iL-CURRENT
September 17, 2025
Sebastian Gatz: "Innovation
across industry boundaries"
When the CLEAN TECH INNOVATION DAY & SOLAR TAP INDUSTRY DAY 2025 takes place in Heidelberg on October 15, the focus will be on technologies that can accelerate the energy transition and sustainable industrial processes. Dr. Sebastian Gatz, Vice President for Renewable Energies and Strategic Partnerships at the Dresden-based family business VON ARDENNE, will be one of the speakers. The long-established company has been developing high-tech systems for coating surfaces for decades - today they are key technologies for solar modules, hydrogen systems and energy storage systems.
In our iL expert interview, Sebastian Gatz explains why cooperation with partners from science and industry is crucial, what trends he sees for the coming years and what contribution VON ARDENNE wants to make to a promising future.
Has more than two decades of experience in the photovoltaic and cleantech industry: Dr. Sebastian Gatz, Vice President for Renewable Energies and Strategic Partnerships at VON ARDENNE. Picture: VON ARDENNE
Five questions for ... Sebastian Gatz
Mr. Gatz, You have at the Technical University Munich studied, earned a doctorate on on passivation layers. After stations at SolarWorld, Manz and Meyer & Burger came They 2019 to FROM ARDENNE. What distinguishes VON ARDENNE technologically or strategically from other providers?
Sebastian Gatz: VON ARDENNE has deep technological roots in vacuum coating - especially for applications where precision, reproducibility and scalability are crucial. What particularly sets us apart is our ability to use our technology platforms in a targeted manner in different industries. Photovoltaics is certainly a good example, where our customers have now put over 70 GW of production equipment into operation. But customers also rely on VON ARDENNE in emerging areas such as the hydrogen economy.
Strategically, we think beyond individual machines: we support customers in the transition from the laboratory to piloting and industrial gigawatt production. We see our greatest added value in this interplay of technology, process expertise and customer-oriented implementation - especially in a dynamic environment such as that of renewable energies.
Perovskitetandem cells are as next great efficiency leap in in solar production. How do do you the market potential estimate - and which challenges do challenges for VON ARDENNE concrete with the scalability and long-term stability?
Gatz: Tandem cells based on perovskites are technologically very exciting and offer the potential to significantly push the boundaries of what is currently feasible in photovoltaics. The increase in efficiency without increasing the module surface area is particularly attractive. However, the challenges lie not only in material development, but above all in industrial implementation: processes must be scalable, stable and economically viable. This is precisely where we come in - with expertise in the precise deposition of complex layer systems, such as those required for perovskite-metal oxide combinations. We also address questions of long-term stability under industrial environmental conditions together with research partners - not only on a cell scale, but along the entire production process.
Outside the photovoltaics come your vacuum coating systems also for use (for example in plant development, materials research or in the transfer process). Where and how uses your company these synergies?
Gatz: One major example at the moment is the hydrogen economy: synergies between PV, batteries and electrolysis are emerging here, for example in the development of new coating materials for catalysts, membranes or bipolar plates. Our vacuum coating systems enable precise control of such processes - for example in the deposition of functional metal layers or barrier layers for fuel cell components.
We are transferring our experience from photovoltaics - in terms of high cycle rates, inline capability and process stability - specifically to these new applications. And vice versa, we learn from projects in hydrogen research, for example with regard to material combinations or long-term behavior under electrochemical conditions. This promotes innovation across industry boundaries.
The topic supply chains is omnipresent and also controversial. Which strategic alliances are for VON ARDENNE in the geopolitical context currently relevant?
Gatz: In dynamic industries such as photovoltaics and hydrogen, stable, resilient supply chains are essential - not only in terms of components, but also in terms of processes, materials and expertise. VON ARDENNE relies on strategic partnerships in several regions of the world. We work closely with European, Asian and, increasingly, North American partners to make technology and production capacities available locally.
You are with the CLEAN TECH INNOVATION DAY & SOLAR TAP INDUSTRY DAY in Heidelberg in the speaker role. What would you in the discussion contribute - and what do you hope you hope in in return?
Gatz: I would like to bring in the perspective of production and process technology - as the key to turning innovation into industrial reality. The best cell architecture or the most efficient electrolysis material remains academic if it cannot be produced economically. That's why I advocate thinking more closely about research, product design and production - especially in areas such as perovskite PV or electrolysers, where scalability is not yet a given.
In return, I am looking forward to impulses from start-ups, research institutions and industry - especially at the interfaces of PV, hydrogen and storage technologies. For us, such events are not just a stage, but also a laboratory - for new ideas, partnerships and perspectives.
The headquarters in Dresden: VON ARDENNE is represented with locations in a total of seven countries. Picture: VON ARDENNE
About the person
Dr. Sebastian Gatz (45) is a physicist with a doctorate from Leibniz Universität Hannover. He has more than 20 years of experience in the photovoltaic and cleantech industry. After holding positions at ISFH, SolarWorld, Manz and Meyer Burger, he joined VON ARDENNE in 2019, where he was responsible for photovoltaics. He has been Vice President for Renewable Energy and Strategic Partnerships since 2025.
About VON ARDENNE
VON ARDENNE develops and manufactures systems for the industrial vacuum coating of materials such as glass, wafers, metal strip and plastic film. The Dresden-based family business with locations in seven countries is both a pioneer and a leading global provider of PVD thin-film and vacuum process technology. VON ARDENNE supports customers in scaling up from the laboratory to series production, including for applications in the field of renewable energies, but also in battery, optics, sensor and semiconductor applications.
Venue and registration
Heidelberg Congress Center (HCC)
October 15 , 2025 - all day
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The number of participants is limited - secure your ticket now via our registration tool:
Further Further information:
On our website you will find regular updates on the program, the speakers and the planned session content.
So feel free to drop by regularly!
We look forward to your participation - and to an inspiring day full of ideas, impulses and innovations in the exciting clean tech sector!
Joachim Klaehn
Head of Communications
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