Expansion of the research infrastructure for heat pumps and solar modules
A new research building with around 1,300 m² of laboratory space is being built on the ISFH site. New laboratories and pilot plants will enable the development and testing of high-performance heat pump systems as well as the production and measurement of PV modules on a prototype scale.
Dec 05, 2025 – Dec 31, 2028
The new building is being funded by “Europe for Lower Saxony, co-financed by the European Union”.
We are expanding our research infrastructure. A new research building with around 1,300 m² of laboratory space is being constructed on the ISFH campus. The new building will provide additional laboratory and pilot-scale facilities for research on efficient heat pump systems, as well as manufacturing processes and measurement of innovative, customized, and sustainable photovoltaic products.
The aim is to enable the development and testing of heat pumps and heat pump systems in higher capacity ranges, along with the production and measurement of novel PV modules at prototype scale. This expansion strengthens ISFH’s capacities in two core fields of the energy transition and creates the spatial conditions required for ongoing and planned research projects with partners from industry and academia.
Why does this matter?
The phase-out of fossil energy sources also affects building energy supply. The future energy system will rely far more on renewable electricity than it does today. Heat pumps make this electricity usable for building energy supply. Since renewable electricity is generated over large areas, the use of previously unused surfaces for energy generation plays a key role. Solar modules that can be integrated into the building envelope make it possible to generate renewable energy exactly where it is needed for buildings. Research and development of technical advances in heat pump systems and solar modules therefore form an essential component of a cost-efficient energy transition.
The expansion of the research infrastructure supports further development of heat pumps and photovoltaic modules as key technologies of the energy transition. Existing laboratory space at ISFH will be extended by around 1,300 m². This allows operation of test rigs for higher power classes, climate chambers, solar simulators, and prototype-scale production facilities. The infrastructure supports development work under defined conditions and enables prototype manufacturing for pilot and demonstration projects.
The construction project strengthens ISFH’s competitiveness within the national and European research landscape. At the same time, it provides a foundation for cooperation with industry, for the development of recyclable and resource-efficient products, and for attracting additional research projects in Lower Saxony.
Key research areas that will be strengthened by the new building
Efficient heat pumps
ISFH researches heat pumps and heat pump systems for buildings, neighborhoods and industrial applications. The focus is on natural refrigerants, high system efficiencies and new integration concepts such as solar-assisted heat pumps, plus-energy facades and low-ex neighborhood networks. New test benches and climate chambers enable laboratory and system tests up to large performance classes as well as measurements under realistic operating conditions.
Sustainable photovoltaic modules
In the area of sustainable photovoltaics, ISFH develops PV modules for building envelopes and special applications. Research concentrates on low-material module concepts, high reliability and recyclability. This includes glass-glass modules, tandem technologies with efficiencies of over 30%, silver-free contacting and new testing and measurement methods for large-format modules and building-integrated photovoltaics.
Benefits of the new building:
- Sufficient space for manufacturing and testing façade elements with building-integrated PV or PVT. Testing is meaningful only with full-scale components and therefore requires large areas.
- Office workplaces for staff.
- Laboratory space for new test rigs and experiments. These facilities form the basis for new research activities and respond to strong industry demand for accredited testing and testing carried out alongside product development.
- Additional test rigs, climate chambers, and acoustic measurement facilities for heat pumps and heat pump systems.
- New solar simulators, climate chambers, and facilities for material and quality testing enable the development of reliable, recyclable, and material-efficient PV modules up to prototype scale.
- The new building replaces an existing structure that is no longer usable and strengthens ISFH’s research and cooperation capabilities in key technological fields of the energy transition.
We would like to thank the following for their support
