Solares Bauen

What Solares Bauen does

Solares Bauen GmbH is a private German engineering planning office (Ingenieurgesellschaft) founded in 1999 as a spin-off from the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE), specializing in energy-efficient building design and technical building equipment (TGA). The firm delivers an end-to-end engineering chain — energy concepts, building physics and dynamic simulation, Blower Door testing, BIM-based technical planning (CATS, Solibri) with cross-trade collision detection, funding consulting (BEG, BEW, KfW, BAFA), regulatory compliance documentation (GEG, EH-40, PV-Pflicht, EnEfG), PV planning, and post-implementation technical monitoring that verifies energy savings in operation. A wholly-owned French subsidiary (solares bauen SAS, Strasbourg) plus additional German (Berlin, Friedrichshafen) and French branches (Paris, Colmar, Besançon, Saint-Dié-des-Vosges) yield a nine-office footprint across the Upper Rhine region, supported by approximately 130 engineers and technicians and a cumulative track record of 2,237 completed projects.

The business operates as a fee-for-service professional engineering practice: engagements are project-based and quoted per scope rather than tier-priced, with multi-year contracts spanning concept, planning phases 3–8, construction supervision, and commissioning. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales via long-standing client relationships, architect referrals, and participation in public tendering. Four customer segments are served — public sector (schools, universities, civic centers), commercial/industrial (production, office, laboratory), housing companies (KfW-40/55 multi-family), and private developers/WEG associations — each with documented named accounts including HS Offenburg RIZ, French Embassy in Berlin, BBS-Technik Carl Benz, Brita, Hettich ONI, Schallstadt Weiermatten, and Gadamerplatz B³. Lead sources include content marketing on solares-bauen.de, free PV webinars, industry conferences (notably the 2024 "GEG am Ende. Was nun?" specialist conference), and university recruitment pipelines.

Leadership transitioned on 01.01.2025 from founder Martin Ufheil — who remains in an advisory capacity — to three long-standing employees (Christian Neumann, Gerald Richter, Maik Wußler) following a multi-year employee-led succession process. The firm is independent, employee-owned, and has no disclosed institutional investor or external parent. Recognition includes the Deutscher Solarpreis 2023 (Schallstadt Weiermatten project), the 2023 Leipzig Energy Prize for a master's thesis supervised by the firm, and the 2025 Mobilsiegel at the highest 5-leaf category from VAG Freiburg.

Name

Solares Bauen

Legal name

solares bauen GmbH

Website

https://solares-bauen.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Solares Bauen is a German engineering planning firm (founded 1999, ~130 staff, 9 offices in Germany and France) delivering energy concept design, TGA/BIM planning, building-physics simulation, PV planning, and post-implementation technical monitoring for public-sector, commercial/industrial, residential, and private-developer building projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Energy-Efficient Building Engineering Services

NAICS

Engineering Services (541330)

akta.pro primary industry

Owner’s Engineering, Grid Interconnection & System Studies (PVsyst/Performance Modeling, Protection Studies) (EUACAGAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Operations, Maintenance & Asset Management (O&M, Vegetation, Spares, SCADA) (EUACAGAH)

Keywords

• Energy-efficient building engineering
• Building physics simulation
• Technical building equipment
• Building information modeling
• Energy consulting services

Headquarters

HQ city

Freiburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Engineering and Planning Services: Fee-based engineering and technical planning services for energy-efficient building systems, including energy concepts, technical building equipment (TGA), BIM planning, building physics simulations, and technical monitoring. Services are provided across all project phases from concept through construction supervision and commissioning management.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Solares Bauen is an engineering planning office that designs and verifies energy-efficient building systems for new construction and renovation projects. It delivers end-to-end services spanning energy concepts, technical building equipment (TGA) planning, Building Information Modeling (BIM), building physics simulation, measurement/control/regulation (MSR/GLT), photovoltaic planning, and post-implementation technical monitoring. Founded in 1999 as a spin-off from the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE), the firm operates across Germany and France with 9 offices and approximately 130 engineers and technicians.

Product overview

Solares Bauen GmbH is a German engineering planning office offering a comprehensive suite of energy-efficient building planning services. The company's portfolio centers on core offerings including energy concepts with technical monitoring, building physics simulations, funding consultation (BEG, BEW, KfW, BAFA), analysis and measurement technology, technical planning (TGA, BIM, Contracting), and energy certifications (GEG, EH-40, PV-Pflicht, EnEfG). Specialized services include photovoltaic planning, research activities, and Building Information Modeling using CATS and Solibri software. The company operates primarily in Germany and France with 9 locations serving approximately 2,237 completed projects with a team of 132 employees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Energiekonzepte & Technisches Monitoring (Energy Concepts & Technical Monitoring) Development of individual energy concepts for buildings and production facilities, combined with technical monitoring that verifies energy savings and system performance after implementation. For owners of new construction or renovation projects seeking to optimize energy use and document verified savings.
• Bauphysik & Simulationen (Building Physics & Simulations) Building physics analysis and dynamic simulations including thermal modeling, energy performance calculations, room climate simulation, and airflow modeling for optimal building design. Used to predict energy performance before construction.
• Beratung Förderung: BEG, BEW, KfW, BAFA (Funding Consulting) Consultation on German and European funding programs and subsidies for energy-efficient building projects, including BEG (Bundesförderung für effiziente Gebäude), BEW (Bundesförderung für Energie- und Wärmewende), KfW, and BAFA. Helps clients structure projects to qualify for public funding.
• Analyse & Messtechnik (Analysis & Measurement Technology) Technical measurement services using specialized equipment to analyze energy consumption, identify building deficiencies, and verify system performance. Delivered via in-house measurement technology across existing buildings and post-implementation projects.
• Technikplanung: TGA, BIM & Contracting (Technical Planning: TGA, BIM & Contracting) Technical building equipment planning including TGA (Technische Gebäudeausrüstung) covering HVAC, plumbing, fire protection, MSR/GLT, and electrical systems; BIM coordination using CATS and Solibri; and contracting services spanning all project phases.
• Nachweise: GEG, EH-40, PV-Pflicht, EnEfG (Compliance Documentation) Energy certification and compliance documentation including GEG (Gebäudeenergiegesetz), EH-40 efficiency standard, PV-Pflicht (PV obligation), and EnEfG (Energieeffizienzgesetz) certifications and energy audits. Provides the regulatory paperwork required for permitting and subsidy approval.
• Forschung (Research) Research services focused on energy efficiency and sustainable building technologies, building on the firm's Fraunhofer ISE origins and applied measurement know-how.
• Photovoltaik-Planung (Photovoltaic Planning) Planning services for photovoltaic systems including PV potential studies, roof coverage analysis, profitability assessment, structural and design planning, execution planning, tendering, construction supervision, and grid-connection registration.
• Building Information Modeling (BIM) Digital building modeling using BIM methods in planning phases 3-8, including cross-trade collision detection, quantity calculation, and cost estimation. Delivered with CATS and Solibri software by buildingSMART-certified BIM coordinators.

Quantifiable outcome

• Primary energy demand reduction of ≥32% compared to reference building per EnEV 2016 (Hettich ONI project)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Freiburger Klimapakt (Freiburg Climate Pact)coreOthers · 1 January 2025Member of the Freiburger Klimapakt since the beginning of 2025. The pact was initiated by the Freiburger Nachhaltigkeitsrat (Freiburg Sustainability Council) and invites all companies, institutions, and associations to work toward Freiburg's goal of climate neutrality by 2035. As a member, the company contributes expertise in planning and operating energy-efficient buildings.
• VAG Freiburg (Freiburger Verkehrs AG)minorOthers · 1 January 2021VAG Freiburg awards the Mobilsiegel (mobility label) on behalf of the City of Freiburg and the districts of Emmendingen and Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald. The award recognizes companies implementing effective measures for sustainable corporate mobility. Solares Bauen has been certified since 2021 (previously Öko-Verkehrs-Siegel since 2013) and was awarded the 2025 Mobilsiegel at the highest level with 5 leaves.
• African Information Movement (AIM.)minorOthers · 1 January 2013Since 2013, the company has supported AIM., a non-profit association from Freiburg that empowers rural youth in Ghana to develop their communities. AIM operates an ICT training center in Komenda teaching information and solar technology. The company donated to support the construction of an aquaponic training facility to improve food security in the region.
• Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Solares Bauen was founded in 1999 as a spin-off in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE). This founding relationship established the company's technical foundation in solar and energy-efficient building systems and continues to inform its research-driven approach.
• Hochschule OffenburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through the StudiumPlus dual study program. Solares Bauen offers trainee positions for the B.Eng. Sustainable Energy Systems program. The company participates in career events (Career-Network), network meetings, and student information days at the university. Three company colleagues regularly attend campus events to recruit and engage with students.
• HTW Berlin (Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for practice days (Praxis-Tag) at the Berlin campus for students studying Regenerative Energies or Building Energy and Information Technology. The company hosts site visits and provides insight into sustainable energy concepts and innovative building technologies.
• HBC Biberach (Hochschule Biberach)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipation in the annual Praxistag (Practice Day) for Bachelor and Master programs in Energy Engineering. Company representative presents career opportunities and connects with students.
• Hochschule Dortmund (FH Dortmund)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGuest lecture by Managing Director Maik Wußler at the 'Architektur und Energie' (Architecture and Energy) lecture series. Presented on the topic of 'sustainable energy renovation of heat supply vs. regulatory hurdles' using hospital examples.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Arup: Global engineering and design firm with an established sustainable buildings and energy-transition practice covering building physics, MEP, and low-carbon design. Comparable to Solares Bauen in delivering energy-efficient building engineering for public and commercial clients, but Arup operates at a vastly larger scale across many geographies and disciplines.
• WSP: Global engineering professional services firm with a dedicated Property & Buildings and Energy practice serving public and commercial clients across Europe. Comparable to Solares Bauen in delivering MEP/TGA planning, energy advisory, and sustainable-building design, but with substantially larger headcount, broader service lines, and global geographic reach.
• Buro Happold: UK-headquartered global engineering consultancy with a strong sustainability, building performance, and energy services practice. Comparable to Solares Bauen in offering energy-efficient building consulting, building physics simulation, and sustainability advisory, but at much larger scale and with a broader multidisciplinary portfolio spanning structures, MEP, and facade engineering.

Direct peers

• EGS-plan: Stuttgart-based German engineering firm focused on energy-efficient building equipment, solar technology, and energy concepts. Closely comparable to Solares Bauen in scope (energy concepts, TGA planning, solar/PV integration, building physics) and in serving DACH-based public and commercial clients with similar mid-sized engineering firm characteristics.
• Drees & Sommer: German engineering and real estate consultancy with a strong sustainable-building and energy-efficiency practice, serving public-sector, commercial, and housing clients across DACH and Europe. Comparable to Solares Bauen because both firms provide TGA planning, energy concepts, and BIM-based sustainable design, though Drees & Sommer operates at a much larger scale with thousands of employees.

Regional players

• Ramboll: Danish-headquartered engineering, design, and consulting firm with a strong Buildings and Energy practice across Northern Europe. Comparable to Solares Bauen in providing sustainable-building engineering, TGA planning, and energy-efficiency advisory for public and commercial clients, though Ramboll operates primarily in Nordic markets with limited overlap in DACH/French Alsatian territory.
• Sweco: Swedish-headquartered European engineering consultancy with a Buildings and Energy practice serving public infrastructure, housing, and commercial clients. Comparable to Solares Bauen in sustainable-building engineering, building physics, and energy concepts, but with primary geographic focus on the Nordics, Netherlands, and Belgium rather than the DACH-French corridor where Solares Bauen competes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/solares-bauen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Solares Bauen