Helmholtz Innovation Platform Solar TAP

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.

In the innovation platform Solar TAP, new technologies for multi-benefit PV applications are developed together with industry partners. In Solar TAP the three Helmholtz centers Forschungszentrum Jülich, the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin and the Karlsruhe Institut for Technology are cooperating and creating a formalized industry network around multi-benefit PV based on emerging printed PV technology.

The Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nuremberg for Renewable Energy (HI ERN), a branch of Forschungszentrum Jülich, is the coordinator of Solar TAP.

Solar TAP is funded initially for 3 years with a contribution of 15 million Euros from Helmholtz Association and 7 million Euros of own funds by the participating Helmholtz centers. SolarTAP is targeting sustainable growth through active industrial participation.

Emerging Technologies – Future of Photovoltaics

Discover the potential of emerging PV technologies.
Printed photovoltaics are

Light-weight

Produced as thin films on flexible substrates very low power-to-weight ratios can be achieved.

Transparent

Transparency between 10% and 90% are possible.

adaptable

Flexible and light-weight modules with different colors can be adapted to many applications.

colorful

Dependent on the choice of semiconductor red, green, blue and grey modules are possible.

color tunable

Combining multiple semiconductors makes it possible to tune the absorption spectrum.

sustainable

Printed PV can be produced with significantly lower energy input and chemical waste.

scalable

Due to the simple production processes production of printed PV may be rapidly upscaled.

recyclable

Substrates and packaging of printed PV represent 99% of the materials used and may easily be recycled.