Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin successfully at international Photovoltaic Conference in Hamburg
2.500 experts on photovoltaics from all over the world met at the 31th EU PVSEC in Hamburg. © Guglielmo de' Micheli
HZB was present at the 31th EU PVSEC with oral and poster presentations and in addition with an own booth at the exibition. © HZB
Dr. Onno Gabriel and co-authors were selected from more than 1,300 submissions for the TOP 20 publication of the conference.
From 14. to 18. September more than 2.500 experts on photovoltaics from all over the world met at the 31th EU PVSEC in Hamburg to discuss the latest developments and innovations. HZB was present at the conference with oral and poster presentations and in addition with an booth at the exibition. A joint publication by the Competence Centre for Photovoltaics (PVcomB) and Institute for Silicon Photovoltaics was chosen from 1,300 contributions under the best TOP 20 of the conference.
The European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC) is one of the largest international conferences for photovoltaic research, technologies and applications. It is regarded as the world’s leading platform for exchanges between the worlds of photovoltaic research and industry in the global photovoltaic solar industry sector. Over 2,500 experts from 77 countries met at the 31th EU PVSEC in Hamburg. More than half of the participants had been represented by research and development specialists and about 40 percent from the segment industry and engineering. 20 researchers from HZB have participated at the conference.
A HZB joint publication from PVcomB and Institute for Silicon Photovoltaics has been rated as one of the best current work in the field of photovoltaics submitted to the Conference. Dr. Onno Gabriel and co-authors were selected from more than 1,300 submissions for the TOP 20 of the 31th EU PVSEC with their publication "Crystalline Silicon on Glass: Interface Passivation and Its Impact on the Absorber Material Quality ". The authors of the 20 highest scored abstracts of the EU PVSEC 2015 are invited to submit a paper for publication in the renowned scientific journal Progress in Photovoltaics. The special edition will be available for free download for a year, a special feature of the not open access-publishing magazine.
Gabriel and his colleagues investigate the influence of new industrial processes to produce thin crystalline silicon layers directly on glass. This preparation method is developed at HZB for several years and promises high material and energy savings. The at HZB measured efficiency of 12.1% is currently the world record for this solar cell technology.
- Key technology for a future without fossil fuelsIn June and July 2025, catalyst researcher Nico Fischer spent some time at HZB. It was his sabbatical, he was relieved of his duties as Director of the Catalysis Institute in Cape Town for several months and was able to focus on research only. His institute is collaborating with HZB on two projects that aim to develop environmentally friendly alternatives using innovative catalyst technologies. The questions were asked by Antonia Rötger, HZB.
- 5000th patient treated with protons for eye tumoursFor more than 20 years, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) have been jointly offering proton radiation therapy for eye tumours. The HZB operates a proton accelerator in Berlin-Wannsee for this purpose, while Charité provides medical care for the patients. The 5000th patient was treated at the beginning of August.
- Self assembling monolayer can improve lead-free perovskite solar cells tooTin perovskite solar cells are not only non-toxic, but also potentially more stable than lead-containing perovskite solar cells. However, they are also significantly less efficient. Now, an international team has succeeded in reducing losses in the lower contact layer of tin perovskite solar cells: The scienstists identified chemical compounds that self-assemble into a molecular layer that fits very well with the lattice structure of tin perovskites. On this monolayer, tin perovskite with excellent optoelectronic quality can be grown, which increases the performance of the solar cell.