Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics, a Germany-based research institute under Fraunhofer IMWS, has launched the COLIPRI project to develop retrofittable colored PV modules. The initiative targets module efficiency above 75% compared to unprinted reference modules while enabling individual design customization. In 2023, more than one million new PV systems were installed in Germany, yet urban integration potential remains underutilized. The Solar Atlas of the German Aerospace Center indicates an annual potential of around 22 TWh from solar roofs in Saxony-Anhalt. The project combines commercially available standard modules with printed front sheets or cover glass that can be retrofitted without damage. Fraunhofer CSP is researching ceramic colors, spectrally selective pigments, and digital printing processes to minimize efficiency losses.The institute is also developing optimized printing grid concepts, simulation tools to estimate performance losses, and measurement methods to evaluate module performance. It is conducting lamination tests for glass, thin glass, and polymer films intended for façade, roof, and balcony applications.

CSP