When we talk about clean energy, the focus can often be on what’s most obvious: solar panels, EVs, wind turbines, or batteries. However, what’s often overlooked is the incredible technology inside those systems – the innovations in PV modules, batteries, and balance-of-system components that make the energy transition possible.

Behind these breakthroughs are researchers working conscientiously in labs around the world. Their contributions may not always make headlines, but without them, progress would be slow, or may never even occur.

In this episode, we explore the vital role of fundamental research in renewable energy and why supporting it is key to a resilient, future-proof energy transition. It’s a multifaceted issue, involving public funding, partnerships with industry, Intellectual Property, and the licensing of technology.

Jonathan Gifford dives into the complex ecosystem that fuels clean energy innovation - together with Martin Green, Ivona Kafedjiska and Nina Munzke.

Martin Green is a Scientia Professor at the University of New South Wales and a globally recognized leader in solar technology. For over 40 years, he has driven scientific breakthroughs that have continuously increased solar cell and module efficiency.

Nina Munzke leads the Stationary Storage Systems team at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. She works on award-winning projects focused on battery energy storage and its integration with thermal energy systems.

Ivona Kafedjiska was a PV Research Strategy & Policy Consultant at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin at the time of recording. A compelling communicator on cutting-edge solar technologies, she has since joined E.ON Inhouse Consulting as a Senior Consultant.

About the Companies

University of New South Wales (UNSW) is a public research university located in Sydney, Australia, established in 1949. It is home to the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering and leads the Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics (ACAP), a national initiative focused on next-generation solar technologies.

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is a leading German public research university based in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, and a member of the Helmholtz Association. KIT conducts extensive research in energy storage, covering electrochemical systems like batteries and fuel cells, as well as thermal and geothermal storage technologies.

Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) is a world-class research center specializing in energy materials. Its solar energy research spans the full value chain – from novel materials and high-performance devices to manufacturing processes and consultancy for building-integrated photovoltaics.