HTW Berlin’s Research Group Solar Storage Systems is a research unit at the Berlin University of Applied Sciences and Technology (HTW Berlin) focused on the technical side of the energy transition. Its work centres on photovoltaic systems, home battery storage, self-consumption, tenant electricity models, and the integration of solar power with heat pumps and electric vehicles.
Based in Berlin, Germany, the group publishes studies, tests and simulation tools that are widely used beyond the university. A recurring flagship project is the annual “Stromspeicher-Inspektion” (battery storage inspection), in which the team compares residential solar battery systems and evaluates their efficiency, energy management and, more recently, topics such as dynamic electricity tariffs and warranty conditions. In 2026, the group highlighted new test winners, efficiency records and analyses for the latest edition of the study. Another notable line of work is its research on smart charging and “prognosis-based” battery charging, designed to shift charging to midday and make better use of solar generation.
The group also develops public-facing calculators, including tools to estimate autarky levels and system sizing for households with PV, storage, heat pumps and EVs. Its research output combines laboratory measurements, field data and simulations, and often targets practical questions for homeowners, installers and policymakers. Recent studies have examined solar charging of electric vehicles, the impact of batteries on self-sufficiency, and how distributed solar storage can reduce pressure on electricity grids.
The group’s scope is mainly national, with a strong focus on Germany, but its findings are relevant to wider European debates on decentralised energy systems and grid flexibility.