2022

Stacking a solar cell made of perovskite material on top of a conventional sili-con solar cell enables a more effective use of the solar spectrum, compared to a pure silicon solar cell. Scientists around the world are presently conducting research on these perovskite-silicon solar cells, focusing on stability, durability and industrial manufacturing processes. Between 2020 and 2022, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, together with industry partners, developed technologies for the production of perovskite-silicon full-format PV modules in the joint project "SWiTch". At the cell level, the research teams in the Fraunhofer lighthouse project "MaNiTU" and in the project "PrEs-to", funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action BMWK, succeeded in scaling up perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells from laboratory cell size to wafer size. Within the framework of a recent col-laboration agreement with Meyer Burger, Fraunhofer ISE will further intensify its activities in the field of tandem solar cells and modules.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI launches its Battery Update: a new blog format in which scientists present core results from their current battery research. In addition, the blog serves as a platform where current topics around the battery supply chain are accompanied and discussed.

For 30 years, employees of the Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS in Halle (Saale) have been conducting research on microstructure diagnostics and design as well as microstructure-based technology development. On November 2, 2022, the institute's anniversary was celebrated at a festive colloquium with guests from business, politics, and science. Among the well-wishers were the Minister for Science, Energy, Climate Action and the Environment and Deputy Prime Minister of the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt, Professor Armin Willingmann, Professor Reimund Neugebauer, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, and the Mayor of the City of Halle (Saale), Egbert Geier.

The construction of new LNG terminals with the aim of reducing energy dependence on Russian natural gas raises concerns that the associated fossil fuel infrastructure could hinder the transition of the energy system to renewable energy sources and thus the energy transition. Therefore, the question of convertibility of these LNG terminals for a later use with renewable energy carriers such as liquid hydrogen or ammonia is of particular importance. A new study by Fraunhofer ISI on behalf of the European Climate Foundation (ECF) addresses this question and finds that there is much uncertainty around the proposed conversion of LNG terminals to import liquid hydrogen or ammonia.

Can we contribute to the worldwide energy challenge by maximizing the efficiency in power conversion at a low cost? The answer is: YESvGaN! So, the goal of the YESvGaN consortium is to create a new class of vertical power transistors based on gallium nitride (GaN), so-called vertical GaN membrane transistors. These novel power devices combine the efficiency of wide-bandgap (WBG) semiconductors with the lower cost of the established silicon semiconductor technology. Within YESvGaN, the development of the required new technology all the way from wafer to application is covered.

German industrial companies are currently suffering from the sharp rise in the cost of fossil fuels and electricity. Such massive price increases are a looming threat to the existence of energy-intensive industries. As a result, saving energy is becoming a key issue for companies. The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Ener-gy Systems ISE makes use of its expertise to help companies decrease the ener-gy consumption at their sites, and thus lower costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A key success factor here is Fraunhofer ISE’s holistic consideration of the production processes and energy flows, as a current project with a company from the corrugated cardboard industry shows.

In conjunction with the 4th Turkish-German Energy Forum, Kalyon Güneş Teknolojileri Üretim A.Ş. and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today at the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action BMWK in Berlin, Germany. In the MoU both parties reaffirm their intent to cooperate in the field of agrivoltaics as well as in other integrated photovoltaic technologies and PV storage technologies. Over the next three years, Kalyon plans to invest at least nine million US dollars in research contracts and joint research projects with Fraunhofer ISE.

Currently heat pump manufacturers are mainly focusing on cost reductions and sustainable refrigerants. In the project “LC150” (Low Charge 150 g), the Fraun-hofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE and a consortium of heat pump manufacturers are developing a standardized and refrigerant-reduced propane refrigeration circuit. The team has now succeeded in setting a new efficiency record: A heating capacity of 12.8 kilowatts was achieved with only 124 grams of propane, which results in a specific refrigerant charge of approximately 10 g/kW. Fraunhofer ISE will be showing a refrigeration circuit prototype from the project at the upcoming Chillventa Trade Fair (Oct. 11-13, 2022, Messe Nuremberg).

Jointly with Korean scientists, the Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS has been conducting research on the import of green hydrogen since 2020. The Fraunhofer Innovation Platform for Hydrogen Energy at the Korea Institute of Energy Technology FIP-H2ENERGY@KENTECH will now provide the foundation for a more enhanced cooperation with partners in South Korea. The signing ceremony during the 3rd Germany-Korea Hydrogen Conference on 27th September 2022 in Berlin sealed this cooperation.

When producing silicon solar cells, it is important to have a high throughput. This reduces production costs and alleviates supply bottlenecks as more photovoltaics installations are being deployed in Germany and worldwide. Headed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, a consortium of plant manufacturers, metrology companies and research institutions have come up with a proof of concept for an innovative production line with a throughput of 15,000 to 20,000 wafers per hour to respond to this need. This represents double the usual throughput and is due to improvements to several individual process steps. This week’s eighth World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion in Milan, Italy, will see the presentation of detailed results from the research project funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).