Tag Archive for: SolarTAP

Solar TAP at the Western Balkans Energy Conference

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Solar TAP at the Western Balkans Energy Conference – Connecting Ideas & Driving Collaboration

On July 10, 2025, Solar TAP Researcher Niklas Albinius from Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin proudly participated in the conference “Decentralized Energy Supply for Self-Consumption with PV in the Western Balkans” in Skopje, organized by AHK North Macedonia. The event served as a key platform for fostering collaboration between German and Macedonian stakeholders on the future of decentralized solar energy.

Invited by the organizers, he delivered an insightful presentation on Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), highlighting the importance of stakeholder communication and sharing best practices from Germany’s energy transition. His contribution underlined how innovative BIPV solutions can unlock new opportunities for sustainable building design in the Western Balkans.

Solar TAP Researcher Niklas Albinius at the Western Balkans Energy Conference

The conference featured a high-level exchange of expertise, with discussions on:

  • Innovative BIPV technologies and effective stakeholder engagement
  • Energy storage solutions and the rise of energy communities
  • Financing mechanisms for PV projects in North Macedonia
  • Strategic consulting, digitalisation, and energy planning for the future of smart energy systems

Through expert presentations, interactive panel discussions, and intensive B2B matchmaking sessions, the event successfully connected innovative German companies with local stakeholders to explore partnerships and accelerate the region’s solar transformation.

By engaging in these dialogues, Solar TAP reaffirmed its commitment to supporting sustainable energy transitions, not only by advancing PV technologies but also by building bridges between markets and stakeholders.

The Western Balkans conference once again demonstrated that collaboration, knowledge exchange, and innovation are essential to shaping a resilient and decentralized energy future.

Solar TAP Digital Twin Workshop for Emerging PV

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Workshop Review: Towards a Digital Twin for Emerging Photovoltaics

From June 30 to July 1, 2025, over 25 researchers, students, and industry professionals gathered virtually across two afternoons to explore the current landscape and future directions of digital twin approaches for emerging photovoltaic (PV) technologies. The workshop provided a platform for exchange across various disciplines and perspectives, spanning from materials science to device simulation and systems engineering. Participants included PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, professors, and representatives from industry. Companies such as JCMwave and Fluxim shared their current simulation approaches and research tools, adding valuable applied insight to the discussion.

The program on Day 1 provided an overview of the Solar TAP initiative, with sessions on morphology formation (Olivier Ronsin, HI ERN), optical simulation (Carsten Rockstuhl, KIT), and photonic modeling using JCMsuite (Sven Burger, JCMwave). These talks emphasized the role of structural and optical modeling in the development of digital twins.

Sven Burger (JCMwave) with session on photonic modeling using JCMsuite @copyright Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH
Sven Burger (JCMwave) with session on photonic modeling using JCMsuite @copyright Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH
Olivier Ronsin (HI-ERN) with session on morphology formation @ copyright by Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH
Olivier Ronsin (HI-ERN) with session on morphology formation @ copyright by Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH

Day 2 focused on device-level modeling using SETFOS (Urs Aeberhard, FLUXiM), energy yield modeling (Seyedamir Orooji, KIT), and the application of machine learning and optimization techniques (Pascal Friederich, KIT).

Pascal Friederich (KIT) with focus on the application of machine learning and optimization techniques @copyright by Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH
Pascal Friederich (KIT) with focus on the application of machine learning and optimization techniques @copyright by Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH

Together, these sessions illustrated how Solar TAP aims to unify a diverse set of modeling tools—from material morphology to system performance—into a comprehensive digital twin framework for flexible, printed, and emerging PV technologies.

The workshop was coordinated by Marie Louise Schubert (KIT) and Carsten Rockstuhl (Solar TAP PI). It brought together researchers from academia and industry to collectively advance the development of digital twins for next-generation photovoltaic systems.

We thank all speakers and participants for their inspiring contributions and look forward to further collaboration within the Solar TAP community.

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.

Pocket-Sized Tool for Rapid In-Field Analysis of PV Polymers

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Solar TAP Researchers Unveil Pocket-Sized Tool for Rapid In-Field Analysis of PV Polymers

As part of its mission to bring advanced materials science into real-world solar applications, the Solar TAP initiative at the Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg (HI ERN), Forschungszentrum Jülich, has developed a pocket-sized PV-Scanner capable of quickly identifying polymer materials in photovoltaic (PV) modules in the field — directly on-site and without damaging the panel.

The innovative handheld device uses near-infrared absorption spectroscopy (NIRA) and AI-powered analysis to determine the composition of backsheets and encapsulants — key polymer components that influence module durability and performance. This breakthrough was made possible through Solar TAP’s integration of spectroscopy hardware from Spectral Engines and custom machine learning models developed in-house at HI ERN.

Solar TAP Researchers Unveil Pocket-Sized Tool for Rapid In-Field Analysis of PV Polymers @copyright by Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH

Such polymer differences are common, even among modules with identical specifications, due to changes in manufacturing or supply chains. These variations can impact a module’s long-term behavior — making field-based diagnostics essential.

The device, still in prototype stage, is being commercialized in partnership with LayTec, Spectral Engines’ sister company, and through Anymo, a spin-off born from Solar TAP’s work at HI ERN. Together, they aim to finalize development by the end of 2025, with early prototypes already available for pilot projects.

Solar TAP’s contribution extends beyond diagnostics. By embedding AI into the tool, the team has created a foundation for faster quality control, material verification, and sorting during PV recycling, enabling a more circular and resilient solar industry. The work has already been published in Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, validating the science behind the application.

This marks a strong example of how Solar TAP accelerates technology transfer from research labs to field-ready tools — reshaping how solar materials are monitored, maintained, and reused across the module lifecycle.

Read the complete article here.


 

Solar TAP Enables Industry Training at SFF

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Advancing Printed Electronics: Solar TAP Supports Industry Training at Solar Factory of the Future

Through the initiative of Solar TAP Network Member Automatic Research, a collaborative training session was held at the Solar Factory of the Future at the Energy Campus Nürnberg, part of the Solar TAP research infrastructure. The event supported Pietro Fiorentini, a customer of Automatic Research, in learning how to use sheet-to-sheet slot-die printing on various substrates and with different functional inks.

A technician from the Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nuremberg (HIERN) conducted the training and worked closely with the company to address several technical challenges encountered during the process. Expertise from the HIERN played a key role in solving specific tasks during the hands-on sessions.

Automatic Research and their customer in learning how to use sheet-to-sheet slot-die printing on various substrates and with different functional inks @copyright by Helmholtz-Institut Erlangen-Nürnberg

A central asset of the Solar Factory of the Future is its Roll-to-Roll (R2R) slot-die printing machine, which offers cutting-edge capabilities for the production of organic and perovskite solar modules. Equipped with advanced slot-die coating and laser processing technology, the industrial-scale machine enables the production of flexible solar modules at speeds of up to 2 meters per minute. It is ideally suited for both large-scale prototyping and high-throughput materials research.

Solar TAP facilitated direct collaboration between Automatic Research and top-tier slot-die printing specialists, enabling focused problem-solving and efficient knowledge transfer. This engagement drives progress in printed electronics and paves the way for new market potential across the industrial network.

By fostering these hands-on collaborations, Solar TAP gains deeper insight into practical industry challenges and scaling barriers—reinforcing its role as a vital bridge between pioneering research and real-world application.

Solar TAP Booth at the Agri-PV NRW Meeting

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Solar TAP Showcases Climate-Smart Agri-PV Innovation at NRW Conference

On May 27, Solar TAP participated in the Agri-PV Conference in Bad Sassendorf hosted by Landwirtschaftskammer Nordrhein-Westfalen and NRW.Energy4Climate at Haus Düsse. The event served as a key platform to discuss the integration of agrivoltaic systems into modern agriculture, addressing topics such as crop cultivation under PV structures, regulatory frameworks, and economic viability.

Solar TAP was proud to present its Agri-PV demonstrator — a greenhouse equipped with flexible solar modules — highlighting the potential of dual land use for sustainable food and energy production. Dr. Christoph Jedmowski, Leon Merker, and Dr. Matthias Meier-Grüll engaged with a diverse audience of over 100 stakeholders from research, agriculture, and policy.

Solar TAP presents its Agri-PV demonstrator — a greenhouse equipped with flexible solar modules @copyright by Forschungszentrum Jülich GmBH

The onsite demonstration installation offered attendees a hands-on look at real-world Agri-PV implementation. Conversations at the Solar TAP booth focused on how to scale emerging photovoltaic solutions to meet the needs of modern agriculture.

Agri-PV is more than a concept — it’s a practical solution for a more resilient and sustainable agricultural future.

More information about the Agri-Food-Energy Park can you find here.

Joint Solar TAP/Hi-Acts Workshop

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Accelerator Meets Application: Solar TAP and Hi-Acts Host First Joint Industry Workshop at HZB

On May 22, 2025, Solar TAP and Hi-Acts — two Helmholtz Innovation Platforms — co-hosted their first-ever Joint Industry Workshop at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (BESSY II). Held directly after the Solar TAP Industry Day, the event brought together industry professionals, researchers, and innovation leaders to explore the transformative potential of accelerator-based analytics for advanced functional materials.

Under the theme “Accelerator-based Analytics meets Advanced Functional Materials”, the workshop showcased how particle accelerator technologies can drive real-world innovation in sectors such as photovoltaics, energy storage, electronics, and beyond.

Joint Solar TAP/Hi-Acts Workshop @copyright by Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH

The program offered a rich mix of perspectives and interactive formats. Participants enjoyed insightful presentations by experts from HZB, DESY, LayTec AG, the University of Potsdam, and FOM Technologies, who showcased real-world applications and technological innovations.

Solar TAP Manager together with industry partners from FOM Technologies. @copyright by Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH

In parallel, dynamic discussion tables invited in-depth exchange on topics such as advanced material analysis, nanostructure engineering, in-situ diagnostics, and device characterization. A highlight of the day was the exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the BESSY II synchrotron, giving participants rare access to one of the world’s most advanced accelerator facilities.

Exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the BESSY II synchrotron @copyright by Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH

For Solar TAP, this collaborative format provided a high-impact opportunity to align industry needs with research capabilities — particularly in thin-film processing, scalable device fabrication, and diagnostics for printed and hybrid photovoltaics.

By uniting the strengths of Solar TAP and Hi-Acts, this milestone event demonstrated how cross-platform synergy can accelerate the development of competitive, next-generation materials — from the atomic scale to industrial application.

5th Solar TAP Industry Day

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5th Solar TAP Industry Day Unites Research and Industry in Berlin

On May 21, the 5th Solar TAP Industry Day brought together leading minds from industry, academia, and innovation at the Center for the Science of Materials Berlin (CSMB) – a central institute of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin — to shape the future of printed and hybrid PV technologies in Europe. The full-day event, organized in collaboration with Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB), focused on how emerging PV technologies and flexible manufacturing approaches can meet growing industrial demand and contribute to a resilient European energy transition.

5th Solar TAP Industry Day unites research and industry in Berlin @copyright by Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH

From Research Results to Real-World Implementation

The day started with a platform update by Dr. Jens Hauch (Solar TAP Manager) and steering committee member Prof. Eva Unger who provided insights into current transfer projects and the platform’s expanding industry network.

Eva Unger (Solar TAP Steering Committee) and Jens Hauch (Solar TAP Manager) welcomed partners from industry and academia @copyright by Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH

In his keynote, Prof. Rutger Schlatmann (HZB) addressed the strategic reshoring of the PV value chain in Europe. He called for close coordination between politics, research, and industry to strengthen Europe’s technological and economic resilience.

Prof. Rutger Schlatmann (HZB) addresses the strategic reshoring of the PV value chain in Europe @copyright by Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH

The agenda featured a wide range of success stories and technological spotlights — from green solvent-based processing to next-generation tandem devices (CIGS/Perovskite and Si/Perovskite). Several project teams presented their approaches to scalable module design and shared learnings from lab-to-fab transitions.

Roadmap Dialogue, Funding Insights, and Lab Access

During the event, Solar TAP presented the first consolidated version of its Strategic R&D Roadmap, developed through co-creation workshops with industry and research partners. It defines milestone-based goals for key applications such as Agri-PV, BIPV, Mobility-PV, and IoT-PV, along with prioritized R&D actions for 2027, 2030, and 2035. The roadmap provides a shared foundation to guide future collaborations, funding activities, and technology transfer across the Solar TAP community.

Strategic R&D Roadmap @copyright by Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH

In the subsequent Funding Dialogue, Robert Reim (HZB) gave an overview of current support schemes for PV innovation, ranging from national ZIM programs to European cooperation opportunities. These sessions were deepened in World Café discussions, where participants shared experiences and explored collaborations on roadmap implementation and cross-sector use cases.

Jens Hauch (Solar TAP, left) interviews Robert Reim (HZB, right) about current support schemes for PV innovation @copyright Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH

Guided tours through HZB’s HySprint lab, PVComB, KOALA station, and IRIS Adlershof offered first-hand impressions of advanced Solar TAP infrastructure.

Demonstration of flexible OPV at the Solar TAP booth @copyright Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH

Networking and Cross-Platform Collaboration

The event concluded with a networking dinner in Berlin-Adlershof, followed the next day by a Joint Workshop with the Hi-Acts Innovation Platform at Bessy, strengthening the cross-platform dialogue on accelerator-based analytics and functional materials.

Through initiatives like the Solar TAP Industry Day, the network continues to enable strategic dialogue and innovation transfer, providing a platform where industry and research meet to tackle real-world challenges in solar energy and printed electronics.

Pascal Friederich Receives Manfred-Fuchs-Prize 2025

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Pascal Friederich Wins Manfred-Fuchs-Prize 2025 for Groundbreaking Work in AI-Driven Solar Materials.

Dr. Pascal Friederich, Tenure-Track Professor at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), has been awarded the prestigious Manfred-Fuchs-Prize 2025 by the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities. The €10,000 prize honors his pioneering contributions to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in developing novel chemical materials, with a particular focus on solar energy applications.

As Principal Investigator of the Solar TAP project, Friederich leads an interdisciplinary research group at KIT that combines computer science and materials science to accelerate the discovery of next-generation solar cell materials. His team brings this expertise into the Solar TAP digital twin, simulating materials at the atomic scale, integrating existing knowledge and extensive materials databases, as well as machine learning techniques to predict promising material candidates and simulate their properties with high accuracy.

Pascal Friederich in the SCC (Steinbuch Centre for Computing) next to the “Hochleistungsrechner Karlsruhe” – HoreKa for short @ copyright by Bramsiepe, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Within Solar TAP, Friederich collaborates closely with researchers from the Institute of Microstructure Technology to design efficient and sustainable photovoltaic technologies. This data-driven approach lays the foundation for a new era of digital materials development—faster, more efficient, and resource-conscious.

The jury recognized not only the innovative bridge Friederich builds between informatics and the natural sciences but also the high relevance of his research for solving key societal challenges, such as climate protection and the global energy transition.

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.