{"id":32595,"date":"2025-01-13T12:08:16","date_gmt":"2025-01-13T11:08:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/referenzprojekte\/solar-skies\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T14:23:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T13:23:00","slug":"solar-skies","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/en\/referenceprojects\/solar-skies\/","title":{"rendered":"SOLAR-SKIES: AI optimization of CIGS thin-film PV technology"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The FFG-funded SOLAR-SKIES project aims to revolutionize the development of flexible CIGS thin-film solar cells through the use of artificial intelligence and data analysis. SOLAR-SKIES reduces costs, increases efficiency and promotes sustainability through innovative high-throughput screening processes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-rounded\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"771\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/app\/uploads\/2025\/01\/cstaub_production_line_of_solar_panels_with_AI_and_data_flows_2bc2ad80-a424-4022-98b4-9a88bef9804c_1-1-1024x771.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-32591\" srcset=\"https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/app\/uploads\/2025\/01\/cstaub_production_line_of_solar_panels_with_AI_and_data_flows_2bc2ad80-a424-4022-98b4-9a88bef9804c_1-1-1024x771.png 1024w, https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/app\/uploads\/2025\/01\/cstaub_production_line_of_solar_panels_with_AI_and_data_flows_2bc2ad80-a424-4022-98b4-9a88bef9804c_1-1-300x226.png 300w, https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/app\/uploads\/2025\/01\/cstaub_production_line_of_solar_panels_with_AI_and_data_flows_2bc2ad80-a424-4022-98b4-9a88bef9804c_1-1-768x578.png 768w, https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/app\/uploads\/2025\/01\/cstaub_production_line_of_solar_panels_with_AI_and_data_flows_2bc2ad80-a424-4022-98b4-9a88bef9804c_1-1.png 1232w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group-container alignfull \">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Challenge: Increasing efficiency and reducing costs through data-driven approaches<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Photovoltaic (PV) technologies are a key component of the energy transition, but face challenges in terms of efficiency, costs and environmental compatibility. Flexible CIGS thin-film solar cells offer enormous potential, but require continuous optimization of materials and processes. SOLAR-SKIES addresses these challenges through data-driven approaches and AI-supported modeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The SOLAR-SKIES project focuses on three main objectives:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Increasing PV efficiency<\/strong>: AI-supported modeling and data analysis should significantly increase the conversion efficiency of flexible CIGS PV cells. The target is an efficiency of 18 % for 1 cm\u00b2 solar cells and 14 % for 10&#215;10 cm\u00b2 modules.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reduction of manufacturing costs<\/strong>: By analyzing extensive process data and automated optimization using AI, the production costs of flexible CIGS PV cells are to be reduced to below \u20ac0.9\/Wp.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sustainability and stability<\/strong>: Data-driven material analysis enables the selection of environmentally friendly, easily recyclable materials. The aim is to ensure performance stability, with less than 10 % performance loss after 1000 hours at 85 % relative humidity and 85 \u00b0C.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"wp-block-group-container alignfull \">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Technological solution: AI-supported analysis and high-throughput screening<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p>SOLAR-SKIES combines high-throughput screening with AI-supported analysis to accelerate and optimize the development process of thin-film solar cells. Data from combinatorial thin-film depositions and automated measurement processes are collected and analyzed, with AI models identifying the optimal material combinations and process parameters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Machine learning and Bayesian networks are used to determine correlations between process parameters, material properties and solar cell performance. These data-driven insights enable precise control of manufacturing processes and the prediction of new material combinations and process parameters. This accelerates development and helps to evaluate and scale up innovative materials more quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Identified optimizations are scaled up from laboratory to pilot scale without costly modifications to the production line. This approach enables cost-efficient and sustainable scaling of production.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-rounded\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/app\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Firefly-solar-panel-outside-photorealistic-with-data-flows-as-overlay-16746-1-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-32593\" srcset=\"https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/app\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Firefly-solar-panel-outside-photorealistic-with-data-flows-as-overlay-16746-1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/app\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Firefly-solar-panel-outside-photorealistic-with-data-flows-as-overlay-16746-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/app\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Firefly-solar-panel-outside-photorealistic-with-data-flows-as-overlay-16746-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/app\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Firefly-solar-panel-outside-photorealistic-with-data-flows-as-overlay-16746-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/app\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Firefly-solar-panel-outside-photorealistic-with-data-flows-as-overlay-16746-1-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/app\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Firefly-solar-panel-outside-photorealistic-with-data-flows-as-overlay-16746-1.jpg 2048w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"wp-block-group-container alignfull \">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">RISC Software GmbH: Expertise in the field of AI-based methods<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As part of the project, RISC Software GmbH will use AI-based methods to contribute to determining the causal dependencies between the process parameters in production, the material properties and the efficiency of the solar cells produced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The underlying measurement data for these analyses is collected through high-throughput screening. In this context, RISC Software GmbH also supports the collection and efficient management of data, which subsequently enables the upscaling of research results into industrial processes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"wp-block-group-container alignfull \">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-risc-grey-color has-risc-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background\">This project is funded by the FFG.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"582\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/app\/uploads\/2024\/02\/FFG_Logo_DE_RGB_1500px-1-1024x582.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-30210\" style=\"width:256px;height:132px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/app\/uploads\/2024\/02\/FFG_Logo_DE_RGB_1500px-1-1024x582.png 1024w, https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/app\/uploads\/2024\/02\/FFG_Logo_DE_RGB_1500px-1-300x171.png 300w, https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/app\/uploads\/2024\/02\/FFG_Logo_DE_RGB_1500px-1-768x437.png 768w, https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/app\/uploads\/2024\/02\/FFG_Logo_DE_RGB_1500px-1.png 1500w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Project partners<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group-container alignfull \">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-cb46ffcb wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"215\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/ait-1024x215.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-30735\" srcset=\"https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/ait-1024x215.png 1024w, https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/ait-300x63.png 300w, https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/ait-768x161.png 768w, https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/ait-1536x323.png 1536w, https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/ait-2048x431.png 2048w\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"210\" height=\"96\" sizes=\"(max-width: 210px) 100vw, 210px\" src=\"https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Sunplugged-Logo.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-30474\" style=\"object-fit:cover\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"236\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" src=\"https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/app\/uploads\/2025\/01\/PhysTech-720w.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-32589\" style=\"object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/app\/uploads\/2025\/01\/PhysTech-720w.webp 720w, https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/app\/uploads\/2025\/01\/PhysTech-720w-300x98.webp 300w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column has-risc-grey-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Project details<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Project short title:<\/strong>SOLAR-SKIES<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Project long title<\/strong>: Accelerating thin-film solar innovation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Call for proposals<\/strong>: Energy Research 2024 RTI focus initiatives<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Project partners:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH (consortium management)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sunplugged &#8211; Solare Energiesysteme GmbH<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>PhysTech Coating Technology GmbH<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Funding call:<\/strong> Expedition Future 2022<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Term:<\/strong> 02\/2025 &#8211; 01\/2028 (36 months)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-a89b3969 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-align-center wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/projekte.ffg.at\/projekt\/5132070\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FFG project database<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Contact us<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-contact-form-7-contact-form-selector\">\n<div class=\"wpcf7 no-js\" id=\"wpcf7-f663-o1\" lang=\"en-US\" dir=\"ltr\" data-wpcf7-id=\"663\">\n<div class=\"screen-reader-response\"><p role=\"status\" aria-live=\"polite\" aria-atomic=\"true\"><\/p> <ul><\/ul><\/div>\n<form action=\"\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project\/32595#wpcf7-f663-o1\" method=\"post\" class=\"wpcf7-form init\" aria-label=\"Contact form\" novalidate=\"novalidate\" data-status=\"init\">\n<fieldset class=\"hidden-fields-container\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7\" value=\"663\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_version\" value=\"6.1.5\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_locale\" value=\"en_US\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_unit_tag\" value=\"wpcf7-f663-o1\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_container_post\" value=\"0\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_posted_data_hash\" value=\"\" \/>\n<\/fieldset>\n<div class=\"form-row\">\n\t<div class=\"form-input\">\n\t\t<p><label class=\"sr-only\" for=\"your-name\">Your name <\/label><br \/>\n<span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"your-name\"><input size=\"40\" maxlength=\"400\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-text wpcf7-validates-as-required\" id=\"your-name\" aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\" placeholder=\"Name\" value=\"\" type=\"text\" name=\"your-name\" \/><\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"form-input\">\n\t\t<p><label class=\"sr-only\" for=\"your-email\">Your email<\/label><br \/>\n<span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"your-email\"><input size=\"40\" maxlength=\"400\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-email wpcf7-validates-as-required wpcf7-text wpcf7-validates-as-email\" id=\"your-email\" aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\" placeholder=\"E-Mail\" value=\"\" type=\"email\" name=\"your-email\" \/><\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"form-row\">\n\t<div class=\"form-input\">\n\t\t<p><label class=\"sr-only\" for=\"your-company\">Company <\/label><br \/>\n<span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"your-company\"><input size=\"40\" maxlength=\"400\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-text\" id=\"your-company\" aria-invalid=\"false\" placeholder=\"Unternehmen\" value=\"\" type=\"text\" name=\"your-company\" \/><\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"form-input\">\n\t\t<p><label class=\"sr-only\" for=\"your-position\">Position<\/label><br \/>\n<span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"your-position\"><input size=\"40\" maxlength=\"400\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-text\" aria-invalid=\"false\" placeholder=\"Position\" value=\"\" type=\"text\" name=\"your-position\" \/><\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"form-row\">\n\t<div class=\"form-input\">\n\t\t<p><label class=\"sr-only\" for=\"your-subject\"> Subject <\/label><br \/>\n<span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"your-subject\"><input size=\"40\" maxlength=\"400\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-text wpcf7-validates-as-required\" id=\"your-subject\" aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\" placeholder=\"Thema\" value=\"\" type=\"text\" name=\"your-subject\" \/><\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span id=\"wpcf7-69de272310ffc-wrapper\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap phone-95-wrap\" style=\"display:none !important; visibility:hidden !important;\"><label for=\"wpcf7-69de272310ffc-field\" class=\"hp-message\">Please leave this field empty.<\/label><input id=\"wpcf7-69de272310ffc-field\"  class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-text\" type=\"text\" name=\"phone-95\" value=\"\" size=\"40\" tabindex=\"-1\" autocomplete=\"new-password\" \/><\/span><br \/>\n<label class=\"sr-only\" for=\"your-message\"> Your message (optional)<\/label><br \/>\n<span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"your-message\"><textarea cols=\"40\" rows=\"10\" maxlength=\"2000\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-textarea\" id=\"your-message\" aria-invalid=\"false\" placeholder=\"Ihre Nachricht an uns\" name=\"your-message\"><\/textarea><\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"hcap-cf7\">\t\t<input\n\t\t\t\ttype=\"hidden\"\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"hcaptcha-widget-id\"\n\t\t\t\tname=\"hcaptcha-widget-id\"\n\t\t\t\tvalue=\"eyJzb3VyY2UiOlsiY29udGFjdC1mb3JtLTdcL3dwLWNvbnRhY3QtZm9ybS03LnBocCJdLCJmb3JtX2lkIjo0MzZ9-c5ba05e011699d70dda36bf3838d9e02\">\n\t\t\t\t<span id=\"hcap_cf7-69de27231157b6.85852705\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control h-captcha \"\n\t\t\tdata-sitekey=\"3a6a81c1-2b2e-4b2a-b1eb-d9446bc09afb\"\n\t\t\tdata-theme=\"light\"\n\t\t\tdata-size=\"normal\"\n\t\t\tdata-auto=\"false\"\n\t\t\tdata-ajax=\"false\"\n\t\t\tdata-force=\"false\">\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" id=\"_wpnonce\" name=\"_wpnonce\" value=\"83fc09d92f\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wp_http_referer\" value=\"\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project\/32595\" \/><\/span><input class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-submit has-spinner btn\" type=\"submit\" value=\"Senden\" \/>\n<\/p><div class=\"wpcf7-response-output\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Project management<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"contact-person\">\n      <picture>\n      \n      \n      \n      \n      <img decoding=\"async\" data-aos=\"fade-zoom-in\"\n           data-aos-offset=\"0\" class=\"w-full\" width=\"212\" height=\"293\"\n           src=\"https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/app\/uploads\/2023\/06\/pheinzlr1-removebg-preview.png\"\n           alt=\"\">\n    <\/picture>\n    \n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">DI Paul Heinzlreiter<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Senior Data Engineer<\/p>\n\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The FFG-funded SOLAR-SKIES project aims to revolutionize the development of flexible CIGS thin-film solar cells through the use of artificial intelligence and data analysis. SOLAR-SKIES reduces costs, increases efficiency and promotes sustainability through innovative high-throughput screening processes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":32592,"template":"","project-category":[63,69],"class_list":["post-32595","project","type-project","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","project-category-data-intelligence-en","project-category-research-projects"],"acf":[],"portrait_thumb_url":"https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/app\/uploads\/2025\/01\/cstaub_production_line_of_solar_panels_with_AI_and_data_flows_2bc2ad80-a424-4022-98b4-9a88bef9804c_1-1-360x214.png","watermark":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project\/32595","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/project"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project\/32595\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36112,"href":"https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project\/32595\/revisions\/36112"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32592"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32595"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"project-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/risc.web-email.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project-category?post=32595"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}