Ongoing Research Project

In the "mDC2H2" project, we have developed a modular and efficient direct current system for integrating PEM electrolyzers for decentralized hydrogen production. The focus was on developing a highly efficient DC/DC converter for voltage adaptation between the DC bus and the electrolyzer. By using a lossless resonant circuit topology and state-of-the-art SiC semiconductors, we have significantly reduced the system costs. | Duration: 11/2022 - 10/2024

As the backbone of the German economy, medium-sized industrial manufacturing companies are particularly affected by the challenges of the energy transition, as they are simultaneously consumers, distribution network operators and, increasingly, producers. Many companies lack the necessary energy data, personnel and know-how to cope with these new technical and energy industry requirements. The aim of the project is therefore to develop digital solutions for the optimized operation of the energy infrastructure in medium-sized industrial companies. | Duration: 01/2024 - 12/2026

At Fraunhofer ISE, we are working together with our partners to improve building-integrated photovoltaic solutions in the EU and Switzerland. At the heart of this work is our matrix shingling pilot plant at Fraunhofer ISE's Module-TEC (link). We use this plant to manufacture prototypes for buildingintegrated photovoltaics (BIPV). Our services are aimed at companies that want to improve the efficiency, shading resilience, and aesthetics of their products. | Duration: 11/2023 - 10/2026

To achieve climate protection goals, renewable and storage power plants must, alongside expanding renewable generation, provide extensive system services and essential properties—such as grid formation—to ensure stable system operation at all times. New verification methods are required to confirm that grid-forming behavior meets stability requirements under all grid conditions. Fraunhofer ISE, together with its partners, has developed and tested such a method using various grid-forming devices. This has enabled both optimizations of the verification process and a comprehensive market overview of current grid-forming inverter technology. | Duration: 06/2023 - 05/2025

Thermal storage units are a central component of climate-neutral heat supply. Storage systems covering a wide range of sizes and temperature ranges are required for buildings, district and municipal heating networks, and industrial applications. In the DRUCKSTORE project, Fraunhofer ISE, together with IPROconsult, IAB Weimar, and m-tec, is developing new manufacturing methods based on concrete 3D printing using ultra-high-performance concretes (UHPC). This combination aims to enable the production of highly integrated storage units with minimal material usage, thereby creating cost-effective and efficient solutions. | Duration: 11/2025 - 10/2028

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

In the early production phase of battery cells, the reject rate is particularly high, as conventional end-of-line tests primarily record the overall condition and can overlook minor defects. In the “Quaze” project, we are working with Precitec to develop a non-destructive measurement method that records the spatial expansion of pouch cells during charging and discharging cycles and uses this data to reconstruct a meaningful expansion field. In this way, the “good” expansion behavior that indicates defect-free cells is to be determined. AI evaluates the measurement data, detects deviations from the “good” reference pattern, and provides indications of faulty process steps. This accelerates corrective measures, reduces scrap and costs, and improves the overall environmental balance of cell production. | Duration: 04/2023 - 09/2026

Innovative manufacturing technologies, e.g. for large-area displays, enable the cost-effective production of units consisting of thousands of interconnected semiconductor devices by miniaturization, additive manufacturing, parallelization and self-alignment. The objective of the "micro-CPV" joint project is to develop a concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) module based on these technologies. This shall enable high PV performance while at the same time exploiting cost reduction potentials in production. | Duration: 04/2020 - 12/2024

The chemical industry in Germany is one of the most energy-intensive sectors and faces the challenge of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. Integrating high-temperature heat pumps into chemical processes can improve energy efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions. Partners Evonik Operations GmbH and Fraunhofer ISE are working together to develop innovative solutions to reduce CO2 emissions and improve the industry's energy efficiency.| Duration: 09/2024 - 12/2028

The aim of this project is to develop cost-effective cell and module technologies based on highly efficient III-V multi-junction solar cells for markets in which high efficiency promises particular advantages, for example in electric aircraft and vehicles. | Duration: 09/2022 - 08/2025