Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology IEE

The Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology IEE (Fraunhofer-Institut für Energiewirtschaft und Energiesystemtechnik, IEE) is a German applied-research institute based in Kassel and part of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Europe's largest organization for application-oriented research. According to its official website, the institute conducts research for the transformation of energy supply systems and develops solutions for the technical and economic challenges of that transformation. Its work spans the whole energy system: electricity, heat, gas and the digitalization that connects them. The institute organizes its activities around research focus areas and application fields. The website describes application fields as the way Fraunhofer IEE bundles its services and offerings for the transfer of innovations and scientific results into business, industry, policy and society. Research topics highlighted on the site include rethinking electricity bidding zones, green hydrogen and Power-to-X, international work, grid resilience after the Berlin power outage, municipal heat planning, the future of § 14a of the German Energy Industry Act (EnWG), the StEnSea stored-energy-in-the-sea concept, urban energy systems, wind energy, digitalization of the energy system (including "14 theses for success"), the Energy Data Space, and the digitalization of district heating. Fraunhofer IEE is closely connected to the Fraunhofer excellence cluster "Integrated Energy Systems" CINES, which issues statements on regulatory consultations such as the German Federal Network Agency's AgNes grid-charge rules. The institute also produces studies for industry associations; for example, a short study commissioned by the German Solar Industry Association (Bundesverband Solarwirtschaft) examined how far existing German power grids could absorb additional solar energy, and a joint project with the German Renewable Energy Federation (BEE) produced a new "energy transition calculator." As a Fraunhofer institute, Fraunhofer IEE is a non-profit research organization rather than a commercial manufacturer. Its "products" are research services, studies, models, software tools and technology transfer for utilities, grid operators, industry, policymakers and society. It is a key scientific partner in Germany's Energiewende and in European energy-system research.

Fraunhofer IEE is part of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Germany's largest organization for application-oriented research, which operates a network of institutes across the country. The institute is based in Kassel and works on the transformation of energy supply systems, developing solutions for the technical and economic challenges of the energy transition. Over time the institute has built a broad portfolio covering electricity, heat, gas and the digitalization of energy systems. Its research topics include rethinking electricity bidding zones, green hydrogen and Power-to-X, international projects, grid resilience (for example after the Berlin power outage), municipal heat planning, the future of § 14a of the German Energy Industry Act (EnWG), the StEnSea stored-energy-in-the-sea concept, urban energy systems, wind energy, digitalization of the energy system, the Energy Data Space, and the digitalization of district heating. The institute is closely linked to the Fraunhofer excellence cluster "Integrated Energy Systems" CINES, which coordinates cross-institute work on integrated energy systems and issues statements on regulatory consultations, such as the German Federal Network Agency's AgNes grid-charge rules. Fraunhofer IEE also carries out commissioned studies for industry associations and other stakeholders; examples include a short study for the German Solar Industry Association on how much additional solar energy existing grids can absorb, and a joint energy transition calculator developed with the German Renewable Energy Federation (BEE). As a Fraunhofer institute, Fraunhofer IEE is a non-profit research organization. Its outputs are research results, studies, models, software tools and technology transfer rather than commercial products, and its partners include utilities, grid operators, industry, policymakers and society.

• Fraunhofer IEE operates in Kassel as part of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, researching the transformation of energy supply systems.

• The institute is linked to the Fraunhofer excellence cluster "Integrated Energy Systems" CINES, which issues statements on regulatory consultations such as the BNetzA's AgNes grid-charge rules.

• Fraunhofer IEE publishes a short study for the German Solar Industry Association on additional photovoltaic capacity that existing grids can absorb.

• Fraunhofer IEE and the German Renewable Energy Federation (BEE) develop a new energy transition calculator.

Non-profit Fraunhofer applied-research institute providing scientific and technical solutions for the energy transition to business, industry, policy and society.

• Research on transformation of energy supply systems

• Green hydrogen and Power-to-X research

• Grid resilience and distribution-grid studies

• Municipal heat planning

• StEnSea - Stored Energy in the Sea

• Energy Data Space

• Digitalization of district heating

1. 1Fraunhofer-Institut für Energiewirtschaft und Energiesystemtechnikiee.fraunhofer.de