2024

Fighting forest fires with solar systems

In a recent study, a team of researchers from the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering (UNSW) in Australia and HI ERN investigated how forest fires affect electricity generation from photovoltaic systems and to what extent solar systems can be used to detect and monitor forest fires in the future.

The consequences of the PV boom: HI ERN study analyses recycling strategies for solar modules

Photovoltaics is an important pillar of the energy transition. However, the expected PV ramp-up will tie up large quantities of resources. Circular recycling strategies are necessary in order to avoid waste streams in the future that are of the order of magnitude of today's global electronic waste. This is the conclusion reached by researchers at HI ERN in a study published in the renowned scientific journal Joule.

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European Physical Journal highlighted HI ERN publication

European Physical Journal (EPJ E) recently highlighted the study “Local electroneutrality breakdown for electrolytes within varying-section nanopores” from HI ERN scientist Paolo Malgaretti, and his colleagues. The researchers now derive equations that describe how local electrical charge in electrolytes changes in channels with varying cross sections, at equilibrium. The result could help to predict pathways for charged particles in biological and technological systems.

Innovation Driver AI: Development and Optimization of Photovoltaic Materials

In order to accelerate the implementation of innovative solar cell concepts, research must also be able to evaluate the rapidly growing amount of data in this field. The SOL-AI project will create a basic AI model that will fundamentally reform materials informatics in this field.

Award: HI ERN doctoral student receives Best Poster prize

Carolin Sophie Igel received the award for her poster entitled "Activity and Dissolution Stability of Ir/Ru-based Electrocatalysts Tested in a Model Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzer" at the 8th Baltic Electrochemistry Conference in Tartu (Estonia).

Photovoltaics meets agriculture: Agri-PV systems in the focus of the 3rd SolarTAP Industry

The third industry day focused on the integration of photovoltaics in agriculture, also known as Agri-PV. This ground-breaking technology promises to revolutionize the efficiency of agriculture and at the same time pave the way for sustainable energy.

Climate-neutral mobility: Minister President Dr. Markus Söder and Interior Minister Joachim Hermann visit the HI ERN

At this press event of the Bavarian State Government at the Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nuremberg for Renewable Energy, Minister President Dr. Markus Söder and Minister of the Interior Joachim Hermann, together with representatives of Siemens and the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, provided information about the "Stadt-Umland-Bahn".

Symposium "Electrocatalysis 2024"

With over 200 international participants, the "Electrocatalysis 2024" symposium was a complete success: world-leading researchers in their respective fields and key players from industry came together in Nuremberg to present the latest developments in research and discuss current challenges for electrocatalysis in complex electrode structures. The symposium was jointly organized by the Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nuremberg for Renewable Energies and the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg.

CareerDay 2024: Doctorate and then?

Whether an academic or industrial career, science management or founding a company - over 50 doctoral students at the HI ERN were able to gain important impulses for their own career planning at the institute's second Career Day.

52nd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference

The 52nd edition of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference in Seattle (USA) was a milestone in its long history. Over 800 experienced photovoltaic experts, young professionals and students took the opportunity to discuss the latest developments on site. HI ERN team leader Dr Ian Marius Peters was part of the organizing committee.

Efficient recycling process for perovskite solar cells demonstrated

Researchers at HI ERN have developed an efficient and environmentally friendly process for recycling perovskite solar cells. In a paper published in the journal Energy & Environmental Science, they present a method with which up to 99.97 percent of the materials used in a solar cell can be recovered and reused - with comparable efficiency, less waste and lower costs. This is the first time that such a high level of efficiency has been achieved in the recycling of perovskite solar cells.

Postdoctoral researcher Birk Fritsch selected for YESP excellence funding program

HI ERN postdoc Birk Fritsch has secured a place in Forschungszentrum Jülich's Young Excellent Scientist Program (YESP) alongside four other young researchers. The program is aimed at aspiring young scientists who are aiming for a leading position in science.

Catalyst for Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis with Low Iridium Loading developed

The new catalyst doubles the iridium utilization and thus reduces the amount of iridium required in a PEMWE cell. This can reduce the costs of the promising PEMWE technology for producing hydrogen and accelerate its large-scale implementation.

Award: HI ERN doctoral student receives prize for best presentation

Moritz Geuß was awarded the "Best Oral Presentation Award" at the HYCELTEC 2024 symposium. In his presentation, he presented the quantification of iridium dissolution using a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) setup.

Dr. Tatiana Priamushko receives Humboldt Research Fellowship for Postdocs

Dr. Tatiana Priamushko received the Humboldt Research Fellowship for Postdocs to continue her research at HI ERN on non-noble metal oxides for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in a wide pH range. Her research contributes to the knowledge-based development of precious metal free catalysts for efficient use in electrolyzers

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Dr.-Ing. Birk Fritsch honored with Best Paper Award

HI ERN postdoc Birk Fritsch received the Best Paper Award for his paper "Controlling the Solution Chemistry in Aqueous Phases During In Situ Microscopy" at the Microscopy and Microanalysis 2024 conference in Cleveland (USA).

Interview: Harnessing the Power of the Sun

The energy world of the future relies on photovoltaics. Researchers at HI ERN want to leverage the potential of new solar technologies faster - with a unique innovation network. Prof. Christoph Brabec and Dr. Jens Hauch from HI ERN tell Endeavours magazine that the future of photovoltaics consists of more than just roofs and fallow land.

Joachim Walther Schultze Prize 2024 for Prof. Marc Ledendecker

Prof. Marc Ledendecker receives the award for his groundbreaking work on the development of stable nanoparticles for electrochemical reactions. The Arbeitsgemeinschaft Elektrochemischer Forschungsinstitute (AGEF e.V.) awards the 2,000 euro prize every two years to independent young scientists for their important contributions to electrochemical research topics.

Across institute boundaries: 1st HITEC Day at HI ERN

Over 50 doctoral students came together at the first "HITEC Day" in Nuremberg, the newest location of the HI ERN. The focus was on a look behind the scenes at HI ERN, impulses from research and networking with each other.

Scalable and stable: researchers demonstrate largest CO2 reduction to date using CO2 electrolysis

Researchers at the University of Toronto and HI ERN have succeeded in improving the gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) for CO2 electrolysis through microstructure optimization. This is a pioneering step towards producing CO2 -neutral fuels and chemicals using CO2 electrolysis. Their work was recently published in the renowned journal "Joule".

Nanochemistry: Discovery of molecular intermediates and non-classical mechanisms in nanoparticle formation

Classical nucleation theories only represent the complex reality of nanochemistry to a limited extent, as researchers from HI ERN and the University of Maryland (USA) demonstrate in their current work. Instead, they propose a reaction-limited nucleation mechanism. The article was recently published in the journal "Small Structures".

Three awards for Dr. Andreas Hutzler at EMC2024

Andreas Hutzler won two "Best Poster Awards" and the award for "Best Scientific Image" at the European Microscopy Congress (EMC).