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SDG Awards 2024

Finalist Profile

Welcome to the SDG Awards, a distinguished recognition program honoring the remarkable contributions of individuals, organizations, and initiatives in championing the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Finalist Profile

PV2+ GmbH

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PV2+
About Company
  • Company Type: Renewables Industry
  • Founded in 2022
  • Located at Germany
  • Employees: 2-10

SDG Awards 2024

Category - SDG 9 - Industry, innovation and infrastructure
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Regional Impact: Collaborating with industry partners to commercialize copper-based solar technology, boosting local manufacturing.

➜ Regional Impact: Collaborating with industry partners to commercialize copper-based solar technology, boosting local manufacturing.
➜ Patented process to replace silver with copper in solar cells, reducing costs and environmental impact.
➜ Funded by the German Federal Environmental Foundation and various partners, supporting sustainable industrial innovation
SDG_Icon 9

1. What is the local impact your organization has achieved regarding your selected SDG? (No Word Limit)

At PV2+, we are committed to advancing local sustainable industrialization through our innovative solar cell production process, fully aligned with SDG 9. By replacing silver with copper, a more abundant and cost-effective material, in the manufacturing process, we are strengthening the local solar energy industry and contributing to a more resilient, sustainable infrastructure for renewable energy production across Germany and the EU. This approach reduces dependency on rare and expensive resources like silver, making the solar industry more economically sustainable and accessible. Additionally, it helps local manufacturers lower production costs, allowing them to compete more effectively with low-cost countries, such as China, and expand the use of solar technology. By driving innovation and growth in the photovoltaic sector, we are also fostering job creation within the renewable energy industry. Our efforts are instrumental in supporting the EU’s Net-Zero Industry Act by making solar panel production more efficient and environmentally friendly.

2. What is the global impact your organization has achieved regarding your selected SDG? (No Word Limit)

PV2+ is driving global sustainability and innovation by tackling a major challenge in solar energy production: the reliance on limited and expensive resources like silver. Our copper-based alternative provides a scalable solution that addresses the key bottleneck currently limiting the exponential growth of the solar industry, paving the way for rapid expansion in just a few years. This advancement directly supports the global push for sustainable industrialization and resilient infrastructure, aligning with SDG 9 on a global scale. By lowering production costs, we enable solar panel manufacturers to scale up production, meeting the growing demand for renewable energy in both developed and developing countries. Our technology not only promotes the global adoption of solar energy but also helps reduce dependence on non-renewable resources, encouraging greener industrial practices across the world. As pioneers in the photovoltaic industry, we are accelerating innovation in renewable energy, setting new standards for efficiency and sustainability that will drive continued advancements in energy and infrastructure globally.

3. What is the scalability of your innovation and how do you plan to achieve it? (No Word Limit)

Our innovation at PV2+ is designed for technological and commercial scalability to meet the growing global demand in the photovoltaic industry. We operate under a highly scalable B2B business model and are establishing agreements with major suppliers, ensuring we can scale up production efficiently. Strategic partnerships with leading research institutions, such as Fraunhofer ISE, provide access to advanced R&D and industrial testing, supporting continuous development and large-scale adoption of our copper-based solar cell technology. Commercially, we plan to build a network of solar cell manufacturers through a team of B2B sales managers, starting with the SHJ (Silicon Heterojunction) technology, which faces significant limitations due to silver's high cost. Our copper solution directly addresses this issue, unlocking substantial growth potential in the SHJ market. Additionally, we will continue R&D to expand the application of our technology into other PV technologies, like perovskite and TOPCon, allowing for incremental process development and expansion into new market segments, generating diverse revenue streams. This focused strategy ensures that our innovation can scale rapidly to meet both current and future industry needs.

4. What is your organization’s unique strategy for using technology to achieve your selected SDG? (150 Words Limit)

PV2+ has engineered an advanced electroplating process that substitutes silver with copper for solar cell conductor paths. This process uses a sputtering system to deposit a galvanic seed layer and an ultra-thin (≈50 nm) aluminum masking layer, which selectively prevents copper deposition across the entire surface. A laser then ablates the aluminum layer in precise areas where contacts are required, allowing our proprietary copper electrolyte to form conductive paths only where needed. Once the copper contacts are established, the remaining aluminum and seed layer are chemically etched off, with both aluminum and copper ions recovered and recycled efficiently. This method not only reduces material costs and environmental impact but also enhances the performance and scalability of solar cell production, making it a vital innovation for sustainable industrial growth.

5. What challenges did you encounter while working for your selected SDG, and how did you address them? (150 Words Limit)

Two challenges PV2+ encountered in advancing our SDG efforts, were: First, the risk that our copper electroplating process might not scale for mass production. Although we designed the process to be simple and cost-effective from the start, any issues in scaling could undermine our value proposition. To mitigate this, we are already exploring alternative solutions and plan to patent promising approaches, allowing us to pivot if necessary. Second, securing sufficient funding has been challenging. While we have raised €2.96M, additional funds are required to complete the project. To address this, we meticulously planned our budget and are actively seeking additional funding from investors and grants, including a €2.3M EIC grant to ensure the project's success.

6. How did you engage local communities and stakeholders in your work, and what was their feedback? (150 Words Limit)

PV2+ actively engages with a diverse network of key partners and stakeholders, including leading research institutes like Fraunhofer ISE, ISC Konstanz, and CEA-INES, as well as industrial players like Meyer Burger. These collaborations are central to our development and scaling strategy. We regularly interact with these partners through joint projects, such as our EU Horizon, to align our technology with market needs. Their feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with strong interest in our copper electroplating process for solar cells, particularly from Meyer Burger, who is eager to demonstrate our process on a large-volume pilot line. Additionally, our partners have expressed confidence in our ability to scale and succeed in the competitive solar industry, providing both technical and strategic support.

7. Which organizational skills and resources did you use to deliver goods/services without harming the environment or society? (150 Words Limit)

At PV2+, we have utilized our interdisciplinary expertise and strong organizational skills to ensure our technology is both environmentally and socially responsible. As a deep-tech spin-off from Fraunhofer ISE, our team includes experts in industry, R&D, physics, chemistry, business, and finance, allowing us to approach challenges holistically. We secured IP rights early, protecting our innovative copper electroplating process. Our efforts have been supported by funding from various institutions, including the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection and the European Social Fund, enabling us to raise €2.96M while maintaining a strong focus on sustainability.

8. In your view what roles do businesses, governments, and civil society should play in achieving the SDGs, and how can they collaborate effectively? (150 Words Limit)

Businesses, governments, and civil society each have vital roles in achieving the SDGs. Businesses like PV2+ drive innovation, developing sustainable technologies that can transform industries and reduce environmental impact. Governments must create supportive frameworks through policies, funding, and incentives that encourage the adoption of these technologies while ensuring that regulations align with sustainability goals. Civil society plays a crucial role in advocating for these changes, raising awareness, and holding both businesses and governments accountable. Effective collaboration requires open communication, shared goals, and joint initiatives. For instance, public-private partnerships can accelerate the deployment of green technologies, while civil society can offer valuable feedback and ensure that these efforts address societal needs. By working together, these sectors can create a synergistic impact that drives progress towards a more sustainable and equitable future.

9. What advice do you have for individuals or organizations aiming to create positive change and support the SDGs? (150 Words Limit)

My advice to individuals or organizations aiming to create positive change and support the SDGs is to focus on innovation that addresses both environmental and economic sustainability. Identify critical industry bottlenecks, and develop scalable solutions that can make a global impact. Collaboration is key—work with research institutions, industry leaders, and suppliers to leverage expertise and accelerate development. Additionally, embed sustainability into every facet of your organization, from procurement to daily operations, ensuring long-term resilience and social responsibility. Finally, stay adaptable and committed to continuous improvement.

10. How would winning this SDG Award help you enhance your impact and expand your project? (150 Words Limit)

The recognition would amplify our visibility and credibility, helping us form new partnerships with key industry players and attract potential investors. This would accelerate the adoption of our copper-based solar cell technology, allowing us to scale our solution globally and address the growing demand for cost-effective and sustainable renewable energy.

11. What are your future objectives regarding your selected SDG? (150 Words Limit)

Our future objectives regarding SDG 9 focus on driving the widespread adoption of sustainable, cost-effective solar technologies. We aim to continue scaling our copper-based solution in solar cell production, reducing resource dependency and making solar energy more affordable globally. By doing so, we will contribute to building resilient energy infrastructures and promoting sustainable industrialization. We are also committed to fostering collaboration with global industry partners and research institutions to accelerate innovation in renewable energy. Our goal is to support the transition to a more sustainable energy infrastructure worldwide, directly contributing to the achievement of SDG 9 by advancing sustainable, inclusive, and resilient industrialization.
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