Fraunhofer ISE Launches PV Module Production Laboratory

• Fraunhofer ISE has opened its Module Technology Evaluation Center (Module-TEC) in Freiburg, Germany 
• It will enable European solar manufacturers to develop prototypes and try out their testing at the lab 
• The institute aims to support European manufacturers bring technologically excellent and sustainable PV products to market 

Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE has opened a solar PV module production laboratory to enable manufacturing and testing of prototypes PV products on industrial plants. This center, it says, will support European PV industry stakeholders to move their ideas to the market quicker. 

Located in Freiburg, Germany, the Module Technology Evaluation Center (Module-TEC) is spread over 1,000 m2 space. It can help companies develop and produce prototypes that can be individually designed, through to small-scale industrial production. 

Module-TEC is equipped with state-of-the-art industrial stringer systems with infrared soldering technology and conductive bonding for the series connection of solar cells. All common cell formats can be interconnected here. 

The institute also provides industrial systems for shingle interconnection and industrial laminator for the production of PV modules in glass-glass and glass-backsheet technology. 

Fraunhofer will also support PV companies with virtual analysis, joint design development, construction of prototypes and small series. It can also assess long-term stability of the end product. 

The Director of the institute Dr. Andreas Bett explains, "The new Module-TEC would like to advance innovations developed at Fraunhofer ISE and support European material, module and system manufacturers in bringing technologically excellent and sustainable PV products to market."  

Fraunhofer's Module-TEC team has achieved industrial success in the recent past with teamtechnik developing conductive, lead-free adhesive with the institute that is now commercially available. 

In November 2023, it partnered with Heckert Solar to develop a new PV module with 400 W output, based on M12 half cells as a prototype. It helped the solar module manufacturer reduce material requirements (see Made In Germany Solar Panel With 400 W Output). 

"We hope that by reorganizing and expanding our Module-TEC we will be able to support PV companies even more quickly and comprehensively," said the Head of Department for PV Module Technology and Head of Module-TEC at Fraunhofer ISE, Prof. Dr. Holger Neuhaus.