Episode 13 of the blog series "heat pumps in existing buildings" on the current discussion on energy independence.
E for Energy Provision
At Fraunhofer ISE our research in energy provision that is, utilizing renewable energy sources, focuses on increasing the efficiency and optimizing the costs of solar energy systems – both photovoltaics and solar thermal. In the field of photovoltaics, our main emphasis is on silicon photovoltaics. Additionally we carry out research on III-V and concentrator photovoltaics as well as on novel photovoltaic technologies such as organic, dye and perovskite solar cells. Both module technology and the quality assurance of photovoltaic power plants also hold a central position in our research portfolio.
Besides energy efficiency, solar thermal energy plays a vital part in restructuring the heat sector for the energy transformation. Here Fraunhofer ISE investigates different materials and optics and develops thermal collectors and components as well as system technology. Not least, thermal storage systems are important for power plants and industry. Solar-powered desalination systems also are included in this area.
Articles from the category energy provision
How Sustainable is a PV Module? That Depends on its Design, Production and Recycling.
The claim that PV modules require more energy for their production than they can ever generate has been disproved by science a while ago. With energy payback times (EPBT) of a few months or years depending on...
Is it better to combine a heat pump with fossil heating in some cases?
Episode 10 of a series on heat pumps in existing buildings that raises the question whether there is a benefit in installing a hybrid system in an existing building. To evaluate the usefulness of hybrid systems, we...