Tag Archive for: Organic photovoltaics

Solar TAP at the 6th AgriVoltaics World Conference

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Solar TAP Showcases the Future of Sustainable Farming at the 6th AgriVoltaics World Conference in Freiburg

The 6th AgriVoltaics World Conference has wrapped up after three vibrant days of scientific exchange, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration—and Solar TAP was right at the heart of it.

Solar TAP Showcases the Future of Sustainable Farming at the 6th AgriVoltaics World Conference
Solar TAP Showcases the Future of Sustainable Farming at the 6th AgriVoltaics World Conference

As a bronze sponsor of the event, Solar TAP proudly joined researchers, policy makers, and industry leaders in exploring the synergy between agriculture and solar energy. The conference, held from July 1–3, 2025, brought together experts from fields as diverse as photovoltaics, plant biology, hydrology, energy systems, and agronomy. For Solar TAP, it was a unique opportunity to share its vision for a future where printed solar technologies power more resilient and productive agricultural systems.

Solar TAP at the 6th AgriVoltaics World Conference @ Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH

At the Solar TAP booth, visitors experienced flexible organic photovoltaic (OPV) modules, insights into printed solar technologies for sustainable agriculture, the first fruits and vegetables grown under Agri-PV — and attendees even tasted the future of farming, with cucumbers and strawberries grown in Solar TAP systems.

First fruits and vegetables grown under Agri-PV @ copyright Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH

Within Solar TAP’s conference exhibit visitors had the opportunity to engage with Dr. Onno Muller, an expert in plant ecophysiology and high-throughput phenotyping in agrivoltaic systems; Dr. Matthias Meier-Grüll, who leads Agri-Horti-PV projects and coordinates the interdisciplinary hub “Bioeconomy meets Energy”; and Chantal Kierdorf, who welcomed guests and shared the latest insights into research and practical applications of printed solar technologies in agriculture.

Dr. Matthias Meier-Grüll and Chantal Kierdorf share the latest insights into research of printed solar technologies in agriculture @ copyright Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH

One of the highlights was Extended Technical Tour 1 to the Agri-Food & Energy Park in Morschenich, operated by Forschungszentrum Jülich, where Solar TAP innovations are being used in real-world pilot projects combining crop cultivation with real-time data monitoring under APV structures.

Tour to the Agri-Food & Energy Park in Morschenich @ copyright Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH
Tour to the Agri-Food & Energy Park in Morschenich @ copyright Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH

As the AgriVoltaics World Conference continues to grow in global significance, Solar TAP reaffirms its commitment to pushing the boundaries of sustainable agriculture and clean energy integration. From lab to field, and now from science to taste, the Solar TAP journey is just beginning.

Kretschmann visits KIT Solar TAP exhibit at HMI

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KIT welcomes Minister President Kretschmann to its Solar TAP exhibit at Hannover Messe.

At the world´s leading trade fair Hannover Messe 2025, Minister President Kretschmann of Baden-Württemberg visited the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) booth to discuss the benefits of sustainable photovoltaic (PV) technologies with the Solar TAP Principal Investigator and head of the Organic Photovoltaics Group at KIT, Prof. Alexander Colsmann.

From March 31 to April 4, KIT shows selected highlights from technology development in the Future Hub and at Energy Solutions: Energy and Commitment for the Future© copyright by Karlsruher Institut für Technologie

Prof. Colsmanns group exhibited a demonstrator of a greenhouse with integrated semitransparent OPV-modules, showcasing the promising application of such emerging-PV technologies in agrivoltaics.

KIT is one of three research institutions involved in the development of the Solar TAP innovation platform, collaborating with industry partners to create new technologies for multi-benefit PV applications. Solar TAP serves as an open innovation hub aiming to bridge the gap between research and industrial application.

By integrating scientific expertise with the practical needs of industry, Solar TAP drives the rapid commercialization of advanced PV solutions that offer ecological, economic, and societal benefits. It focuses particularly on developing PV systems that contribute not only to clean energy generation but also to additional functionalities, such as improving urban infrastructure or agricultural productivity.

Solar TAP Showcases Printed Photovoltaics at glasstec 2024 in Düsseldorf

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Solar TAP highlighted its innovative approach at glasstec 2024 in Düsseldorf.

From October 22 to 25, 2024, Solar TAP made a strong impression at glasstec 2024 in Düsseldorf, the world’s leading trade fair for the glass industry. The initiative presented its innovative approach to integrating glass as a key enabler in advancing solar energy applications—especially in the field of photovoltaics.

As part of the Helmholtz Association, Solar TAP brings together the expertise of Forschungszentrum Jülich, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. The platform’s mission is to accelerate the deployment of next-generation solar technologies by promoting Multi Benefit Photovoltaics—solutions that serve dual purposes beyond energy generation.

At glasstec, Solar TAP highlighted how emerging printed solar cell technologies, including organic photovoltaics (OPV) and perovskite solar cells, can be seamlessly embedded into everyday environments. These flexible, lightweight modules open new possibilities for solar integration in agriculture (Agrivoltaics), building facades (BiPV), and transportation (MobilityPV).

Solar TAP Showcases Printed Photovoltaics at glasstec 2024 in Düsseldorf @ copyright by Helmholtz-Institut Erlangen-Nürnberg

Through strategic collaboration with a wide network of industrial partners, Solar TAP drives the development and commercialization of these technologies across the entire value chain—from lab-scale research to industrial-scale manufacturing (“lab-to-fab”). The goal: to fast-track market readiness and foster broad adoption of sustainable, multifunctional solar solutions.

The exhibition at glasstec 2024 underscored the pivotal role of glass as not only a protective layer but a functional and aesthetic component in the solar revolution.

Wolfgang Mildner presenting the SolarTAP Project at the MID Summit 2024 in Stuttgart.

3D-MID Summit 2024: Advancing Innovation

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On October 23, 2024, the MID Summit & MID Workshop took place at Hahn-Schickard in Stuttgart, Germany. This two-day event, jointly organized by Hahn-Schickard and the Research Association 3-D MID e.V., served as a premier platform for professionals in the field of Mechatronic Integrated Devices (MID) to explore the latest technological advancements, engage with industry experts, and participate in technical presentations and workshops.

A highlight of the summit was the presentation by Wolfgang Mildner, network manager for the SolarTAP Project. In his talk titled “SolarTAP – A Technology Acceleration Platform for Emerging PV Technology from the Lab to the Fab,” Mildner introduced the SolarTAP initiative, a Helmholtz Association project aimed at accelerating the deployment of printed photovoltaic technologies, such as organic photovoltaics and perovskites. The initiative focuses on integrating solar energy solutions into sectors like agriculture, construction, and transportation, working closely with industrial partners to bring these technologies to market readiness.

Attendees networking at the MID Summit 2024 in Stuttgart, discussing innovative MID technologies.
Networking Session at MID Summit 2024

The MID Summit & MID Workshop 2024 featured a diverse program, including expert presentations from both industry and research sectors, a poster session showcasing current research projects, and a trade exhibition. Participants had the opportunity to engage in workshops on topics such as new research areas, printed hybrid electronics, sustainability, and market research. The event facilitated networking and knowledge exchange among professionals, fostering collaboration and innovation within the MID community.

Overall, the MID Summit & MID Workshop 2024 provided valuable insights into the latest developments in MID technologies and their applications, highlighting initiatives like SolarTAP that aim to bridge the gap between research and industrial implementation.

Getting PV from lab to fab

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German research group Helmholtz Association hopes to speed up the adoption of flexible printed solar PV technologies by transferring advances in the lab to industry through its growing Solar TAP initiative.

German research group Helmholtz Association has a new platform to transfer flexible printed solar PV technologies from the lab to industry.

Known as Solar Technology Acceleration Platform (Solar TAP) for emerging Photovoltaics, it aims to bring lighter-weight solar PV solutions in a wider range of colors, with a greater range of transparency, not to mention greater bandgap tunability, than what is available in the market today.

A roadmap for the emerging PV applications is being developed by the Solar TAP participants, according to Jens Hauch, Solar TAP manager.

Read the complete article here

New limits of the possible

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How do we want to live in the future? And how will our visions become reality? Scientists at Forschungszentrum Jülich are already working solutions today. They have ideas that will make life better for better for all of us.

But it doesn’t stop at ideas. Good ideas and from the laboratory become applications with concrete benefits. How? We’ll show you in this this issue of Endeavours magazine.

We explore how our visions can already become can become reality at close quarters: for example in the CroMa-PRO project during the UEFA EURO 2024 in Düsseldorf or through the LAION research network.

It ensures that AI systems with freely accessible data sets can redefine the limits of what is possible with freely limits of what is possible – as illustrated in our cover picture. So come with us on a journey into a world, as it can be when Jülich innovations find innovations find their way into practice: green, smart and safe.

Read the complete article here (German)