PV Days - Future Trends of PhotovoltaicsBalancing Market Pressure, Quality Assurance, and Sustainability – PV Days 2024 Address Current Challenges Facing the German PV Industry
How can the German PV industry remain competitive against international rivals, and what current technological developments and challenges are particularly impacting the solar sector? These and other topics were the focus of discussions among around 60 PV industry experts during the two-day PV Days at the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP in Halle (Saale) on November 27–28.
Presentations showcased case studies from industrial practice and introduced new research findings.
Key takeaways from the conference:
➡️ Insufficiently understood failure mechanisms are slowing the pace of technological innovation. Therefore, quality assurance for PV requires clearly defined standards and testing protocols.
➡️ In the field of PV systems, it was demonstrated how sensor and robotic technology can significantly enhance plant monitoring and how the digital processing of this monitoring data plays a crucial role in optimized operational management.
➡️ PV recycling is becoming increasingly important but remains a neglected issue due to cheap raw materials and the high costs of material separation. The presentations emphasized that sustainability efforts should focus more on the reuse of modules rather than solely on the recycling of materials and raw resources.
A highlight this year was once again the industry marketplace, where five exhibitors showcased their companies.
For the first time, an online tool for load-optimized PV system design, developed by Fraunhofer CSP in collaboration with the State Energy Agency of Saxony-Anhalt, was introduced.