Wikipedia Draft:Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology

The Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology (IEE) is a research institution of the Fraunhofer-Society. The institute is located in Kassel in northern Hesse, Germany. Fraunhofer IEE conducts research for the transformation of energy systems and develops solutions to technical and economic challenges in order to further reduce the costs of using renewable energies, secure supply despite volatile generation, ensure grid stability at a high level and make the energy transition an economic success.

History
In 1988, on the initiative of Werner Kleinkauf, the state of Hesse founded the Institute for Solar Energy Supply Technology ISET as an independent affiliated institute of the University of Kassel. The focus was on research for systems engineering related to the use of renewable energies.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and Energy System Technology IWES was founded in 2009 from a collaboration of the Institute for Solar Energy Supply Technology ISET under the direction of Jürgen Schmid and the former Fraunhofer Center for Wind Energy and Marine Technology in Bremerhaven with the institute sections Wind Energy (Northwest) and Energy System Technology (Kassel).

Today's Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology IEE emerged in 2018 from the Energy System Technology branch of Fraunhofer IWES. Since its foundation, Fraunhofer IWES had grown to nearly 600 employees in 2018. Both parts of the institute had successfully developed largely independent profiles in their strategic orientation. Therefore, since January 2018, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft has been managing the former institute parts as independent institutes.

Fraunhofer IEE employs around 450 scientists, employees and students. It generates around 24 million euros per year.





Fraunhofer IEE has a new location near Kassel's main train station, where all employees work together under one roof and previous locations of the institute are united. In the 4-story building with a floor space of about 7,600 square meters, a large technical center and several specialized laboratories have been created in addition to offices and seminar rooms. A second construction phase is currently being planned.

Business Areas
We offer companies from the energy supply, grid operation, energy electronics, energy informatics, wind energy, photovoltaics, bioenergy and investment sectors a rich portfolio of services, know-how and products that can be adapted to the needs of our customers. With the help of our technical and operational offers, we actively and competently support our customers and partners from politics and industry.


 * Analysis and Consulting for Energy Ecnomics
 * Energy Meteorological Information Systems
 * Digital Portfolio Management
 * Grid Planning and Operation
 * Power Electronics and Electric Drive Systems
 * Hardware-in-the-loop Systems
 * Plant Engineering
 * Measuring and Testing
 * Wind Resource Assesment with LiDAR

Reserach Fields and Central Research Questions
The research fields aggregate the capabilities necessary to realize the business units. They include both the skills and experience of the scientists, their equipment with laboratories and test facilities, their networking in the scientific community, and patents and other intellectual property rights.


 * Energy Informatics
 * Energy Meteorology and Renewable Resources
 * Energy economics and System Analysis
 * Energy process engineering
 * Electrical Grids
 * Grid stability and power converter technology
 * Thermal Energy Technology

Cooperations
Fraunhofer IEE cooperates intensively with the universities of Kassel, Hannover and Darmstadt. Within the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, complementary competencies and experience of the partner institutes are developed in particular through the Fraunhofer Energy Alliance and the Fraunhofer networks Wind Energy and Intelligent Energy Networks. The Hessian Biogas Research Center at the Eichhof Agricultural Center in Bad Hersfeld is operated together with the Hessian State Office for Agriculture and the Hessian State Laboratory.

On a national and international level, Fraunhofer IEE cooperates with various public and industrial research institutions. The practical focus of Fraunhofer IEE is documented, among other things, in project collaborations with industry and direct orders from companies. Together with other non-university German research institutes, Fraunhofer IEE has joined forces in the Research Association for Renewable Energies FVEE. On the initiative of Fraunhofer IEE, European laboratories and research institutes in the field of decentralized energy sources have established the DERlab network. Fraunhofer IEE is a member of the European Energy Research Alliance EERA, the association of European public research centers and universities.

The research results flow into standardization and norming through the participation of scientists from the institute in national and international committees such as DKE, CENELEC and IEC. As an expert advisor, Fraunhofer IEE also contributes to political and economic framework conditions. For example, in the design of the Renewable Energy Sources Act, the development of offshore wind energy utilization and the development of future energy supply structures.

Infrastructure
Fraunhofer IEE employs about 450 scientists, employees and students. It generates around 24 million euros per year. Fraunhofer IEE has a new location near Kassel's main train station, where all employees work together under one roof and previous locations of the institute are united. In addition to offices and seminar rooms, a large technical center and several specialized laboratories have been created in the 4-story building with a floor space of approximately 7,600 square meters. A second construction phase is currently being planned.

Further Information

 * https://www.iee.fraunhofer.de
 * https://www.barometer-energiewende.de/