Dr. Henning Helmers

Dr. Henning Helmers has a profound experience in photovoltaics, with a focus on III-V based multi-junction solar cells, concentrating solar systems, high efficiency photonic power converters, and optical power transmission. He joined the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Freiburg in 2008. In 2013, he established the new business area »Power-by-Light« at the institute and is leading related research and development since then. Since 2019, he is also the Deputy Head of Department »III-V Photovoltaics and Concentrator Technology«. His current research interests include high efficiency solar cells and photonic power converters, multi-junction and multi-segment device architectures, thin-film processing and back reflector technology, micro-concentrating photovoltaics (CPV), power-by-light systems, and combined power and data transmission. In 2021, a team led by Dr. Helmers demonstrated a record photovoltaic conversion efficiency of 68.9% for monochromatic light at a wavelength of 858 nm.

Dr. Helmers studied physics and philosophy in Oldenburg, Germany and in Lund, Sweden. He holds a doctoral degree in physics from University of Oldenburg (2013, summa cum laude). He authored and co-authored more than 80 scientific publications, was plenary and invited speaker (incl. APC2022, OWPT2022, OWPT2021, OWPT2019), regularly served in the program committee of the Optical Wireless and Fiber Power Transmission Conference and as a reviewer for the IEEE Photovoltaics Specialists Conference as well as various scientific journals.

Dr. Helmers is married and has four children. Apart from his professional endeavors, he enjoys outdoor activities and spending time with his family in the beautiful nature of the Black Forest and the Rhine plain around Freiburg.