INSTITUT FUR SOLARENERGIEFORSCHUNG GMBH

Their core work

ISFH is a German research institute dedicated to solar energy, with deep specialization in crystalline silicon (c-Si) photovoltaic cell and module technology. Their work spans advanced cell architectures — including silicon heterojunction (SHJ), interdigitated back contact (IBC), and shingled cell interconnection — aimed at pushing efficiency higher while reducing manufacturing costs. They bridge the gap between laboratory PV research and industrial-scale production, contributing directly to making European solar manufacturing competitive. Their involvement covers the full chain from cell-level contact design to module integration for rooftop, building-integrated (BIPV), and vehicle-integrated (VIPV) applications.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

ISFH's H2020 trajectory shows a clear progression from fundamental cell-level research toward system-level module integration and cost competitiveness. Their earliest project (DISC, 2016) focused narrowly on cell contact engineering — a deep materials-science question. By 2018-2019, their involvement shifted to full module design, diverse application contexts (rooftop, BIPV, VIPV), and explicit cost-reduction goals, reflecting a maturation from lab-scale innovation toward manufacturing readiness and market deployment.

ISFH is moving from cell-level R&D toward application-ready, cost-competitive module solutions — making them increasingly relevant for partners seeking industrialization and deployment expertise.

How they like to work

ISFH operates as both a project leader and a contributing specialist. They coordinated DISC (their earliest project) and joined two larger consortia as a participant, suggesting they are comfortable leading focused research efforts while also contributing specialized expertise to broader initiatives. With 49 unique partners across 15 countries from just 3 projects, they work in sizable European consortia and maintain a wide collaborative network relative to their project count.

Despite only 3 H2020 projects, ISFH has built a network of 49 partners across 15 countries, indicating participation in large, pan-European consortia. Their reach is broad across the EU solar energy research and manufacturing landscape.

What sets them apart

ISFH stands out as one of the few dedicated solar energy research institutes in Germany that covers the full chain from advanced cell architectures (SHJ, IBC, carrier-selective contacts) through to module integration and application-specific design (BIPV, VIPV). Their combination of deep c-Si cell physics expertise with practical module cost-reduction work makes them a strong partner for anyone looking to move PV innovations from lab to factory. For consortium builders, they bring both the scientific depth to innovate at cell level and the engineering pragmatism to deliver at module level.

Highlights from their portfolio

• DISC
  ISFH's only coordinated project, focused on a specialized cell-contact innovation — demonstrates their leadership capacity in targeted PV research.
• HighLite
  Largest funding (EUR 1.15M to ISFH) and broadest scope, covering c-Si, SHJ, IBC, shingle modules, BIPV, VIPV, and LCOE — a flagship European PV manufacturing competitiveness project.