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 of 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.