Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems
The IWES and its clients benefit from the strong network of Fraunhofer Institutes and the expertise of specialized partners.
IWES is sustainably networked all around the globe
Fraunhofer IWES maintains great cooperations with international partners from industry and research. Within the strong network of Fraunhofer institutes, we and equally our clients benefit from the expertise of highly specialized players. Long-standing, successful cooperations in research alliance projects, networks, and standardization committees have created a sustainable network of relationships all around the globe.
Examples of strong cooperations include the content-related collaboration in the Fraunhofer Group for Energy Technologies and Climate Protection, the Fraunhofer Group MATERIALS, in the Fraunhofer Energy Alliance and the Fraunhofer Simulation Network as well as cooperations with individual institutes on specific issues. In addition, IWES is active within the EERA, ETIPWind, and EAWE as well as for IEC, ISOPE, and IEA matters. Furthermore, IWES is regularly represented at the major wind trade fairs and international specialist conferences around the world. In the field of hydrogen, IWES is an active member of different networks such as the German Hydrogen Association (DWV). It also maintains close cooperations with a wide range of universities and colleges.
Generating added value and value creation
Research cooperations are successful and sustainable if complementary competences generate added value and value creation for the parties involved. For example, we offer joint research services such as simulation studies. Through regular exchanges, we ensure that test programs and methods are tailored to the industry’s requirements. We have productive interfaces for identifying the needs of the industry and developing methods and solutions for both acutely pressing and future problems.
A board of trustees consisting of national and international companies and political players advises Fraunhofer IWES on its strategic orientation and positioning in the growth markets. In addition, IWES staff cooperate in the International Electrotechnical Commission’s (IEC) technical committees with manufacturers to develop the requirements for future standards.
Open for new projects and partnerships
Thanks to its original character as an industry institute for the wind market, IWES established connections to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) active all over the world, operators, and suppliers early on. With the expansion of its Hydrogen Labs, it is also driving forward the integration of hydrogen technologies into the energy and economic system at both a national and an international level as well as accelerating the production of green hydrogen.
As an institute of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, IWES benefits from the subsidiaries in Europe, North America, and South America. In Asia and the Middle East, Fraunhofer Representative Offices and Fraunhofer Senior Advisors form the bridge to the local markets. An office in Brussels acts as an interface between Fraunhofer and the institutions of the European Union, making it possible for IWES to guarantee customer proximity in key markets. Of course, it also has the necessary feel for the current situation and knowledge of the respective foreign market.
We are always open to new projects and partnerships in both a national and an international context. Please feel free to get in touch.
IWES’ scientific cooperations
EERA JP Wind
The EERA is an association of leading organizations in the field of energy research with the aim of reducing CO2 emissions in Europe. To this end, the EERA has created structures to strengthen, expand, and optimize European wind energy research by networking excellent European institutions and implementing pan-European research programs (EERA Joint Programs).
European Technology and Innovation Platform on Wind Energy - ETIPWind
Die europäische Technologie- und Innovationsplattform für Windenergie verbindet die europäische Windenergiegemeinschaft. Zu den wichtigsten Stakeholdern der Plattform gehören die Windenergiebranche, politische Stakeholder und Forschungseinrichtungen. Ziel von ETIPWind ist es, eine virtuelle und physische Plattform für die Windenergiegemeinschaft zu schaffen. Sie dient der Zusammenarbeit und bietet die Möglichkeit, Aktivitäten in Bezug auf Forschung, Innovation und Technologie zu kommunizieren und koordinieren.
European Academy of Wind Energy – EAWE
The EAWE is a registered association that brings together research institutes and universities focusing on wind energy research throughout Europe. The association's goal is to establish a world-leading academic and scientific community for pre-competitive innovation, thereby consolidating and further expanding Europe's leading role.
Research Alliance Wind Energy - FVWE
The FVWE, consisting of partners DLR, ForWind – Center for Wind Energy Research, and Fraunhofer IWES, is tackling the challenges posed by the development of sustainable products for extreme environmental and operating conditions. Founded in 2013, the consortium brings together the expertise of around 600 scientists and provides groundbreaking impetus for the energy supply of the future.
Center for Wind Energy Research – ForWind
ForWind is the joint center for wind energy research of the universities of Oldenburg, Hanover, and Bremen. Its basic research covers a broad spectrum of engineering and physics, and it provides scientific support for industry-oriented projects. ForWind organizes training for specialists and managers and hosts conferences and workshops.
German Renewable Energy Research Association - FVVE
The German Renewable Energy Research Association (FVEE – ForschungsVerbund Erneuerbare Energien) forms a nationwide cooperation structure of institutes researching and developing technologies for renewables, energy efficiency, energy storage and optimized technical and socio-economic interaction of all system components. The shared goal of
the FVEE isto transform the energy supply to a sustainable energy system.
International Electrotechnical Commission - IEC
The IEC is the world's leading organization for setting international standards for electrical and electrotechnical products, including wind turbine technology. Its goal is to develop standards for the design, quality assurance, and certification of wind turbines.
U Bremen Research Alliance - UBRA
UBRA stands for close cooperation between a research university and non-university research institutions. In this alliance, the University of Bremen cooperates with twelve institutes of non-university research funded by the federal and state governments. These include research institutes of the four major German science organizations: the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the Helmholtz Association, the Leibniz Association, the Max Planck Society, and the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence.
Membership in trade associations
Federal Association of Offshore Wind Energy eV - BWO
The federal association of companies that plan, build, and operate offshore wind farms in Germany.
German Hydrogen Association - DWV
The association acts as an initiator and moderator between stakeholders from industry, associations, politics, science, and the public. It represents the long-term interests of its members along the entire hydrogen value chain and on a scientific basis as a common agenda between politics, members, and civil society.
Global Wind Energy Council - GWEC
The Global Wind Energy Council, known as GWEC, is a member-based organization that represents the entire wind energy sector. The members of GWEC represent over 1,500 companies, organizations and institutions in more than 80 countries, including manufacturers, developers, component suppliers, research institutes, national wind and renewables associations, electricity providers, finance and insurance companies. The network includes the leading turbine manufacturers, developers, suppliers, and service providers from every corner of the globe. The members are also all of the national wind industry trade associations, from both established and emerging markets.
Hydrogen Power Storage & Solutions East - HYPOS e. V.
HYPOS is the network for all those interested in the hydrogen industry in Central Germany and beyond. The association combines the potential of small and medium-sized enterprises, industry and large companies, as well as universities and research institutions. Together with its members, HYPOS, funded by the Ministry of Economy, Tourism, Agriculture, and Forestry of the State of Saxony-Anhalt, accompanies the market ramp-up of green hydrogen.
Saxony-Anhalt State Energy Agency - LENA
LENA offers services for businesses, the public sector, and private consumers on topics related to energy efficiency, energy conservation, sustainable energy supply, and resource conservation. LENA provides product- and provider-neutral support in all areas of energy production, supply, and use – for example, in the form of consulting, information, motivation, communication, training, and networking. Founded in 2012, the agency supports the energy transition in Saxony-Anhalt, the transfer of know-how from other federal states, and application-oriented research and development.
Renewable Energy Hamburg - EEHH
Since 2011, EEHH has been committed to expanding the network, positioning Hamburg internationally as a metropolis for renewable energies, and promoting the renewable energy industry through joint projects. Around 300 companies in the Hamburg metropolitan region from segments such as financing, research, production, project development, and legal consulting belong to the EEHH cluster.
VDMA Power Systems
VDMA Power Systems is the association for the power plant engineering. It represents the interests of manufacturers and suppliers of electricity and heat systems in Germany and abroad. These include wind energy, photovoltaic and hydropower plants, engines and thermal power plants as well as storage and sector coupling technologies. VDMA Power Systems serves as a cross-technology information and communication platform for them, focusing on energy and industrial policy, innovations and technology, markets and trade fairs as well as press and public relations work. VDMA Power Systems is a trade association within the VDMA, Europe's largest association for mechanical and plant engineering.
WAB e. V.
The Wind Industry and Hydrogen Association WAB e.V.is the nationwide contact for the offshore wind industry, the onshore network in the Northwest and promotes the production of green hydrogen from wind power. The association includes around 250 smaller and larger companies as well as institutes from all areas of the wind industry, the maritime industry, the emerging hydrogen economy and science.
WindEurope
WindEurope is the voice of the wind industry, actively promoting wind energy across Europe. They have over 600 members from across the whole value chain of wind energy: wind turbine manufacturers, component suppliers, power utilities and wind farm developers, financial institutions, research institutes and national wind energy associations.
We will be happy to assist you with any questions you have concerning the planning, realization, and optimization of wind turbines or hydrogen production. Please feel free to get in touch!