Solar Innovation Mission to Germany

Why PV (Photovoltaic) and why Germany?

The development and production of solar cells and related technologies in Europe are back on track. As of late 2010, production almost completely disappeared from Europe. Even today, the vast majority of solar panels come from the Far East, mainly from China.

The Chinese lead in mass production of the current generation of solar panels can hardly be caught up with. But in new technologies such as tandem solar cells, integrated solar cells and circular solar panels, European players have built a strong position. Parties in Germany play a crucial role here: think Meyer Burger for manufacturing and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin or the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft for research and development. Recent German policy supports the development of solar panels along the entire value chain.

To learn more about these developments and make contacts with the industry in Germany, we will visit Berlin, Bitterfeld, Halle and Dresden. In these regions in particular, research, development and production of solar cells is a new spearhead.

Goals of the mission

This innovation mission brings together German and Dutch parties in the areas of: 

1. lightweight solar panels that can be integrated into facades or roofs of buildings and other infrastructures such as noise barriers without separate construction;
2. higher-efficiency solar cells;
3. PV on water;
4. developing fully circular solar modules that can be repaired, reused and recycled at the end of their lifetime.

Programme

The mission starts in Berlin and ends in Dresden. Not all arrangements have been finalised yet, but we foresee visits to the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Meyer Burger, the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics and Solarwatt, among others. Furthermore, we will organise 2 networking events with parties from Germany: the first at the Dutch embassy in Berlin, the second in Dresden.

You can read more about this innovation mission on our website.

Who can participate?

The mission focuses on R&D managers, business development managers, CTOs and CEOs of companies and knowledge institutions that develop, produce and apply new generations of solar panels and related technologies.

Registration

If you would like to participate in the innovation mission, please register before 1 September via this link. The cost of participation in this mission is €250 excluding VAT per person. Participation includes programme, transfers to programme components and lunches and dinners when included as part of the programme. This does not include travel and accommodation costs, all individual costs such as lunch and dinner outside the programme.

Want to know more?

If you have any questions about the innovation mission, please contact us at innovatiemissies@rvo.nl.

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