Test facilities & test stands

The institute's test benches and pilot plants are specially designed to experimentally analyse processes and components using concentrated solar radiation. They were developed in close cooperation with industry partners and tailored to the respective requirements.

Coating laboratory

The DLR Coating laboratory in Oldenburg is a research facility of the Institute of Solar Research. Here, researcher work closely together to develop innovative materials and coatings for various energy applications.

HeliTep test platform

The heliostat test platform HeliTep offers the opportunity to set up their heliostats on the site of the solar thermal test power plant in Jülich and have them measured by specialists from the DLR under real operating conditions. 

High temperature laboratory HITS

At the High Temperature Laboratory Stuttgart (HITS), components intended for use in solar thermal power plants can be tested for their heat resistance.

METAS meteorological station

At the METAS measuring station, DLR and CIEMAT are researching meteorological influences that need to be taken into account in the planning, operation and evaluation of solar power plants.

OPAC laboratory

In the OPAC laboratory, researchers investigate the durability of materials and coating for concentrating solar thermal systems.

PVot test bench

At the Photovoltaic outdoor test bench (PVot) at CIEMAT's Plataforma Solar de Almería, the German Aerospace Center is developing monitoring and prediction methods for photovoltaics (PV) under realistic conditions.

REPA test facility for flexible pipe connections

Flexible pipe connections (Rotation and Expansion Performing Assemblies, REPA) are required in parabolic trough solar fields to connect the absorbers in the tracking collectors with the fixed pipework.

SOPRAN

At the SOPRAN test stand for solar process heat applications, researchers are demonstrating and testing the performance of line-focusing collectors for process heat systems and solar thermal power plants.