Ongoing Research Project

What value creation and labour market potential does the hydrogen economy offer for eastern Germany? A new study by the Initiative for Hydrogen in Eastern Germany (IWO) answers this question. In collaboration with the WifOR Institute and Fraunhofer ISE, the economic opportunities along the electrolysis value chain – from component manufacturing to the labour market – are being analysed using scenario-based approaches up to 2045. The results provide an evidence-based foundation for industrial, structural and skills policy in the region. | Duration: 03/2026 - 08/2026

Zur Erreichung von Klimaneutralität ist die Erzeugung von grünem Wasserstoff für verschiedene Sektoren, wie die Hochtemperaturindustrie, die Chemieindustrie und Mobilität unabdingbar. Die Protonen-Austausch-Membran (PEM)-Elektrolyse bietet die Möglichkeit zur effizienten Erzeugung von Wasserstoff mittels erneuerbarer Energien. In PEMPIRE soll hierfür ein kostengünstiger und langzeitrobuster PEM-Elektrolyse-Stack entwickelt werden, der neuartige Materialien, wie Membran-Elektroden-Einheiten mit geringer Edelmetallbeladung, vorweist. | Laufzeit: 01/2026 - 12/2028

The "SHIFT" Project is one of our many exciting initiatives, in collaboration with international research institutions, including Fraunhofer CSET in Chile. We evaluate existing biogenic CO₂ sources in Chile for the production of low-carbon molecules focusing on sector-coupled systems for heat, industry, fuels, and transport. The project develops innovative production pathways, with various process steps, including syngas-production and downstream synthesis, assessing their techno-economic potential to reduce production costs and improve efficiency across the value chain. | Duration: 08/2025 - 12/2025

Project in the Business Area: Energy Efficient Buildings; Topic: Heat Pumps; Duration: 06/2023 - 05/2026

FAiL is a laboratory demonstrator system designed to visualise critical defects in large-format cells, record the mechanisms behind their formation in real time, and simultaneously minimise the rejection of flawless cells. The aim is to achieve a significant reduction in scrap, an improved environmental footprint, and a data-driven quality standard for European battery cell manufacturing. | Duration: 01/2025 - 12/2027

The Power-to-X Colombia 2.0 project deepens the analysis of the potential for the production and use of sustainable energy sources in Colombia identified in the previous Power-to-X Colombia project. These are also being expanded with a focus on innovative hybrid concepts. To this end, technical concepts for hybrid first-mover projects are being developed that combine biomass residues with Power-to-X technologies. This reduces production costs and enables more efficient use of resources. Under the leadership of Fraunhofer ISE and with the support of partners such as the Asociación Nacional de Empresarios de Colombia (ANDI) and the Federation of German Industries (BDI), the project promotes the establishment of regional hydrogen hubs, opens up export opportunities, and drives forward the green transformation. | Duration: 09/2025 - 05/2026

The growing market for galvanically metallized (plating) solar cells requires innovative technology in the field of laser structuring - a higher resolution for smaller conductor paths, a large processing field for growing wafer formats and faster beam deflection for shorter process times. In "Miracle", Fraunhofer ISE and five industrial partners are coming together to jointly develop and build new system concepts that will make laser structuring for plating more economical and competitive and thus enable high silver savings in solar cell production. | Duration: 02/2023 - 01/2026

Up to now, the decision to buy solar modules has mainly been driven by price. Evaluation criteria such as recyclability, CO2 emissions during production or the avoidance of environmentally harmful substances play a subordinate role in the purchasing decision. For this reason, an ecodesign regulation with an associated energy label for solar modules is being prepared at EU level and is due to come into force in 2024. The aim is to provide customers with information on the sustainability of solar modules. In addition, solar modules that exceed certain limits are to be that exceed certain limit values. | Duration: 06/2023 - 05/2026

Einleitungstext | Laufzeit: 01/2023 - 12/2026

More and more consumers and investors want heating systems that are both sustainable and economical. To date, there is no uniform data and model basis for evaluating technologies across all technologies. This is essential for consumers' investment decisions as well as sustainable product development by manufacturers and the optimal coupling of different heating technologies. The »Efficient Heating« project aims to close this gap and provide a methodology for the comparable ecological and economic evaluation of different heating systems and define suitable data formats. In addition, reference heating systems and scenarios for single-family and multi-family houses in various states of renovation will be developed. | Duration: 07/2022 - 12/2025