunhofer ISE will be presenting the world's first medium-voltage PV string inverter and a medium-voltage battery inverter at the Smarter E trade fair in Munich (June 19-21).

The year 2024 is characterised by a substantial reduction in federal funding for project research. Energy research is particularly affected by this. A 30% reduction in available funding for new projects is looming, compared to the previous year. Against this backdrop, the Fraunhofer-Group »Energy Technologies and Climate Protection« is warning of a massive decline in German industry's ability to innovate in technologies for the energy transition. Nine institutes of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft are organised in the group, which play a key role in driving forward application-oriented energy research.