Tag Archive for: Printed photovoltaics

Solar TAP Featured in Textile Technology Source

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Solar TAP is making waves at the LOPEC 2025 in the world of smart textiles, as highlighted in the latest issue of Textile Technology Source.

As a cutting-edge technology acceleration platform, Solar TAP is transforming the way energy is harnessed by integrating emerging photovoltaic innovations—particularly organic photovoltaics and perovskites—into real-world applications.

An efficient, flexible photovoltaic at the Solar TAP booth at LOPEC 2025. Photo: Messe Munich.
An efficient, flexible photovoltaic at the Solar TAP booth at LOPEC 2025. Photo: Messe Munich.

Born from the Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy, Solar TAP is dedicated to bridging the gap between research and industry. Our pioneering “lab-to-fab” approach ensures that solar technology moves seamlessly from the laboratory to scalable, commercial applications. At the heart of this transformation is our solar factory, a state-of-the-art research facility that fosters industry collaboration and accelerates innovation.

Printing flexible photovoltaic at the Solar Factory of the Future. Photo: Kurt Fuchs.

Our advanced printed thin-film PVs offer a game-changing solution: lightweight, flexible, and available in various colors to seamlessly integrate into diverse market applications, from fashion and outdoor gear to high-tech industrial uses.

This recognition in Textile Technology Source underscores our commitment to innovation and sustainability.

Read the full article here.

Meet us at Booth: FOE.17.

Solar TAP Shines at LOPEC 2025: A Resounding Success

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Solar TAP’s participation at LOPEC 2025 was a resounding success, drawing a significant number of visitors to our booth in the ICM Foyer.

At LOPEC 2025, Solar TAP demonstrated its leadership in the evolving landscape of photovoltaics, aligning perfectly with the conference’s focus on the latest trends and innovations in the printed electronics sector. Our participation was marked by significant achievements and substantial visitor engagement at our booth in the ICM Foyer.

Our dedicated team—Hauch Jens, Alexander Colsmann, Michael Wagner, Stefanie Ditze, and Wolfgang Mildner—were on hand at Booth FO.17, unveiling Solar TAP’s latest advancements. These innovations underscore our commitment to sustainable technology, which resonates with LOPEC’s emphasis on environmental sustainability and advanced electronic solutions.

A key event at our booth was the Solar TAP: Roadmap Validation Workshop for Industry and Science, held on February 27th from 16:00 to 18:00 in Room 4. This workshop brought together experts from science and industry to collaboratively shape the Solar TAP roadmap. The focus was on harmonizing and accelerating R&D actions across unique applications in agriculture, construction, IoT, and transportation. Participants worked to validate R&D priorities and define project opportunities for emerging photovoltaic applications, fostering collaboration and innovation.

The workshop was an essential platform for building connections and validating the strategic direction of our initiatives, in line with industry needs and advancements. Participants were encouraged to bring forward their ideas and needs, helping to propel emerging PV technologies towards significant breakthroughs.

We are grateful for the lively interactions and the enthusiastic response from all the attendees. The connections made at LOPEC 2025 are invaluable, and they pave the way for future collaborations and breakthroughs in the solar technology space.

Thank you to everyone who visited our booth and participated in our events. Your engagement and feedback are what drive us forward. Together, we are steering towards a more sustainable and innovative future, inspired by the pioneering spirit of LOPEC 2025.

SCIPRIOS Wins Bavarian Innovation Award 2024

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SCIPRIOS Receives Bavarian Innovation Award 2024 for Groundbreaking Work at the Intersection of Science and Industry.

Congratulations to our Solar TAP Network Member SCIPRIOS GmbH: The Fürth-based high-tech company has been awarded the Bavarian Innovation Award 2024 in the category “Cooperation between Industry and Science”. The award recognizes SCIPRIOS’s advanced automation systems, which are used in cutting-edge materials research and are accelerating the development of clean energy technologies.

SCIPRIOS’s innovations—ranging from precision measurement devices and lab robots to pilot production systems—enable key advancements in materials science. According to the award jury, these technologies not only push the frontiers of research, but also support global sustainability goals by fostering the development of core energy transition technologies such as photovoltaics, fuel cells, and batteries.

A notable highlight of SCIPRIOS’s portfolio is the Spincoating Robot system, developed using licensed technology from Forschungszentrum Jülich and the Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energies (HI ERN). This innovation has further strengthened the company’s role in the Solar TAP initiative, where it contributes to scaling up printed photovoltaics from lab to industry.

SCIPRIOS Wins Bavarian Innovation Award 2024 for Groundbreaking Work at the Intersection of Science and Industry @ copyright by IHK München/Andreas Gebert

Founded in 2018 as a spin-off of FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg and HI ERN by Dr. Tobias Stubhan, SCIPRIOS has built strong ties with academic institutions in the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region to test and refine its technologies. The company previously won the IHK Start-Up Award of Middle Franconia in 2023.

Well-deserved recognition for a team that bridges science and industry to power a sustainable future!

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.

Hidronik Network group photo at the Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy.

Hidronik Network Explores Sustainable Energy Solutions

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On October 19, 2024, the Hidronik Network visited the Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (HI ERN), a leading research institution dedicated to developing material- and process-based solutions for the sustainable and cost-effective utilization of renewable energies.

Dr. Jens Hauch presented the innovation platform Solar TAP and guided the visitors through HI ERN’s state-of-the-art laboratories.

Dr. Jens Hauch presenting Solar TAP's advancements to Hidronik Network participants during their visit to the Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg.
Dr. Jens Hauch presenting Solar TAP’s advancements to Hidronik Network participants during their visit to the Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg.

Hidronik Participants engaged in discussions with experts, exploring cutting-edge research in printable photovoltaics and hydrogen technologies. The visit fostered valuable connections and opened opportunities for future collaborations in sustainable energy technologies.

This collaboration between Hidronik and HI ERN exemplifies the synergy between industry and research institutions, driving innovation in sustainable energy technologies.

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

Helmholtz-Innovationsplattformen: 1. Statusseminar at EnCN, Nürnberg on 05.12.2023

1st Helmholtz Innovation Platform Status Symposium

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Solar TAP at the Forefront of Emerging PV Technologies: A Recap of the Helmholtz Innovation Seminar

On December 5, 2023, SolarTAP proudly participated in the Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft Innovation Flagships Status Seminar held at the Energy Campus Nuremberg (EnCN). The event marked a significant stride in our commitment to spearheading innovation in photovoltaic technologies.

Helmholtz-Innovationsplattformen: 1. Statusseminar at EnCN, Nürnberg on 05.12.2023
Helmholtz-Innovationsplattformen: 1. Statusseminar at EnCN, Nürnberg on 05.12.2023
Helmholtz-Innovationsplattformen: 1. Statusseminar at EnCN, Nürnberg on 05.12.2023

From 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, our team, alongside the bright minds from Hi-Acts and SOOP, showcased our recent advancements. Led by our esteemed Steering Committee members Christoph Brabec, Eva Unger, Ulrich Lemmer, and supported by Hannah Funk from VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH, Solar TAP presented our latest research and development projects.

The seminar focused on the implementation status of our initiatives, featuring discussions on team structures, portfolio development, and insightful market analysis. Our presentation highlighted our recent achievements in partnerships and provided a platform for exchanging marketing strategies and networking activities.

A special segment dedicated to Solar TAP emphasized our mission to drive breakthroughs in Emerging PV Technologies. Attendees had the opportunity to engage in a vibrant discussion about the sustainability of innovation platforms and the potential for future breakthroughs.

We also explored the collaborative efforts towards common marketing and brand development strategies. The day concluded with a collective discussion on how we can further integrate our marketing efforts across various platforms including print and trade shows.

This seminar was not just a reflection of our past achievements but also a stepping stone towards future innovations. We thank all participants and organizers for making this event a success and look forward to continuing our journey in revolutionizing the energy sector.