News / Calendar - Renewable Energy / Photovoltaics - Technology Park Berlin Adlershof

A researcher in a laboratory © Flo Force Fotografie, Hahn-Schickard & IMTEK Universität Freiburg

28.10.2024

Hydrogen: Breakthrough in alkaline membrane electrolysers

Research team developed a highly efficient and very inexpensive AEM electrolyser:

A team from the Technical University of Berlin, HZB, IMTEK (University of Freiburg) and Siemens Energy has developed a highly efficient alkaline membrane electrolyser that approaches the performance of established PEM…

Perovskite materials for photovoltaic applications © M. Setzpfandt/HZB

24.10.2024

International alliance for reproducibility of perovskite solar cells

TEAM PV to drive further development and comparability of low-cost solar modules:

Ten teams at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin are building a long-term international alliance to converge practices and develop reproducibility and comparability in perovskite materials. The TEAM PV project is funded by the…

Robert Habeck, Minister for Economic Affairs, and Prof. Dr. Bernd Rech © BMWK / Andreas Mertens

17.10.2024

Prof. Dr. Bernd Rech appointed to the Energy Research Advisory Council

HZB‘s Scientific Director will advise the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Action (BMWK) on the direction of its energy research policy:

The Federal Minister of Economics Affairs and Climate Action, Robert Habeck, has appointed an advisory board to advise the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Action (BMWK) on the energy research programme.…

BIPV living laboratory at the HZB in Berlin © HZB

01.10.2024

HZB's Photovoltaic living lab reaches the 100 Megawatt-hour mark

The solar facades of the building in Adlershof provide insights into building-integrated photovoltaics:

About three years ago, the living laboratory at HZB went into operation. Since then, the photovoltaic facade has been generating electricity from sunlight. On September 27, 2024, it reached the milestone of 100…

Surface of a Vanadium carbide MXene © B. Schmiedecke/HZB

19.09.2024

MXenes show talent as catalyst for the production of green hydrogen

This class of materials is more stable and efficient than the best metal oxide catalysts currently available:

The MXene class of materials has many talents. An international team led by HZB chemist Michelle Browne has now demonstrated that MXenes, properly functionalised, are excellent catalysts for the oxygen evolution…

Carina Hanke, Climate and Energy Manager at HZB ©HZB

06.09.2024

Greenhouse gas neutral research

HZB wants to be a role model for a clean future:

“When a research institution is heavily focused on renewable energies, it should set an example in its efforts for climate protection,” says Carina Hanke. “Because of this, HZB has committed itself to become…

12.08.2024

IKZ, BAM, UDE and BESTEC successfully completed KostSol project

The aim of the joint project was to reduce costs in the production of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells through laser-induced structure formation on surfaces:

The joint project "Cost-Efficient Fabrication of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Solar Cells through Laser-Induced Surface Structuring" (KostSol), funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK), in…

02.08.2024

Green hydrogen: “Artificial leaf” becomes better under pressure

Pressures between 6 to 8 bar can increase the efficiency of hydrogen production with sunlight in photoelectrochemical cells:

Hydrogen can be produced via the electrolytic splitting of water. One option here is the use of photoelectrodes that convert sunlight into voltage for electrolysis in so called photoelectrochemical cells (PEC cells).…

Figure visualizing the added value of research and development so that research funds can be invested in promising and important projects. © 10.1016/j.joule.2024.07.005

30.07.2024

Green hydrogen from direct seawater electrolysis

International experts compare different approaches and warn against hype:

At first glance, the plan sounds compelling: invent and develop future electrolysers capable of producing hydrogen directly from unpurified seawater. But a closer look reveals that such direct seawater electrolysers…

SEM images of LPSCl pellets before (left) and after (right) the operando HAXPES experiment. © 10.1021/acsenergylett.4c01072

09.07.2024

BESSY II shows how solid-state batteries degrade

A team of researchers from HZB and Justus Liebig University Giessen present a new method for surface characterization of battery materials:

Solid-state batteries have several advantages: they can store more energy and are safer than batteries with liquid electrolytes. However, they do not last as long and their capacity decreases with each charge cycle.…

04.07.2024

From waste to value: The right electrolytes can enhance glycerol oxidation

HZB team investigates how waste materials can be used more efficiently and in a more environmentally friendly way:

When biomass is converted into biodiesel, huge amounts of glycerol are produced as a by-product. So far, however, this by-product has been little utilised, even though it could be processed into more valuable…

04.07.2024

LUM science prize Young Scientist Award 2024

M. Sc. Amin Said Amin was honored at the 11th International Conference on Dispersion Analysis and Materials Testing:

From June 10th to 11th, 2024, LUM GmbH hosted the 11th International Conference on Dispersion Analysis and Materials Testing. 70 participants from 14 countries around the world took part. Three candidates from France,…

01.07.2024

Good clean fun times two

DLR is working at two new institutes in Cottbus to help make industry and flying more sustainable :

Lowering CO₂ emissions is a pressing problem of our time. In Cottbus, people are working on solutions for it. Supported by funding for structural economic change, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) founded two…

19.06.2024

Open letter to BNetzA: Making network data more usable

25 organisations around the Reiner Lemoine Institute call for more transparent data to increase efficiency in the energy transition and grid expansion:

In an open letter, the Reiner Lemoine Institute, together with an alliance of research, industry and associations, appeals to Germany’s Federal Network Agency Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA) to make grid data even more…

Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font with the HZB management (Thomas Frederking and Bernd Rech). © Michael Setzpfandt / HZB

12.06.2024

Chilean President visits Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin

Together with a delegation of 50 people, Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font visited the research facility in Adlershof on 11 June:

The President of Chile, Gabriel Boric Font, visited HZB on 11 June with a delegation of 50 people. Among the highlights of the evening were the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Chilean Corporation…