The €25,000 Adolf Goetzberger Award this year has been awarded to Dr. Ulrich Leibfried in recognition of his development of the SOLINK PVT heat pump collector, an integrated system that efficiently combines thermal and electrical solar energy with ambient heat and heat pump technology. The award ceremony took place today during the PV Symposium at Kloster Banz in Bad Staffelstein. Both the award and its foundation are named after Prof. Dr. Adolf Goetzberger, a pioneer of solar energy and founder of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE. For decades, the PV Symposium has served as a key platform for exchange among research, industry, and practitioners in the solar sector.
"With the SOLINK PVT heat pump collector, we have succeeded in integrating thermal and electrical solar energy use into a single component, harmoniously combining it with ambient heat and heat pump technology," explained Dr. Winfried Hoffmann, Chair of the Jury. "The award recognizes a technical solution that takes a systemic approach and optimally leverages available resources."
The awarded system combines photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies in a single collector and integrates them with a heat pump, uniting power generation, heat production, and ambient heat utilization in one cohesive system.
Although currently a specialized market segment, the jury sees this as a future-proof concept. Given the urgency of transforming the energy supply system and growing space conflicts, such as limited roof area for separate PV and solar thermal installations or space and noise constraints for air-source heat pumps in dense urban areas, such integrated systems are expected to gain significant importance in the years ahead.
The development of the SOLINK PVT heat pump collector is the result of many years of creative and persistent work. Together with an innovative, medium-sized company, technical challenges in design and system integration were successfully addressed.
"Dr. Ulrich Leibfried exemplifies technical expertise, perseverance, and the drive to extract maximum value from existing resources," emphasized Thomas Nordmann, Chair of the Advisory Board. "His innovation stands out for its effectiveness, practical benefits, and sustainable applicability. It has the potential to become a key component in achieving the energy transition."
With the second awarding of the Adolf Goetzberger Award, the foundation once again recognizes individuals who contribute to the advancement of solar and heat technologies through a systemic approach, technical creativity, and entrepreneurial commitment. "The foundation and the cash prize are funded by voluntary donations from the solar industry and former colleagues of Adolf Goetzberger," explained Thomas Nordmann, Chair of the Advisory Board.