Deputy Director, Fraunhofer Innovation Platform for Hydrogen Energy, KENTECH, Korea
Dr. Klemens Ilse holds a Ph.D. in physics from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg on the topic of photovoltaics in desert environments. He has been working at the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics since 2010 and led a team on "Functional and Optical Surfaces", focusing on technologies to mitigate the soiling of PV modules, especially in the MENA region. In 2020, he joined the hydrogen department at Fraunhofer IMWS, being responsible for the international business development and standardization efforts for hydrogen technologies. Since 2022 Klemens Ilse has been heading the "Materials Diagnostics for H2 Technologies" group. Furthermore, he is Deputy Director of the Fraunhofer Innovation Platform for Hydrogen Energy at KENTECH in Korea, focusing on technologies for the logistics of hydrogen and its derivates. His current research is dedicated to improving technologies for green hydrogen production, especially in desert environments, green hydrogen certification, and logistics.
Photovoltaic modules in desert areas benefit from high irradiation levels, but suffer from harsh environmental stressors that affect the levelized cost of electricity by reducing lifetime and performance, and increasing maintenance costs. The presentation will discuss the key challenges in desert and their impact on PV power generation, including the influence of high UV doses, high ambient temperatures, significant temperature changes between day and night, and high levels of soiling. Key takeaways from R&D and possible solutions to address these challenges will be presented.
Deputy Director, Fraunhofer Innovation Platform for Hydrogen Energy, KENTECH, Korea