Solar cells on vehicles can take the pressure off the grid in Europe - Fraunhofer ISE

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Press Release

Press Release #14<br>Solar cells on vehicles can take the pressure off the grid in Europe

May 19, 2026

Vehicles that generate their own solar power could make a significant contribution to the decarbonization of the transportation sector. Findings from the European research project SolarMoves suggest that so-called Vehicle Integrated Photovoltaics (VIPV)—solar modules integrated into vehicles—can significantly reduce electricity demand and the strain on the power grid. The study found that, in the best-case scenario, a passenger car in Central Europe can generate up to 55 percent of its annual energy needs on its own; in Southern Europe, this figure can reach up to 80 percent.

© IM EfficiencyDelivery vans, trucks, and trailers in particular have a lot of roof space and simultaneously consume a great deal of energy for cooling, heating, and auxiliary units. Integrated solar modules can provide greater range, lower diesel consumption, and reduced operating costs.

The European pilot project “SolarMoves,” led by TNO, Fraunhofer ISE, Sono Motors, IM Efficiency, and Lightyear, investigated the technical and practical potential of vehicles that generate their own solar energy on behalf of the European Commission. By integrating solar modules into the roof, hood, and even the side panels of vehicles, electricity is generated right where it is consumed. This requires neither additional space nor new infrastructure, nor does it place a burden on the power grids.

Electricity demand drops by up to 80 percent when using VIPV

The SolarMoves study found that a passenger car in Central Europe—assuming short annual usage cycles and a large roof area (as is the case with SUVs, for example)—can generate up to 55 percent of its energy needs itself; in Southern Europe, this figure can reach up to 80 percent. This not only makes the vehicle more convenient to use by reducing the number of external charging sessions, but also significantly lowers the amount of external electricity consumed per kilometer.

© LightyearPassenger cars in Central Europe could generate up to 55 percent of their energy needs themselves; in Southern Europe, this figure could reach up to 80 percent.

“The study analyzed data from 23 different vehicle types—ranging from compact city cars to heavy-duty trucks—and combined detailed vehicle and driving profiles with Meteosat satellite data, as well as meteorological data from Amsterdam and Madrid,” explained Christian Braun, project staff member and researcher at Fraunhofer ISE. “To do this, the vehicles were equipped with sensors, and measurement data from 1.3 million kilometers driven was analyzed.”

VIPV can offer significant benefits for individual users, but its impact at the system level is also becoming clear: In a simulation, the research team calculated that if all new vehicles were equipped with VIPV between 2024 and 2030, electricity demand from the European grid could decrease by 15.6 terawatt-hours in 2030—equivalent to the annual output of approximately 2,200 onshore wind turbines with a capacity of 3 megawatts. “Electrification alone is not enough. We need innovations that structurally reduce energy demand. VIPV is exactly that,” summarizes Lenneke Slooff-Hoek, SolarMoves project manager at TNO.

© IM EfficiencyFor the manufacturing process of perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells, Fraunhofer ISE focuses on the so-called “hybrid route,” a combination of vacuum and wet chemical processes.

Logistics sector benefits particularly

The research team estimates that the benefits in the logistics sector are particularly significant. Delivery vans, trucks, and vehicle trailers have a lot of roof space and simultaneously consume a great deal of energy for cooling, heating, and auxiliary units. For electric trucks, VIPV extends the daily range by up to 15 percent. For truck trailers, the electricity yield can reach up to 55 kilowatt-hours per day in the summer and 90 to 110 kilowatt-hours if the side walls are also equipped with solar panels—enough to power cooling or hydraulic systems completely and emission-free.

VIPV also offers advantages for diesel trucks: Since air conditioning, heating, and other systems require less diesel, fuel consumption would be significantly reduced. The research team calculated that this could allow the investment costs for VIPV to pay for themselves in less than two years.

Creating the framework for VIPV adoption

Based on their analysis results, the research consortium recommends incorporating VIPV into the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) so that CO₂ reductions and electricity savings can be utilized at the national level to secure tax incentives and develop guidelines for solar-capable parking areas. Furthermore, they recommend the development of a clear European framework that recognizes VIPV in the Renewable Energy...