Fraunhofer researchers at the Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI) have considerably increased the efficiency of silicon solar cells using laser technology. The modification of the surface enables the previously unused infrared portion to be harnessed for generating energy. The surfaces treated with lasers turn black, which is why scientists refer to "black silicon" or "black silicon solar cells".  more...

Following personnel changes in PV CYCLE, the industry association for recycling photovoltaic modules (BINE reported), Wilfried Taetow took over its leadership in September 2011. In the BINE interview, the new president explains how the recycling of PV modules can be realised at a time when the industry is under economic pressure and the EU is planning to include discarded PV modules within the scope of its EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.  more...

Even in a remote village far from the public electricity grid there is modern everyday life with radios, washing machines and electrical appliances. In energy terms this is a ?standalone? system. The electricity is supplied by a hybrid system that combines various renewable energy sources and an additional diesel generator, and is buffered with a battery system. An information and control network with a new operating system keeps the stand-alone grid (mini-grid) stable.  more...

The Faculty of Supply Engineering at Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences has installed a renewable energy park at its Wolfenbüttel campus. A redox flow battery weighing 5,000 kg has now been added to this energy park. With this system, which is only the second of its kind in Germany, a further storage technology is now available in this "Smart Grid Test Facility".  more...

Photovoltaic systems last a long time - but not forever. Working on the current 'SoMoRec' research project, developers are making PV module recycling processes more economical and ecological. Researchers were already testing the sorting and recycling of disused PV systems in a pilot plant provided by the company Sunicon in the context of the joint 'Somozell' project (BINE Information Service reported on this project in its 2/2010 Projektinfo brochure). Within the PV CYCLE association itself, structural changes are currently taking place.  more...

New developments make it possible: solar power can be produced increasingly cheaply. The solar power industry is close to achieving grid parity, which means that it will no longer cost more to generate solar power than the current consumer price. Researchers are presenting solar cells with ever-higher efficiencies and new records are constantly being set, only to be broken again. The series of successes is one of the clearest indications for the rapid progress being made in photovoltaics.  more...

The political conditions for a change in energy policy (from fossil fuels and nuclear energy to renewable energy sources) have never been better. However, a successful change in energy supply can only take place with the support of private households who change to green electricity and homeowners who invest in renewable energy technology. How can potential users (and especially women) be persuaded to change? The interdisciplinary research project "Renewable energy sources and green electricity - communication according to specific target groups" intended to find the answer to this question.  more...

In its 2010 Annual Report, the German Federal Ministry of the Environment has presented its focal areas for funding research in the field of renewable energies. Topics include wind energy, photovoltaics, solar thermal energy, solar thermal power plants, geothermal energy, the optimisation of energy supply systems, ocean power, interrelated issues and international collaboration.  more...

In June 2010, the Solar Decathlon Europe took place for the first time in Madrid. The aim of the international competition is to develop and independently build experimental and cutting edge homes. In terms of their annual energy balance, the buildings must cover their energy needs by using solar power. During the eight-day competition, judging panels assessed the buildings in ten individual disciplines. In Madrid, the University of Virginia from the USA successfully beat off 16 competitors to achieve first place. Two university teams from Germany also made it onto the winning rostrum.  more...

There are already more than 100 regions and many rural communities that are promoting sustainable development based on renewable energies. After developing individual concepts and strategies, the lengthy and often very complex implementation begins. A research project organised by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment has been supporting these regions in conceptual and technical terms since 2007. This project is being conducted by the deENet competence network and the University of Kassel, and is being advised by the German Federal Environment Agency. In a second project phase, it is planned to create a national network by 2013.  more...