PV2+ GmbH is a deep-tech spin-off from the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE.

PV2+ has developed a patented solution to considerably reduce the cost of high efficiency solar cells, whilst enhancing their performance and sustainability by utilizing abundant copper instead of silver for the solar cell contacts.

We are currently working with industry partners to commercialize this innovation.

Abundant Copper for solar power in abundance

Even though PV is becoming the lowest-cost option for electricity generation in most of the world, solar energy today contributes to only 3 % of the world's energy production. Our mission is to enable a rapid but sustainable growth of the solar industry by solving the problem of limited silver resources that increasingly confront the solar industry.

The silver issue

Silver accounts for approximately 10 % of PV module costs. This share is expected to increase drastically in the near future. In 2021, the cost of silver for electrical contacts in solar modules amounted to approximately 2.7 bn. USD.

But more importantly there are not enough silver resources worldwide to scale the solar industry up to a terawatt production. However, this is necessary to reach our climate goals.

Already within the next five years, the growing silver scarcity is expected to become a severe bottle neck for the solar industry.

The PV2+ solution

Our approach is to substitute screen-printed silver contacts with electro-plated copper contacts using a patented process. This innovation promises to have various advantages for solar cell manufacturers:

Significant cost reduction
Lower material costs
Payback period for higher invest less than one year estimated
Higher performance
Less environmental impact and a contribution to a more circular economy

The team of PV2+ is currently working on the commercialization of its innovation. In the medium term, it plans to offer solar cell manufacturers the following products and services: process-implementation, optimization and maintenance, as well as licensing.