Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH)

Organisation name

Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH)

Department(s)/Unit(s)

1 Photovoltaics

2 Solar Thermal

3 Scientific Services

Location

Hameln, Germany

Total number of employees

160

Mission

Foster solar energy research, world class research, academic education in cooperation with the Leibniz University Hannover

Objectives

Reduce the cost for utilizing solar energy by improved manufacturing processes, reduced material consumption, enhanced conversion efficiencies, and improved system designs.

Laboratories/Facilities

State of the art tools, mostly production type, for up to 156x156 mm2 Si solar cell processing (wet chemistry, PECVD, ALD Al2O3, furnace, screen printing, evaporation, laser processes)

Extensive solar cell and module characterization techniques (IV tester, IQE, EL, PL, QSSPC, ECV profiling, SEM)

Certified test laboratory for solar thermal collectors

Technology expertise

Designing, processing and analysing solar cells, photovoltaic modules, solar thermal collectors and thermal storages.

Main research topics

Photovoltaics:

Silicon solar cells ranging from industry type to novel concepts

Silicon thin film cells with wafer thicknesses below 50 µm

Photovoltaic materials, in particular surface passivation and wafer characterization

Photovoltaic module fabrication and reliability

Advanced simulation of silicon solar cells

Solar thermal:

Thermal systems

Thermal storage

Thermal collectors

Thermal materials