Press release June 23, 2025
20 years of Solites, 200 projects, one goal: sustainable heat supply
Stuttgart, June 23, 2025 – Solites celebrates 20 years of commitment to the heating transition.
Since the company was founded in 2005, the engineers at Solites have worked on more than 200 projects in Germany and abroad – with the aim of further developing renewable heating solutions and bringing innovative solutions to the market. Heating networks have always been the largest target sector.
From solar thermal energy to AI
In two decades of intensive research, consulting and knowledge transfer, Solites has played a key role in shaping the development of sustainable heating strategies. In terms of content, we began with a focus on large solar thermal systems for heating networks. Step by step, we added near-surface geothermal energy, multifunctional heat storage systems, heat pumps, waste heat and water utilization, renewably generated electricity and other topics – including dynamic simulations of overall systems, comprehensive profitability calculations, energy-conscious behavior and more.
With the use of artificial intelligence, a new field of activity is increasingly taking shape: We use machine learning for self-learning control systems. These are trained using virtual twins and then used in practice to optimize heating systems.
Spin-off with continuity
Solites was founded in 2005 as a spin-off from the Institute of Thermodynamics and Thermal Engineering (ITW) at the University of Stuttgart. As part of the Steinbeis Foundation group of companies (www.steinbeis.de), Solites works on publicly funded research and transfer projects on the one hand and on consulting and planning innovative heating systems on the other.
Growth with impact
Over the years, Solites has not only grown significantly in terms of topics, but also in terms of personnel – from two to 18 employees. The company is also pleased to have a balanced team structure: today, almost as many women work at Solites as men. Diversity, personal responsibility and a good working atmosphere in the team are the success factors for creative solutions and productive project work.
Here’s to a good partnership
The work of Solites has been supported for many years by a large number of public funding bodies – federal and state ministries, foundations, various EU programs and foreign funding bodies. This funding is a central component of our independent, application-oriented research.
The demands of the heating transition require networked thinking, technological openness and strong partnerships with innovative clients. Solites advises a wide range of companies, from cooperatives to large heat suppliers, across Germany and in neighboring European countries. We accompany our clients on their path to the heating transition, from initial considerations to dimensioning and tendering through to operation, as required.
“Our special thanks go to everyone who has accompanied and supported us on this journey. The cooperation in our now more than 200 projects has not only been exciting from a technical point of view, but has also been a benefit in the collaboration in various consortia. Projects involving Solites have received awards from Hennigsdorf to Xiong’an. We look forward to the coming years,” says Dirk Mangold, founder of Solites.
Networked in consortia and expert groups
Through 20 years of work, Solites employees are active members of numerous national and international expert and working groups and advise funding bodies and ministries.
Professional exchange across disciplines and national borders is an integral part of our work.
Research that works: tools, calculators, maps
Transferring knowledge from research to practice is an important part of Solites’ work. This has resulted in practical tools such as simulation tools, design programs and maps – e.g. the well-known solar heating network map for Germany or the free online tool ScenoCalc Fernwärme (SCFW), which calculates the useful solar heat yield of solar thermal systems integrated into heating networks. Knowledge platforms such as www.saisonalspeicher.de and www.solare-waermenetze.de make extensive specialist knowledge available to the general public.
Focus on the future
“There is still a lot to do before Germany achieves net greenhouse gas neutrality in 2045. Although more than 60% of Germany’s electricity demand was already covered by renewable sources in 2024, only 18% of the much larger heating demand was generated in a climate-neutral way in 2024. The challenge has been recognized and we at Solites will actively contribute to the heat transition with solutions,” says Magdalena Berberich, looking to the future. She manages Solites together with Dirk Mangold.
The name of Solites should also remain sustainable. Therefore, after 20 years, “Solites – Steinbeis Research Institute for Solar and Sustainable Thermal Energy Systems” has now become the company: “Solites – Research, Consulting and Transfer for Sustainable Thermal Energy Systems in the Steinbeis Network”. The company website now has a new design to match.
About Solites
Solites – experience and innovation for your heat transition
Solites is an independent research, consulting and transfer company for sustainable thermal energy systems within the Steinbeis group of companies. Solites is active in all areas of heat supply systems that cause minimal emissions in terms of sustainability. Solites works in an application-oriented manner at the interface between science, practice and politics – with the aim of advancing the energy transition in the heating sector.
The focus of Solites:
How Solites works:
Press contact:
Anna Laura Ulrichs
Ulrichs@solites.de