Solarvalley Mitteldeutschland e. V.
Solar energy can become competitive for fossil energy carriers and also the bearing pillar in the energy mixture of the future. For this, tasks must be solved at the source of electricity and in grid integration. The costs of generating electricity are to be reduced with new design concepts for cell and module and with new material systems. Epitactic hetero-systems on Si wafers for multi-junctions could mean a breakthrough. Stable operation of energy grids with very high shares of fluctuating energy must be guaranteed, taking the costs and the security of supply into due account. In the Solarvalley peak cluster, the economy, research, science and education and relevant actors in society have got together in order to go about these tasks with work division and a close interlinking.
Company details
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- Business Type:
- Professional association
- Industry Type:
- Solar Energy
- Market Focus:
- Internationally (various countries)
Mission
Solarvalley Mitteldeutschland is an internationally established cluster of photovoltaics (PV). Since 2009 more than 100 projects with a budget of € 120 million have been concluded within the framework of a „leading edge cluster“ sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and with additional funding from the three federal states Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringa. An integral educational system has been established across state borders: 7 endowed chairs have been created and 11 new Bachelor/Master courses, 3 state graduate schools and the Solarvalley Summer School have been set up. Under the leadership of the cluster, 15 European partners from 9 countries have got together to further innovations and to improve the framework conditions for the market positioning of the European PV industry.
The electricity generation costs are to be reduced further with new design concepts for cell and module and with new material systems. It is a question of secure and stable operation of energy grids with very high shares of fluctuating energy. The new tasks in photovoltaics and the SMART ENERGY Eastern Germany strategy concept are being fulfilled on four levels of action: development of the technology, strengthening of science and education, extension of the cross-state network, evaluation of the innovation process.
This concept will contribute to cope with the challenges of a sustainable energy supply and of using the potentials of the change of paradigm in the energy strategy for employment and prosperity in the East of Germany.
New Players and stakeholders are welcome to achieve this target together with us!
The Board Solarvalley Mitteldeutschland e.V.
Objectives
PV – a main pillar in the energy mix of the future
The value added chain of renewable energies is to be further differentiated. Here, it is a question in PV of upgrading approved products and new research approaches for the next generation of PV. Given the high and fluctuating output of PV and other renewable sources of energy today, it is however also a question of a new value added chain, which has to be extended downstream as far as system and energy market integration.
The important matter is the complex interaction of the various renewable energy generation systems, the implementation of controllable inverters including storage, the provision of system services for distribution and transportation systems, the synchronisation with the conventional power stations, which will still be needed for some time anyway, and finally the dynamic inclusion of the electricity customers and their consumption behaviour and also matching new market models.
Strategy
Four roads to one goal
Global competition on the new markets of the energy turnaround is a challenge and a chance for Eastern Germany as an innovation location. On the one hand, worldwide chances of sale open up for products, services and systems “Made in Germany”. On the other hand, it can be seen that the dynamic development of the reference marketplace Germany is connected with a fast rise in competitive pressure within short time periods. It is a question of facing up to these challenges. For this, Solarvalley pursues a strategic approach with four levels of action:
- Research and Development
- Science and Education
- Network Eastern Germany
- Process evaluation
Tasks
Energy turnaround: Chance for the economy in Eastern Germany
In a systemic approach, Solarvalley combines the solar modules with the other energy generators, the power system, storage and information and communication technologies. System competencies are critical success factors for the extension of new product concepts, technologies and services. Specific R&D lead projects have already been identified as a key for a new business unit. Demand for innovation, research resource allocation and the time for market are based on the 2013 bdew roadmap for implementation of smart grids in Germany. The implementation plan has been coordinated by the stake holders specific requirements - small/medium-sized or large companies. The period from 2017 to 2020 is being addressed for the market relevance.
Lead projects
Bio Methane plusWith a new technique, biogas systems can be used for load compensation in the electrical grid. The central element is a methanisation unit, which converts CO2 contained in the biogas into methane with the help of hydrogen. The Methane can be fed directly into the natural gas grid. The hydrogen is generated by electrolysis, making use of excess energy of the electrical grid. As an alternative, the biomethane can be used for the operation of a power generator if energy is needed in the electrical grid. As a result of the outstanding overall degree of efficiency and the extended system function of conventional biogas systems for energy storage, this concept will gain importance above all in rural areas. For process development, a 250 kW system is to be produced for demonstration purposes.
Redox flow storage systemThis type of battery is outstandingly suited as a buffer for the excess energy in island networks and grid-coupled systems due to the high efficiency, long life time, high cycle stability and the flexible scalability. Starting from prototype stacks (5 kW class), the total system which includes also the superordinate energy management system is to be made ready for the market. Further developments are to be carried out for performance and cost optimisation as well as for specific applications.
Smart PVModules and PV systems have currently been optimised to peak outputs for direct and unregulated grid feeding. To achieve a maximum energy outcome, all modules are nowadays aligned such that the maximum output is achieved around midday in the summer. Technical measures are to ensure that the energy achievement can be raised outside the “midday peak”. In particular the low light characteristics and the temperature coefficient are to be optimised. The market segment of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) is achieving an increased significance. New cost-optimised system solutions in combination with storage are to be designed for self consumption.
R&D Results
Since 2009, 28 companies, 9 research institutes and 10 universities of applied sciences and universities - supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the States of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia - have processed more than 100 R&D projects with a budget of € 120 million. The results lead to cost reductions on all levels of the value added chain, starting with the silicon as the raw material via the crystals, wafers and cells produced from it through to the module and the complete PV system:
- Silicone: The scientific understanding of silicon has been intensified. As a result of the increase of the detection precision of critical contaminations by a number of orders of magnitude and the development of close-to-industry measurement methods, the process parameters, the check of incoming material and quality assurance have been optimised.
- Crystals: It is now possible to produce outstanding crystals from low-cost solar-grade raw material with float zone methods. Solar cells produced from it show a comparably high degree of efficiency which can otherwise only be achieved by using very expensive electronic-grade raw silicon. The system developed has been designed for mass production. Further applications of these crystals are in the field of high-performance electronics and electro-mobility. In the traditional Czochralski method, the costs can now be clearly reduced, a material design and process management have been optimised on the basis of simulations.
- Wafer: A drastic cost reduction of more than 40% has been achieved in cutting of crystals. This was achieved by introduction of newly structured wires and a new slurry. In addition, highly efficient thin wafers with up to a thickness of 110 µm can be produced. In this way, the amount of material can be clearly reduced.
- Solar cells: New processes (PERC, PERT, IBC, hetero-junction) permit an increase of the degree of efficiency to up to 22%. These are leading edge values worldwide. Thanks to the higher degree of efficiency, the energy generation costs drop distinctly.
- Module: The achieved gain in output and income in cells has successfully been transferred to the modules. Currently, outputs of more than 300 Wp are achieved with this. Module reliability has been distinctly improved. In particular, the potential-induced degradation can be avoided effectively by counter-measures on the cell and module level.
- System: Manufacturers of thin-layer modules have developed specific solutions for building-integrated photovoltaics. These new components take on additional functions of the building shell alongside energy production by being inserted directly into the façade or the roof shell as a construction element. In addition, a module inverter system has been developed, permitting optimum operation of BIPV systems.
Cluster Members
Cross-border cooperation
In the Solarvalley, actors actively having an influence on the development of the energy sector and thus organising the energy turnaround have got together. on the one hand, these are the actors active in the field of new energies, i.e. technology developers and manufacturers of regenerative generation systems, accumulators and components and their suppliers, EPCs (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) and direct marketers of renewable energy. As a reflection of the outstanding potentials in the Central Germany region, the focal point here is with the manufacturers and providers of photovoltaics. On the other hand, we have the representatives of conventional energy generation and the grid operators. The conviction that the new technical and logistic solutions as well as new statutory regulations can only be developed jointly has brought these two groups together in the Solarvalley cluster.
International
SOLARROK - SOLAR Regions Of Knowledge – the most important European photovoltaics regions combine their forces in a joint plan of action. The regional specialisations are to be strengthened and technological and process-orientated innovations furthered by transnational cooperation projects: innovation by cooperation of PV in Europe - the reply to the challenges from the Asian competitors.
This project under the management of the Solarvalley Central Germany leading-edge cluster is supported by the European Union with € 2.3 million across a time period of 36 months as part of the FP7 Capacities, “Regions of Knowledge”. The SOLARROK consortium joins seven European regions from nine countries, each of them with specific competencies which complement one another.