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

Antje Vollmer, spokeswoman for BESSY II and project lead of the BESSY II+ project

12.12.2024

Modernisation of BESSY II light source

Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin presents the BESSY II+ upgrade programme:

At the 2024 meeting for the users of the electron storage ring BESSY II, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) presented the BESSY II+ upgrade programme. It enables world-class research at BESSY II to be further expanded and…

[Translate to English:] Dr. Kazuki Morita (links), Dr. Qingping Wu (rechts), HZB Berlin

12.12.2024

Two Humboldt-Fellows join HZB

Kazuki Morita and Qingping Wu contribute their expertise in materials and energy research at HZB:

In 2024, two young scientists joined HZB as Humboldt Fellows. Kazuki Morita joined Prof. Antonio Abate's group and brings his expertise in modelling and data analysis to solar energy research. Qingping Wu is an expert…

10.12.2024

Community-driven mini-grids in Nigeria

RLI research project shows ways to sustainably electrify rural regions:

In the project ‘Communities of Practice Nigeria’ (CP Nigeria), researchers from Reiner Lemoine Institute (RLI), together with experts from partner organizations, have developed results for the promotion of clean and…

05.12.2024

Why an economical Iridium catalyst works so well

An HZB team revealed that the special chemical environment in the P2X catalyst promotes water splitting during electrolysis:

Iridium-based catalysts are needed to produce hydrogen using water electrolysis. Now, a team at HZB has shown that the newly developed P2X catalyst, which requires only a quarter of the Iridium, is as efficient and…

Public transport at the bus station in Bensheim

28.11.2024

High-performance charging for e-buses in public transport also possible without grid expansion

Successful outcome of the ‘Buffered-HLL’ pilot project for energy- and cost-efficient charging with flywheel mass storage systems:

The nationwide pioneering pilot project ‘Buffered-HLL’ for energy- and cost-efficient high-performance charging with flywheel mass storage for electric buses in local public transport successfully concludes its…

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.…

Renewable Energy / Photovoltaics

Latest news about renewable energies and photovoltaics research