Since 2006

Numerous EU funded market uptake projects on biogas and other bioenergy systems started, especially in cooperation with partners from countries with less developments in the field of bioenergy. A series of publicly available handbooks on different bioenergy topics were elaborated which were translated into many languages. These books in several countries serve as reference documents for the status of the addressed technology.

From 2007

WIP Renewable Energies has been active within several European Technology and Innovation Platforms (ETIPs) which were endorsed since 2007 to support the implementation of the European Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan. Since 2005 we lead the secretariat of ETIP PV in close cooperation with other partners in the PV sector.

In 2002

WIP Renewable Energies launched its activities in the field of bioenergy through the coordination of a large thematic network focusing on the establishment of a trans-national forum for the promotion of sustainable use of biomass in Latin America. Since then we have been continuously involved in the development and promotion of sustainable bioenergy applications in developing and emerging countries.

1994

Activities in the wind sector gained momentum in 1994 with the development and successful operation of three stand-alone wind powered solutions for reverse osmosis sea water desalination. From 2001 a consortium around WIP developed and tested the worlds’ first 5MW class prototype WEC in an off-shore environment. In 2012 WIP successfully completed the development of the worlds’ first 7 MW class wind turbine and the set-up of 11 such turbines in a park in Belgium.

1986

WIP was involved in the development of the first photovoltaic pumping systems which were installed in North Africa from 1986, and two years later in the German-wide monitoring of different PV design concepts within the national MuD programme. We further supported the EC in developing first common guidelines for the conception of PV systems, which later turned into a EU Standard. To complement these activities we were involved in several research projects testing storage components, mainly batteries. Starting in the early 90s WIP Renewable Energies became involved in the demonstration of innovative building integrated photovoltaic projects, with activities scaling up today to support the deployment of nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEBs) in Europe.

In the late ’80s and early ’90s

WIP Renewable Energies was among the founding members or of early members of several European renewable energy associations such as EPIA (now Solar Power Europe), EWEA (now Wind Europe), EUBIA (European Biomass Industry Association) and EUREC (The Association of Renewable Energy Research Centres).

From 1981 to 1984

WIP Renewable Energies took part in the development of the first EU-funded PV pilot plants across Europe. Over that period, 16 demonstration systems, ranging from 30 to 300 kW, were installed in 8 countries. This action marked the beginning of WIP’s involvement with international PV energy projects.

In 1986

the European Commission entrusted WIP with the organization of the European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC). We have since been organizing the EU PVSEC recurrently and saw it grow into one of the most influential annual events for the international solar energy community. Nowadays, WIP is organising several other renewable energy related events every year, ranging from large international conferences to targeted workshops in developing countries.

WIP Renewable Energies was founded back in 1968 in Munich, Germany.

In all early years WIP focused on the implementation of infrastructure projects around the world including consultancy work for development banks, educational centres and schools in Africa, institutional buildings in Maghreb countries, irrigation schemes in Sahelian countries, energy supply systems.

EUREC – The Association of European Renewable Energy Research Centres

CARMEN – Centrales Agrar-Rohstoff-Marketing und Entwicklungs-Netzwerk

BSW – German Association of Solar Industry

DHC+ - Technology Platform for District Heating and Cooling under the umbrella of Euroheat & Power

European Technology & Innovation Platform (ETIP) Bioenergy

European Technology & Innovation Platform on Renewable Heating & Cooling (ETIP RHC)

European Technology & Innovation Platform (ETIP) PV

CABA – Continental Automated Buildings Association

Allianz Bauwerkintegrierte Photovoltaik