Crystalline silicon will remain the technological foundation of photovoltaics for the foreseeable future. ISC Konstanz therefore calls for industry-oriented research on c-Si technologies to remain a key priority of German energy research funding. Twelve companies and institutions support this position.
ISC Konstanz has contributed to the consultation process on the further development of Germany’s Energy Research Programme with its position paper “Energy Research for Industrial Value Creation in Germany”. At its core is the question of how research funding can help Germany and Europe continue to benefit technologically and economically from the enormous growth of the global photovoltaic industry.
c-Si remains the foundation of photovoltaics
Crystalline silicon (c-Si) will remain by far the dominant basis of global solar cell production over the next ten years. Taking future c-Si-based tandem technologies into account, the latest International Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaics (ITRPV) indicates that around 95% of projected solar cell production in 2036 will still be based on crystalline silicon.
From ISC’s perspective, it is therefore essential not to play existing strengths off against future technologies. Research funding should instead cover the entire innovation pathway – from new cell concepts and the continuous further development of TOPCon and back-contact technologies to tandem cells and their industrial implementation. Different technology pathways, including 2-, 3- and 4-terminal tandem architectures, should be considered in a technology-open approach.
A multi-billion-dollar market for the German and European machinery and equipment industry
The economic opportunities are substantial: an Equipment Study jointly prepared by VDMA, Fraunhofer ISE and ISC forecasts that annual global investment in PV production equipment will increase from USD 16.6 billion in 2025 to USD 43.8 billion in 2035. This represents a cumulative market volume of approximately USD 250–300 billion over the coming decade.
Germany and Europe continue to possess strong expertise in production equipment, automation, metrology, materials, production processes and industrial research. These are precisely the capabilities that need to be further developed through close links between research and industrial implementation.
“This market represents a major opportunity for German and European industry. If our companies are to continue offering world-leading production equipment and technologies in the future, we need to advance the research behind them today. Research funding and industrial value creation must therefore be considered together,” says Dr. Radovan Kopecek, Managing Director of ISC Konstanz.
Industry-oriented PV research at ISC Konstanz: The automated loading unit from Jonas & Redmann and the four-tube diffusion furnace from centrotherm enable new processes for crystalline silicon solar cells to be developed and tested under production-relevant conditions. The close link between research and the machinery and equipment industry is a key message of the ISC position paper on future energy research funding. Photo: ISC Konstanz
Broad support from industry, research and the region
Twelve companies and institutions support the position paper, including companies from the machinery and equipment industry, automation and the photovoltaic industry, as well as stakeholders from research and the region – including centrotherm, RENA and VON ARDENNE. All supporters are listed on the first page of the position paper.
“This support is particularly important to us because it demonstrates that this is not simply about the interests of a single research institution,” says Rudolf Harney, Project Manager at ISC Konstanz. “It is about how research can help Germany and Europe continue to participate technologically and economically in one of the world’s largest growth markets.”
ISC also welcomes the intensive and constructive dialogue with the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) and Project Management Jülich (PtJ) on the future direction of photovoltaic research. The position paper now brings the perspective of ISC and its supporters into the ongoing consultation process.
Five recommendations for future research funding
The position paper recommends:
- maintaining c-Si as a key pillar of research funding,
- further strengthening industry-oriented research,
- placing greater emphasis on production technologies,
- expanding demonstration and piloting, and
- aligning research more closely with industrial exploitation.
In addition to scientific quality, particular consideration should be given to exploitation potential, industrial applicability and the contribution to European competitiveness.
The position paper concludes that Germany must make targeted use of and further develop its particular strengths in innovation, production technologies and industrial know-how in order to continue playing a leading role in the global photovoltaic industry and to benefit economically from its strong growth. Continued research funding is essential to achieving this goal.
Links to Position paper: