Solites

What Solites does

Solites (legal entity: Steinbeis Solites GmbH) is a Stuttgart-based research, consulting, and knowledge transfer firm specializing in sustainable thermal energy systems. Founded in May 2005 as a spin-off from the Institute of Thermodynamics and Thermal Engineering (ITW) at the University of Stuttgart, the company operates within the Steinbeis network through two legal entities: Steinbeis Transfer GmbH for consulting and Steinbeis Innovation gGmbH for publicly funded research. Its six specialization areas are large solar thermal systems, large heat storage systems, shallow geothermal energy, integrated system and district heating, simulation services, and energy-conscious behavior programs.

The firm's core technology stack combines proprietary dynamic system simulation (TRNSYS, validated since 1995), CFD tools (ANSYS Fluent, OpenFOAM), finite element subsurface analysis (FEFLOW), and porous media modeling (Dumux), anchored by a self-developed real-scale geothermal probe test rig. On top of this simulation infrastructure Solites has built a Virtual Twin capability used to train self-learning ML control systems deployed in heating installations, alongside public-facing tools including the ScenoCalc Fernwärme calculation tool (1,500+ downloads) and knowledge portals (saisonalspeicher.de, solare-waermenetze.de, kombina.de).

Solites serves five primary verticals — municipalities and local authorities, heat suppliers and utilities, industrial companies, housing developers, and investors — primarily in Germany and Europe, with a January 2026 partnership extending formal coverage into Switzerland via the CCTES collaboration. Revenue is generated through professional services engagements (feasibility studies, transformation plans, project development, system design, dynamic simulation, operational support) and publicly funded research projects backed by federal and state ministries, EU programs (Horizon Europe, Life), and Germany's 8th Energy Research Program. Pricing is project-based and quote-driven, with no standardized public pricing tiers. The firm has 18 employees as of 2025, is led by co-Executive Directors Magdalena Berberich and Dirk Mangold, and is governed under the Steinbeis Foundation umbrella.

Name

Solites

Legal name

Steinbeis Solites GmbH

Website

https://solites.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Solites is a Stuttgart-based research, consulting, and knowledge transfer firm specializing in sustainable thermal energy systems — including large solar thermal, geothermal, and heat storage technologies — serving municipalities, utilities, industrial companies, and real estate developers across Germany and Europe via simulation, feasibility studies, and project development services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research Services: Publicly funded research projects conducted through Steinbeis Innovation gGmbH, funded by federal and state ministries, EU programs (Horizon Europe, Life), and the 8th Energy Research Program. Non-profit independent research.
2. Consulting Services: Direct consulting engagements for municipalities, heat suppliers, industrial companies, housing developers, and investors. Services include feasibility studies, transformation plans, project development, system design, and optimization through dynamic simulation.
3. Knowledge Transfer: Transfer of expertise through training courses, presentations, webinars, calculation tools, knowledge databases, and expert opinions. Includes ScenoCalc Fernwärme tool with over 1500 downloads.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Solites is a research, consulting, and knowledge transfer organization specializing in solar and sustainable thermal energy systems for the heating transition. Operating within the Steinbeis network through two entities (Steinbeis Innovation gGmbH for publicly funded research and Steinbeis Transfer GmbH for consulting), it delivers feasibility studies, transformation plans, project development, dynamic system simulations, and training for the decarbonization of heat supply.

Product overview

Solites operates as a research, consulting, and knowledge transfer organization (not a product company) offering services through two Steinbeis entities: Steinbeis Innovation gGmbH conducts publicly funded research, while Steinbeis Transfer GmbH provides consulting services. The organization specializes in six interconnected focus areas: Large Solar Thermal Systems, Large Heat Storage Systems, Shallow Geothermal Energy, Integrated System and District Heating, Simulation Services, and Energy-Conscious Behaviour Programs. Supporting these services, Solites offers supplementary tools and platforms including the ScenoCalc Fernwärme (SCFW) calculation tool, knowledge portals (www.saisonalspeicher.de, www.solare-waermenetze.de), and the Kombina online community. The company also maintains a strategic partnership with CCTES at Lucerne University for Swiss market development. Solites positions itself as a know-how leader in thermal energy systems, providing services from initial research through to practical implementation support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Research Services Practice-oriented research on sustainable thermal energy systems including solar thermal energy, geothermal energy, heat storage, heat pumps, waste heat utilization, and sector coupling. Conducted through Steinbeis Innovation gGmbH in publicly funded research projects funded by federal and state ministries, EU programs, and the 8th Energy Research Program.
• Consulting Services Expert consulting for innovative heating transition projects from concept to optimized operation. Includes feasibility studies, transformation plans (BEW), project development, funding acquisition, dynamic system simulation, overall system design, risk analysis, and commissioning support. Provided through Steinbeis Transfer GmbH to municipalities, heat suppliers, industrial companies, housing developers, and investors.
• Knowledge Transfer Services Translation of complex scientific knowledge into practical application knowledge through specialist advice, presentations, training courses, printed materials, web-based knowledge databases, webinars, calculation tools, and participation in working groups and expert committees.
• Large Solar Thermal Systems Consulting Technical consulting and research for large solar thermal systems (typically ground-mounted with collector areas of 500 m² or more) integrated into district heating networks and industrial operations. Includes market development, system design, and implementation support.
• Large Heat Storage Systems Consulting Development and consulting for large-volume heat storage systems including seasonal heat storages, buffer storages, and multifunctional heat storages. Covers construction methods, component designs, system integration, and applications for connecting heat and electricity sources.
• Shallow Geothermal Energy Services Simulation, planning, and implementation support for geothermal probe systems, surface collectors, earth baskets, and groundwater/river/lake thermal utilization. Covers depths up to 400 meters for heating, cooling, and thermal storage applications.
• Integrated System and District Heating Consulting Development and optimization of integrated thermal energy systems combining renewables, heat pumps, waste heat, and sector coupling. Includes dynamic system simulations, economic analysis, risk assessment, and step-by-step project development from analysis through to implementation planning.
• Simulation Services Virtual system analysis and optimization using multiple simulation programs including TRNSYS for dynamic system simulation, CFD (ANSYS Fluent, OpenFOAM) for numerical flow simulations, FEFLOW for finite element subsurface analysis, and Dumux for coupled heat and mass transfer modeling.
• Energy-Conscious Behaviour Programs Research and knowledge transfer programs to motivate energy-conscious behavior in residential care facilities, rental buildings, and non-residential buildings. Includes innovative communication concepts, the Eddie the polar bear mascot, and online community platforms for sustained energy savings.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8% average energy savings (heat, electricity, water) achieved in nursing homes through energy-conscious behavior programs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Competence Center Thermal Energy Storage (CCTES) - Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2026Joint cooperation to establish thermal energy storage in the Swiss market. Solites contributes experience in design and consulting for large-scale heat storage planning and implementation. CCTES provides applied research expertise and modern laboratory infrastructure, plus deep understanding of Swiss market needs. Together they support Swiss companies and public sector organizations from initial idea to implementation.
• International Energy Agency (IEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive participation in multiple IEA tasks including SHC Task 45, 55, 68 (Solar Heating and Cooling), ES Task 32, 39, 45 (Energy Storage), and DHC TS 5 (District Heating and Cooling). Leading international research collaborations on solar thermal, heat storage, and district heating systems.
• RHC-ETIP (European Renewable Heating and Cooling European Technology and Innovation Platform)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean level membership contributing to renewable heating and cooling technology development and policy.
• DHCplusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean district heating and cooling association working group membership for knowledge exchange and market development.
• German Working Group on Long-Term Heat Storages (AGFW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking group led by Dirk Mangold since 1999, now hosted at AGFW district heating association. Comprises approximately 50 participants from industry and science in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Denmark. Regular exchange on long-term heat storage developments.
• Danish Operator Group for Large Heat StoragesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual meetings to exchange new findings and discuss operating experience. Solites has been member since advising on Danish underground heat storage development since 2000.
• Steinbeis NetworkcoreOthersSolites operates as two Steinbeis companies: Steinbeis Transfer GmbH for consulting services and Steinbeis Innovation gGmbH for publicly funded research. Steinbeis Foundation provides organizational umbrella and support.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• TNO: TNO is the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, an applied research institute with significant activity in built environment, energy transition and thermal systems. As a broad incumbent, it overlaps with Solites in heat transition consulting and research across European municipal and industrial clients, though with a much wider portfolio of activities.
• Ramboll: Ramboll is a large international engineering consultancy with an established district heating and energy transition practice serving municipalities, heat suppliers and industrial clients across Europe. As a broad incumbent with far larger headcount and multi-disciplinary offerings, it competes with Solites on municipal heat planning and large heat transition projects, though it does not specialize in Solites' narrow thermal simulation niche.

Direct peers

• SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden (RISE): RISE (formerly SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden) is a Swedish applied research institute with activity in district heating, heat storage and thermal energy systems. It is a direct peer to Solites in Northern European heat transition research and consulting, with overlapping municipal and utility clients.
• Danish Technological Institute: DTI is a Danish applied research and consulting institute with significant activity in district heating, heat storage and energy efficiency — including the operator group for large heat storages of which Solites is a member. It is a direct peer in the heat transition consulting market across Northern Europe, with overlapping municipal and utility clients.
• Fraunhofer ISE: Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems in Freiburg is Germany's largest applied solar energy research institute and a direct peer to Solites in solar thermal, PV, and integrated energy systems research and consulting. Both serve similar municipal, industrial and utility clients in the heat transition market, with overlapping focus on simulation, storage and district heating integration.
• Viegand Maagøe: Viegand Maagøe is a Danish energy consultancy specializing in district heating, heat storage and heat transition projects for municipalities and utilities. It is a direct peer to Solites in Northern European heat transition consulting, with comparable service offerings (feasibility, simulation, transformation plans) for similar municipal and utility clients.
• AEE INTEC: AEE INTEC is an Austrian applied research institute specializing in sustainable thermal energy technologies including solar thermal, heat storage, and district heating. It is one of the closest direct peers to Solites in Europe, with comparable service offerings in research, consulting and knowledge transfer for heat transition projects.
• Institute of Thermodynamics and Thermal Engineering (ITW), University of Stuttgart: ITW is the University of Stuttgart institute from which Solites was spun off in 2005. It remains a direct peer in solar thermal, heat storage and district heating research, with overlapping expertise in the same niche and many shared alumni — making it both the parent research lineage and a continuing competitor for public research funding.
• PlanEnergi: PlanEnergi is a Danish energy consultancy with deep expertise in district heating, renewable heat integration and heat planning for municipalities. It is a direct peer to Solites for Northern European municipal heat transition mandates, particularly in Denmark and Germany.

Others

• Steinbeis Transfer GmbH / Steinbeis Innovation gGmbH: Solites operates as Steinbeis Transfer GmbH (consulting) and Steinbeis Innovation gGmbH (research) within the Steinbeis Foundation network. The Steinbeis parent organizations provide the organizational umbrella but are not direct commercial competitors; they are ecosystem participants that share back-office, contracting and funding infrastructure with Solites.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/solites

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

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 Solites