Fraunhofer IWES was founded at the start of 2009 from the merger of the former Fraunhofer Center for Wind Energy and Maritime Engineering CWMT in Bremerhaven and the Institute for Solar Energy Supply Technology ISET e.V. in Kassel.
The research activities of the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and Energy System Technology IWES cover wind energy and the integration of renewable energies into energy supply structures. The nine departments are working in the following fields:
Fraunhofer IWES works very closely with the ForWind alliance (the universities of Hanover, Oldenburg and Bremen) and with the University of Kassel. Contacts with the Bremerhaven Technical College and other technical colleges have been further strengthened.
Within the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, use is made of the expertise and experience of partner institutes, in particular of Fraunhofer energy alliance and networks in the area of wind energy and smart grids. Therefore, comprehensive Fraunhofer solutions can be provided to clients from industry and government authorities.
At national and international levels the institute successfully collaborates with many public and industrial research groups. The application-oriented work of Fraunhofer IWES is highlighted by the large number of direct contracts with industry. In addition it supervises many projects from industry work groups and many development projects are undertaken with industrial companies.
Our research results are the basis for the participation of many IWES scientists in national and international bodies such as DKE, CENELEC and IEC and the use of those results for standardization. With its technical expertise, Fraunhofer IWES is thus able to shape political and commercial boundary conditions, for example the drawing up of the Renewable Energy Act, development of offshore wind energy utilization, development of future energy supply structures and participation in the German Advisory Council for Global Environment Change (WBGU).