Meetings on the Solar Sector

In just a few years Adlershof has evolved into a research and production
centre for thin film solar cells. A new event is to provide fresh
impetus to this trend. Following intensive preparations by the event
team Adlershof con.vent this will be the place where experts in photovoltaics
will be coming together in April.

For the first International Thin Film Photovoltaics Week in April 2009 about five hundred scientists, entrepreneurs, politicians, and journalists will be expected in Adlershof. The event’s hosts are the competence centre PVcomB (Thin-Film and Nanotechnology for Photovoltaics in Berlin), HZB (the Berlin Helmholtz Centre for Materials and Energy), and Solarpraxis AG. Together they represent the entire spectrum from basic research to actual application issues. The event will start off with a science workshop on the Staebler-Wronski effect. This prevents the potential of amorphous silicon from being utilised to the full, and its clarification could contribute to considerable improvements in the efficiency of thin film modules. This meeting, which will also be attended by Chris Wronski, one of the discoverers of this effect, is the first ever on this subject.

A second workshop will be focusing on the development of thin film silicon cells and playing host to a congregation of technology leaders fromscience and industry. As a central meeting place on the solar sector the Thin Film Industry Forum deals with questions ranging from production to quality assurance. Covering about 1,100 square metres the meeting rooms of Adlershof con.vent will be in addition the venue for seminars, poster exhibitions, and an accompanying trade fair. This programme is rounded off with guided tours through photovoltaics and a conference dinner.

This event as well as others are to raise awareness for Adlershof as a photovoltaics centre. At the end of May, the Adlershof photovoltaics operators will be presenting the location’s entire PV portfolio from research to turnkey plant at INTERSOLAR in Munich. The joint stand at Europe’s largest solar fair will also be representing the companies Fuss EMV, Dachland GmbH, and the Institute for Scientific Instruments GmbH (IfG) side by side with HZB and PVcomB.