SCHOTT Solar Researchers Nominated for Germany’s Federal President’s Prize for Innovation and Technology

SCHOTT Solar receivers increase efficiency of solar power plants through use of parabolic trough technology

October 21, 2008 (Berlin/Mainz) – Dr. Nikolaus Benz and Dr. Thomas Kuckelkorn, of SCHOTT Solar, have been nominated for the most prestigious innovation prize in Germany, the ‘Federal President’s Prize for Innovation and Technology.’ The Head of the Federal Presidential Office, Secretary of State Dr. Gert Haller, announced the nominations last week at a press conference in Berlin. Under the direction of Drs. Benz and Kuckelkorn, SCHOTT Solar has developed a CSP receiver for solar power plants with higher efficiency, so even more energy to be obtained from the sun in parabolic trough Concentrated Solar Power plants (CSP).

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute, the largest organization for applied research in Europe, have calculated that in one hour, the sun sends enough energy to earth to cover all the energy needs of humankind for one year. In SCHOTT Solar’s receiver technology, the solar irradiation is trapped using large reflector surfaces, bundled, and then converted into usable energy.

“Our receivers move the CSP technology one giant step forward,” said Dr. Benz. “In the Earth's Sunbelt regions, our technology combined with innovation in electric plant efficiencies can make an industry breakthrough possible and help free the world’s dependence on fossil fuels.”

The CSP receivers are core components in parabolic trough power stations. Receiver quality has a considerable effect on how much solar energy can be converted into electricity. The details that make Benz and Kuckelkorn’s innovation for SCHOTT Solar so special can be found on the prize’s website (

Federal President Horst Koehler will announce the winner of the ‘Federal President’s Prize for Innovation and Technology’ on December 3, 2008 in Berlin. Each year, the prize, worth €250,000, recognizes ‘technical, engineering or scientific innovations’. No scientist can apply for the prize, but a jury composed of renowned experts proposes only four candidates for consideration.

“We are particularly delighted that our developers are among the few nominees, and we’re crossing our fingers for both Dr. Benz and Dr. Kuckelkorn.” said Dr. Udo Ungeheuer, speaker of SCHOTT’s board of management, “The nomination recognizes the motivated and highly professional research and development team at SCHOTT Solar, and that our innovations represent, at the international level, the state of the art in technology.”