German Aerospace Centre - DLR
Institute of Technical Thermodynamics, Solar Research Division
Germany's largest Research Group on Solar Concentrating Technologies is working at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR). The scientific and technical staff approx is 55 persons, located in laboratories in Cologne and Stuttgart and as a permanent delegation at the Plataforma Solar in Spain (PSA), a facility of our SOLLAB partner CIEMAT.
Besides the experimental possibilities offered by the access to the Plataforma Solar de Almeria, DLR operates a 25 kW solar furnace and further solar test facilities in Cologne. WeIl equipped laboratories, workshops and simulation tools in Stuttgart and Cologne allow for thermal, chemical, optical and system technological R&D activities. In addition a 60 kW Xenon lamp concentrator is currently under construction in Cologne.

The DLR research objectives are:
iconTo support the industry to enter the upcoming market of solar thermal power plants
iconTo explore and develop options for cost reduction of solar power systems
iconTo research options to store concentrated sunlight in chemical form and to produce solar fuels
Aerial view of DLR solar facilities in Cologne
Aerial view of DLR solar
facilities in Cologne

Photochemistry using concentrating systems
Photochemistry using
concentrating systems
They benefit from the synergies of DLR'S wide research capacities in power plant technology, process technology, hydrogen, remote sensing and systems analysis, to provide the full spectrum from basic research to product development and system design. The group is associated to the Technical University of Aachen and the University of Stuttgart.
The off-axis 25 kW DLR solar furnace
The off-axis 25 kW DLR
solar furnace

Use of tool box 'OPAL-Mobil' with a dish
Use of tool box "OPAL-Mobil"
with a dish
(see SOLLAB highlight)
SOLLAB Highlight

An optical and thermal measurement tool box named "OPAL-mobil" is a unique feature provided to SOLLAB.
It allows measuring aIl relevant geometrical, optical properties of solar concentrators. Based on these measurements, detailed performance and specification data can be evaluated.
The tool box can be used for concentrator development, to characterize experimental conditions or as quality assurance tool during the construction of commercial systems.