Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE wins Innovation Award Laser Technology at AKL'14
The Innovation Award Laser Technology 2014, sponsored by the Arbeitskreis Lasertechnik e.V. and the European Laser Institute ELI, was presented to Dr. Ralf Preu, director of the Photovoltaics Production Technology and Quality Assurance division of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Freiburg, Germany. The prize was given on May 7, 2014 in Aachen´s town hall during AKL'14. The prize was for their innovation, Laser Fired Contact (LFC) technology for the production of highly efficient silicon solar cells.
The jury was composed by 9 international experts who had selected 3 finalists among the 23 applications. The 10,000-euro prize was made before 300 guests. Dr. Paul Hilton, speaker of the international jury, pointed out the dedicated work of all 3 finalist and the outstanding innovations of the project teams in the field of laser technology.
Use of the LFC process enabled the ISE's industrial partner to set several records for cell and module efficiencies: 19.5% for a large area multi-crystalline silicon solar cell and 18.5% for a standard sized module. Approximately 1 million photovoltaic modules with LFCs have been produced and installed.
Second prize was given for an innovation called: Penetration Depth and Topography Measurement in Laser Materials Processing using Low Coherence Interferometry, from a team represented by Dr. Markus Kogel-Hollacher, Precitec Optronik. Third prize went to an innovation called: Femtoprint: A femtosecond laser printer for three-dimensional micro- and nano-manufacturing of glass, from a team represented by Dr. Yves Bellouard, Eindhoven University of Technology.
For more information, read:Next-generation industrial laser systems compete for European laser prize
Conard Holton | Editor at Large
Conard Holton has 25 years of science and technology editing and writing experience. He was formerly a staff member and consultant for government agencies such as the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the International Atomic Energy Agency, and engineering companies such as Bechtel. He joined Laser Focus World in 1997 as senior editor, becoming editor in chief of WDM Solutions, which he founded in 1999. In 2003 he joined Vision Systems Design as editor in chief, while continuing as contributing editor at Laser Focus World. Conard became editor in chief of Laser Focus World in August 2011, a role in which he served through August 2018. He then served as Editor at Large for Laser Focus World and Co-Chair of the Lasers & Photonics Marketplace Seminar from August 2018 through January 2022. He received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, with additional studies at the Colorado School of Mines and Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.