Interview with Ralph Gottschalg

What will you remember most about the Fraunhofer CSP in 2024?

Despite the challenging situation for the solar industry, we have succeeded in creating a solar cluster for eastern Germany (SPOT-ON), which specifically focuses on the interests of local companies and thus aims to support their future viability. Greater regionalization in the expansion of renewable energies is an important step in many respects. I am pleased that we have received a lot of backing for this approach from the industry and also support from politicians. At project level, the “biomodule” we developed stands out for me - a photovoltaic module in which we relied almost entirely on the use of sustainable materials and were thus able to show how the carbon footprint can also be reduced in the production of PV modules. Personally, I really enjoyed the exchange with Ulrike Jahn (Head of IEA-PVPS Task 13). As a new colleague with exceptional experience, she provides the entire team with many valuable impulses.

Which clients are you addressing and what opportunities does the Fraunhofer CSP offer for cooperation?

Our central topic is quality assurance for modern PV solutions: We accompany the rapid technological progress with the necessary efforts for test standards and test procedures, especially with regard to the materials used. For example, we can offer special, now globally recognized expertise in evaluating the reliability of polymer materials in PV applications. Issues relating to the protection of intellectual property are also becoming increasingly important. Here we can contribute our expertise in microstructure design, and of course we also benefit from our first-class equipment for material characterization.

In the EU, the generation of electricity from photovoltaics and wind power exceeded that of fossil fuel power plants for the first time in 2024. How do you assess this development?

This milestone proves that renewable energies are becoming increasingly competitive and reliable. The trend also shows that green investments and the expansion of infrastructure are ensuring success, both technologically and economically, as well as in terms of Germany's security of supply and the achievement of climate targets. What has been achieved here in recent decades is enormous - even if the energy transition is currently often portrayed as a failure in political debates. However, the path we have taken must be pursued consistently, which requires political will. This is the only way to ensure a stable market in the long term, master the challenges of grid stability and implement the necessary solutions for energy storage.

What are you looking forward to in the new year and what will be a particular challenge in 2025?

I'm looking forward to advancing the SPOT-ON solar cluster and making our expertise available to customers directly in the region. The situation of the manufacturing industry in the solar sector remains a challenge, also for us as Fraunhofer CSP.