Fraunhofer ISE
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| Fraunhofer ISE | |
|---|---|
| Name | Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems |
| Native name | Fraunhofer-Institut für Solare Energiesysteme ISE |
| Established | 1981 |
| Type | Research institute |
| Headquarters | Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany |
| Director | Prof. Dr. Andreas Bett; Prof. Dr. Hans-Martin Henning |
| Parent organization | Fraunhofer Society |
| Staff | ~1,300 (2024) |
Fraunhofer ISE Fraunhofer ISE is a major European applied research institute focused on photovoltaics, solar thermal energy, energy efficiency, and renewable energy systems. Located in Freiburg im Breisgau, the institute is part of the Fraunhofer Society network and collaborates with universities, industry consortia, and public research organizations across Germany, Europe, and globally. Fraunhofer ISE advances technologies spanning materials science, device engineering, systems integration, and policy-relevant modelling while engaging with partners such as Siemens, BASF, Bosch, and the European Commission.
History
Founded in 1981 in Freiburg im Breisgau by a group of scientists influenced by regional initiatives linked to the University of Freiburg and the energy transitions in Baden-Württemberg, the institute emerged amid growing interest following the 1970s oil crisis and the growth of the German environmental movement. Early collaborations involved researchers from the Max Planck Society and technical staff from companies like Siemens and AEG. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Fraunhofer ISE expanded as EU framework programmes such as FP5 and Horizon 2020 funded multinational projects, while partnership networks grew to include institutions like CEA and Imperial College London. Leadership changes and strategic investments paralleled technological milestones such as the commercialization of multicrystalline silicon cells and the development of novel thin-film processes influenced by work at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin and Zentrum für Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-Württemberg.
Research Areas and Programs
Research programs cover photovoltaics, concentrating solar power, building-integrated photovoltaics, energy systems, and storage. Photovoltaics work spans crystalline silicon, heterojunction, perovskite tandem cells, and thin films, with connections to laboratories at MIT, Stanford University, and EPFL. Solar thermal research links to projects with Fraunhofer IFF and DLR activities in concentrated solar power. Energy systems modelling is informed by collaborations with The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Imperial College London, and the International Energy Agency. Storage research includes battery development aligned with partners such as VARTA, BMW, and Volkswagen. Programs often participate in EU consortia with members from Fraunhofer IKTS, SINTEF, TNO, and KTH Royal Institute of Technology.
Facilities and Infrastructure
The institute operates cleanrooms, pilot production lines, solar simulators, and testbeds for modules and systems. Major facilities include high-capacity photovoltaic characterization equipment comparable to setups at NREL, thermal testing laboratories analogous to those at Sandia National Laboratories, and energy systems modelling clusters linked to supercomputing resources used by RWTH Aachen University. The Freiburg campus houses anechoic chambers, accelerated aging rigs, and large-area coating systems; field sites for performance monitoring extend to rooftop arrays, microgrid demonstrators with Fraunhofer IKTS partners, and outdoor test fields used in coordinated studies with TÜV Rheinland and DEKRA.
Technology Transfer and Industry Partnerships
Fraunhofer ISE emphasizes rapid transfer of research into industry through licensing, spin-offs, and joint ventures. Technology transfer mechanisms include patenting and cooperation agreements with companies such as Q-Cells, REC Group, and First Solar. Spin-offs and start-ups founded by institute alumni have engaged investors like KfW, European Investment Bank, and venture funds linked to High-Tech Gründerfonds. Public-private partnerships have been structured with regional economic agencies in Baden-Württemberg and national ministries involved in the Energiewende. Standards and certification collaborations occur with IEC committees and national bodies including DIN.
Notable Projects and Achievements
Fraunhofer ISE contributed to advances in solar cell conversion efficiency, module reliability testing protocols, and hybrid energy systems. Key achievements include record-setting heterojunction and tandem cell demonstrations comparable to milestones reported by NREL and CEA-Liten, leadership in developing perovskite-silicon tandems alongside groups at Oxford University and EPFL, and large-scale integration studies for urban energy systems paralleling work at MIT Senseable City Lab. The institute played roles in EU-funded projects such as SOLAR-JET and PV-SEA and in national initiatives tied to Agora Energiewende reports. Awards and recognitions involve distinctions from organizations like the German Solar Prize and participation in advisory committees for the European Commission’s research agendas.
Organization and Funding
Organizationally, the institute is governed within the Fraunhofer Society corporate structure, with executive directors, departmental heads, and advisory boards consisting of representatives from academia and industry, including members connected to ETH Zurich, KU Leuven, and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. Funding derives from a mix of contract research for industry partners, competitive grants from the European Commission, national funding from agencies such as the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (Germany), and state-level contributions from Baden-Württemberg. Project portfolios typically combine bilateral industry contracts, collaborative consortium grants, and institutional baseline funding.
Education and Training
Fraunhofer ISE engages in education through joint appointments and doctoral supervision with universities like the University of Freiburg, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, and Technical University of Munich. Training programs include internships, postdoctoral fellowships, and continuing education courses co-organized with entities such as Fraunhofer Academy and regional vocational bodies. The institute participates in Erasmus+ exchanges with partners including TU Delft, Politecnico di Milano, and Chalmers University of Technology, and contributes to summer schools and professional workshops alongside organizations like ICLEI and IRENA.