Lighter, more flexible and adaptable – the innovation platform Solar TAP develops innovative solutions for photovoltaic applications. The aim is to make surfaces already used in agriculture, the building sector and transport additionally usable for the expansion of solar energy with printed solar cells.
Renewable energies are essential for the success of the energy transition and the desired independence from the import of fossil fuels. Their expansion must therefore be driven forward swiftly and massively. Photovoltaics (PV) - energy from the sun - is an important pillar in this respect. Of all renewable energies, PV has the lowest environmental footprint, i.e. it generates significantly more energy than is needed for its production.
Agri-Photovoltaics at the living lab for AgriFEe of IBG-2 from the Forschungszentrum Jülich. In the living lab, new concepts for the combination of agriculture and electricity generation are tested under scientific supervision. Copyright: Forschungszentrum Jülich / Christina Kuchendorf
Even though we need to add around 330 Gigawatt in Germany by 2040, this expansion does not automatically mean building new large-scale solar parks: thanks to flexible and efficient PV systems that utilize surfaces in agriculture or in the building sector to generate additional electricity from the sun. The potential for this is great: agricultural land in Germany offers the technical possibility to contribute up to 3 Terawatt (short for terawatt peak) to electricity generation. Solar cells integrated into existing facades could generate up to 1 Terawatt of solar power - for example, to supply electric cars with decentralized and mobile electricity in the future. But so far, just less than 0.1 percent of facade surfaces are used for PV.
Multiple benefits: New potentials for the expansion of solar energy
Photovoltaics require surface area to produce electricity. In addition, PV can not "only" generate green energy, but can also offer further advantages in certain applications and thus generate multiple benefits for the respective application. Solar cells based on printed innovative PV technologies are particularly suitable for this "multi-benefit PV". They are easily moldable, lightweight and flexible, and can be customized in terms of color and transparency.
Façade-integrated photovoltaics at the living lab for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) at the HZB in Berlin-Adlershof. In the living lab, new concepts for BIPV are tested under scientific supervision.Copyright: Niklas Albinius/HZB
The modules can also be designed in many different shapes and designs - depending on the application requirements. The cells can be applied to materials such as plastic, glass or metal, giving them additional functionality. This creates new potential for the expansion of PV in agriculture or the building sector, for example, but could also open up new opportunities in the transportation sector. Solar energy thus becomes usable in many places and can be integrated into existing structures.
From the lab to the application: Innovative partner network drives development
Printable organic solar modules are being researched at the "Solar Factory of the Future," a research infrastructure of HI ERN.Copyright: EnCN/Kurt Fuchs
In the recently launched innovation platform Solar TAP ("Solar Technology Acceleration Platform for emerging Photovoltaics"), the technologies for these new multi-benefit PV applications are to be developed together with industrial partners. The Forschungszentrum Jülich, the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology want to make the results quickly and easily accessible to industry, society and end users via the platform.
Coordinated by the Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (HI ERN), a branch of Forschungszentrum Jülich, the three research institutions form a closed value chain involving world-leading laboratories and experts from the Helmholtz Association.
In order to rapidly develop these new PV solutions to market maturity, Solar TAP is an open offer to industry: At the core is the technology transfer to a strong network of companies such as material suppliers, device manufacturers, producers and users who want to establish themselves in the field of multi-benefit PV. A joint roadmap forms the framework for the exchange between science and industry and is intended to ensure that the developments have a real-world relevance. The network is supported by application laboratories in which these new technologies are not only developed but also demonstrated.
Interview: Solar cells from the printer for flexible solar energy: Solar TAP
In their interview, Prof. Christoph Brabec and Dr. Jens Hauch (both HI ERN) as well as Prof. Eva Unger from Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and Prof. Ulrich Lemmer from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) explain how far the technology has come and which applications they have in mind.>>Interview
Project background
Solar TAP is one of three new innovation platforms funded by the Helmholtz Association with a total of 40 million euros from the Pact for Research and Innovation. The aim is to create new structures and opportunities for technology transfer and the joint use of large-scale equipment, research infrastructures and data.
The funding for the Solar TAP innovation platform amounts to 15.1 million euros for the 3-year set-up phase which is funded starting in March 2023. In close cooperation with strong partners from industry and society, the platform will strengthen transfer and innovation in the Helmholtz Association and initiate long-term applied solutions.
Helmholtz Association
The Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers is the largest German organization for the promotion and funding of research and, with nearly 44,000 employees and a budget of more than 5.8 billion euros, one of the largest scientific research organizations in the world. More
As a branch of Forschungszentrum Jülich, HI ERN is part of the Helmholtz Association.
Interview: Solar cells from the printer for flexible solar energy
With innovative printable solar panels, researchers from the Helmholtz Association want to make areas already in use additionally usable for photovoltaics (PV). The recently launched Solar TAP platform aims to make the new technologies quickly and easily accessible to industry, society and consumers. In this interview, the coordinating researchers explain how far along various printable PV technologies are and what potential multiple benefits for PV they have in mind.
New algorithm enables weather data-independent identification of performance deficits in photovoltaic systems
For photovoltaic power stations to operate successfully, they must generate optimum yields over their entire service life. Researchers at HI ERN have now developed a new approach that makes it possible to detect and quantify insufficient power independently of weather data.
Simulation helps develop efficient organic solar cells
Printable organic solar cells are made of thin films and are considered potentially cheaper and more versatile than conventional solar cells. However, they still have lower performance and shorter lifetime than conventional solar cells so far. Researchers at the HI ERN have now developed a new approach in computer simulations to change this.
Researchers at HI ERN and FAU optimize performance and stability of multi-layer organic solar cells
Acceptor layers made of oligomers can increase the performance of organic solar cells and ensure a long operating life at the same time. This is the result of a series of complex laboratory experiments conducted by materials scientists at HI ERN and FAU. The researchers’ findings have been published in the journal ‘Nature Energy’.
