Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE
Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE

Research Projects

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  • ADAPT – Climate Adaptation through Organic Agri-Photovoltaics

    Mock-up of a transparent organic solar module manufactured with a still strongly absorbing organic semiconductor material. In the project, such modules with electrical function and higher transparency are to be manufactured and the technology presented to interested users on the basis of these demonstrators.
    © Fraunhofer ISE

    Mock-up of a transparent organic solar module manufactured with a still strongly absorbing organic semiconductor material. In the project, such modules with electrical function and higher transparency are to be manufactured and the technology presented to interested users on the basis of these demonstrators.

    Climate change has become a tangible reality in Germany in recent years. Heatwave summers and low precipitation in winters have led to massive problems in agriculture in many places. Protected cultivation under foils is a current trend, causing additional costs and waste problems. In this project, highly transparent organic solar cells will be developed that allow visible light, which is important for plants, to pass through and use the infrared portion to generate electricity. These could make it possible to simultaneously generate the urgently needed solar power for a successful energy and mobility turnaround from the film covers that are intended to protect plants from heavy rain, hail, sunburn and desiccation. | Duration: 09/2021 - 07/2024

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  • Demonstration of Integrated roll-to-roll Assembly of Light Energy Harvester and Flexible Hybrid Electronics to Produce IoT Devices

    ENLIGHTENED

    Flexibles Organisches Photovoltaik-Modul.
    © Fraunhofer ISE

    Flexible Organic Photovoltaic Module.

    The ENLIGHTENED project covers the entire value chain of organic PV for indoor applications in the manufacturing process of the OPV company Epishine, which specializes in this field. Fraunhofer ISE's role in the project, together with FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg and Epishine, involves the further development of OPV technology for indoor applications. Improved organic semiconductors are being developed for this purpose by partners Imperial College London and Brilliant Matters. The European Commission is funding the ENLIGHTENED project, which aims to redefine the standards for the production of cost-effective and environmentally friendly OPV applications for indoor use, thereby helping the products reach market maturity. | Duration: 09/2024 - 08/2027

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  • See-Through-PV – Development of Organic Solar Modules with High Visual Transparency

    Half cell made of photoactive organic layer

    Photo of a half-cell consisting of the photoactive organic layer deposited on the back electrode, which transmits visible light while reflecting the near-infrared part of the spectrum.

    For numerous potential photovoltaic applications on buildings, vehicles or in agriculture, significant transparency of solar cells or modules in the visible spectral range is desirable, if not a prerequisite for successful implementation. Certain organic semiconductors are capable of strongly absorbing infrared radiation while almost completely transmitting visible light. This remarkable property is the key to the realization of organic solar modules with high visual transmission and homogeneous appearance, i.e. in particular without gaps. For this purpose, in addition to organic absorber materials, novel electrodes with very specific optical properties have to be developed. | Duration: 04/2021 - 03/2023

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