Press releases

Sustainability and resource efficiency in the photovoltaic industry will have a significant impact on the future of renewable energies. Currently, raw materials and materials are still being used in solar modules that cannot be recycled at all or can only be partially recycled and have weaknesses in terms of environmental compatibility. This is where the recently completed project “E2 - E-Quadrat. Renewable energies from renewable raw materials”. Together with partners, the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP in Halle (Saale) has developed a solar module in which the components that are not directly required for light-to-electricity conversion are made from biodegradable materials, recyclable materials or renewable raw materials.

Three Fraunhofer Institutes and the Korean Institute of Energy Research (KIER) want to intensify their exchange on hydrogen, photovoltaics and wind energy topics. To this end, a cooperation agreement was signed today in Halle (Saale). The Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS, the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM, Dresden Branch and the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems IWES are involved. The collaboration is intended to support the faster establishment of a hydrogen economy and sustainable energy supply in South Korea and Germany.

In the highly competitive photovoltaic industry, technical innovations can bring decisive advantages, especially for European market participants. The prerequisites for this are functioning competition and the ability to enforce the protection of intellectual property. This is where the new "IP Protection" project comes in, in which the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP in Halle (Saale) is researching preparative and analytical methods together with partners in order to be able to provide legally secure evidence of patent infringements.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS in Halle (Saale) is working with six partners to develop intelligent algorithms and methods that support the production of application-optimized rubber compounds. The goal is software that uses information on formulation and processing conditions to derive predictions and optimization strategies.

matrihealth GmbH, a leading company in the field of elastin insulation and processing for the cosmetics, food and medical industries, has successfully completed a seed financing round. Two renowned investors, together with Fraunhofer Venture, are providing a seven-figure sum for the construction of a plant for isolating elastin on an industrial scale.

The use of fiber-reinforced plastics in sandwich construction enables highly efficient lightweight structures. Leading international experts presented and discussed current trends in material and technology development and new fields of application for sandwich materials at the "Composite Sandwich Conference" on 24/25 April 2024 in Halle (Saale). They showed solutions in the field of tension between raw material efficiency, digitalization and sustainability, for example for applications in the automotive industry, aviation or photovoltaics.

Synthetic rubber is indispensable today, especially for car tires and technical rubber goods. Until now, the raw materials for its production have largely been obtained from fossil sources. Under the leadership of the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP, four Fraunhofer Institutes are now developing alternative, biobased raw material sources for synthetic rubber, which will enable completely new types of rubber for car tires. The three-year project is being funded by Fraunhofer with 3.25 million euros and starts in April 2024.

The recycling of components from end-of-life solar modules is an important approach to the sustainable use of resources. This allows certain components of solar modules to be reused or converted into new products. The recently launched joint project "RETRIEVE" aims to make this possible: When recycling solar module components, the goal is to improve the material quality so that it meets the current requirements for reintegration into the photovoltaic value chain. The Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP is contributing its expertise in material analysis and process optimization to the project, which will run until March 2027.

Innovative therapeutic approaches to treat periodontitis are being developed by PerioTrap Pharmaceuticals GmbH, Skinomics GmbH, the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI and the Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS in the joint project "Paropaste". They are focusing on blocking the germs responsible for this rather than killing them. This approach, which could help prevent antibiotic resistance, will be presented by the research consortium from Halle (Saale) at the IADR/AADOCR/CADR General Session in New Orleans, USA, on March 14, 2024.

For the sixth time in a row, the Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS in Halle (Saale) has made it onto the list of Germany's most innovative companies compiled by the market research service provider Statista and the business magazine "Capital". The Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP is also represented in the ranking, which is based on the assessment of innovation and industry experts.