Ongoing Research Project

In the HUMAX research project, various measures to build humus and improve soil carbon content will be investigated in different combinations. The aim is to identify possible synergies of the measures and to show combined application options. A unique feature of the HUMAX project is that these measures are to be applied in agrivoltaic systems (AV) and agroforestry systems (AFS). In an innovative approach of the HUMAX project, humus increasing measures (cover crops, winter greening, compost application, etc.) will be combined and tested with other promising measures such as biochar. By combining the various humus-building measures, new ways shall be found to maximize the build-up of humus, the carbon sequestration and therefore the function of the soil as a carbon sink. For this purpose, the effects of the combinations of measures on soil carbon and agriculture in AV and AFS systems are examined. Building on this, a modular system will be developed that will allow farmers to put together the best possible combination of measures for targeted carbon and humus management in their business, given their general conditions at the site. As part of the project, research at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems focuses on the systemic and microclimatic analysis of various AV systems. The results are statistically evaluated and modeled in connection with the agronomic and soil physical studies in order to optimize AV systems with regard to microclimatic changes and build-up of soil organic carbon i.e., humus. | Duration: 05/2023 - 04/2029

For the energy transition to be successful, significant amounts of renewable energy capacity must be added in Germany alone by 2045. In the field of photovoltaic systems alone, the planned expansion figures will require enormous resources, not only in Germany. Achieving these goals will require very large quantities of valuable resources such as aluminum, copper, and steel. The resulting demand will lead to shortages and thus cost increases, so that the relative cost share of material-intensive components will increase significantly, leading to a change in the cost structure of PV power plants and the associated inverters. This is exactly where the project comes in. | Duration: 03/2025 - 02/2028

The electrification of the transport sector will require a huge expansion of fast-charging infrastructure in the medium-voltage range. According to forecasts by the Electric Mobility Control Center, approximately 440,000 to 843,000 public charging points for passenger cars will be needed by 2030. In particular, at high-traffic locations along transport routes, charging stations will need to integrate 2 to 6 charging points for heavy-duty vehicles in addition to the charging points for passenger cars. These in particular pose a major challenge in accordance with the megawatt charging system standard due to their potential charging capacity of 1 to 3 MVA, as this causes the required charging capacity to skyrocket and can amount to up to 30 MVA depending on the location of the charging station. Charging stations with power requirements comparable to those of small towns will therefore be built along transport routes. At the heart of this innovation is local energy distribution with direct current at medium-voltage level. | Duration: 07/2025 - 06/2028

The project supports a team of scientists from the three Fraunhofer Institutes ISE, IBP and ISI in their accompanying research on energy transition construction. This joint effort focuses on several areas: Firstly, cross-evaluations of completed and ongoing research projects from the Energy Transition Buildings funding programme are being carried out, which aim to bring together the results from the many individual projects and place them in a broader context. These cross-evaluations cover topics related to the energy transition in the areas of buildings and neighbourhoods, renovation, heating network expansion, integration of renewable energies and others. The cross-sectional evaluations also provide the basis for identifying new research topics and impetus for the further development of the BMWE's 8th Energy Research Programme. In addition, the PTJ is supported in the planning and implementation of events. | Duration: 09/2025 - 08/2029

SMARTLINE-PV, an EU-funded project, aims to develop tin perovskite solar modules with selectable colours for specific applications, which will be realized by the Fraunhofer ISE MorphoColor® flexible technology. Significant R&D efforts are orientated towards (i) module fabrication on glass and flexible PET substrates with the lowest possible efficiency losses compared to single small area devices and (ii) their integration in façade elements and roof tiles | Duration: 01/2024 - 12/2027

Hops are grown on a large scale in the Hallertau region: Almost a third of the hops produced worldwide are grown on around 17,200 hectares of Hallertau hop gardens. As a crop that remains in the same location for several years, hops are particularly exposed to climatic influences. Dry periods in July and August sometimes led to significant yield losses: in the particularly affected years of 2013, 2015 and 2018, yields were up to 40 % lower, depending on the hop variety. This is where the "HoPVen" project comes in, in which the world's first agri-PV system in hop growing is being scientifically investigated. The dual use of the land for both agriculture and energy generation through photovoltaics can increase resilience to the consequences of climate change and diversify the income streams of farms. | Duration: 11/2023 - 10/2026

Technical monitoring (TMon) can reduce the energy consumption of buildings by up to 20%. However, a shortage of skilled workers and manual steps are slowing down widespread implementation. In the R&D project ‘GraphEET’, Fraunhofer ISE and Offenburg University of Applied Sciences are working with industry partners to develop a data-based TMon workflow. The aim is to develop hybrid AI methods for the recognition of data points and plant topologies and to map the recognised objects and structures in digital twins as knowledge graphs. This should enable test templates, fault diagnoses and mobile measurement tasks to be applied automatically. | Duration: 07/2025 - 06/2028

High-performance test environments are needed to support the development of powerful, series-ready, high-quality fuel cell stacks. FullStackTS therefore aimed to set up and validate a test environment and develop a non-discriminatory range of tests for the fuel cell industry. At the end of the project, a test bench from MS2 Engineering for fuel cell stacks up to 200 kW with specialised measurement technology from SMART Testsolutions is available at Fraunhofer ISE for contract and collaborative research. | Duration: 01/2022 - 07/2025

The INNOECOFOOD project addresses the Farm2Fork approach to local production and marketing of sustainably produced food in Africa. These goals are promoted through the establishment and operation of so-called ECOHUBS and Living Labs. This involves combining innovative technologies in sustainable aquaculture for the production of fish and spirulina with the use of environmentally friendly practices in the production of insects as feed and protein sources, in combination with local innovation, knowledge transfer and economic empowerment of communities across Africa. | Duration: 01/2024 - 12/2026

How economically viable is solar thermal process heat in Germany? What role do investment grants from the EEW funding program play, and what is the economic viability compared to fossil fuel heat production? These questions were the focus of our study on the decarbonization of industrial heat through solar thermal process heat. Various collector technologies, temperature ranges and locations were evaluated using dynamic simulations and detailed cost models. The results show under which conditions solar thermal energy can already today provide a competitive and climate-friendly alternative to conventional heat generation. | Duration: 07/2024 - 12/2024