After the first oil crisis in 1973, our founders Jörg Schlaich (*1934-2021) and Rudolf Bergermann (*1941) were already working on concepts and ideas for solar power generation. Early on, they recognized that a sustainable, clean energy supply was crucial for a dignified existence. Therefore, a central focus of the engineering firm has always been the development of innovative structures for renewable energy systems. In 2009, this focus finally resulted in an independent company – sbp sonne.
How
much desert does a car need
1980
![](https://www.sbp.solar/app/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/1980-Deutscher_Stahlbaupreis-Solar-Updraft-Tower–Pilot-Plant-Manzanares.png)
„Deutscher Stahlbaupreis“: Solar Updraft Tower – Pilot Plant Manzanares
![](https://www.sbp.solar/app/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/1980-Jörg_Schlaich-and-Rudolf_Bergermann-establish-Schlaich-Partner.jpg)
Jörg Schlaich and Rudolf Bergermann establish Schlaich + Partner
1982
![](https://www.sbp.solar/app/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/1982-Start-of-operation-of-the-Manzanares-Solar-Updraft-Tower-1-1024x669.jpg)
Start of operation of the Manzanares Solar Updraft Tower
1986
![](https://www.sbp.solar/app/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/1986-Design-and-operation-of-the-first-Dish-Stirling-systems-1-1024x688.jpg)
Design and operation of the first Dish-Stirling systems
1992
![](https://www.sbp.solar/app/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/1992-Hans-Schober-becomes-partner-of-schlaich-bergermann-und-partner-1.jpg)
Hans Schober becomes partner of schlaich bergermann und partner
1994
![](https://www.sbp.solar/app/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/1994-Andreas-Keil-becomes-partner-of-schlaich-bergermann-und-partner-1-683x1024.jpg)
Andreas Keil becomes partner of schlaich bergermann und partner
1995
![](https://www.sbp.solar/app/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/1995-Wolfgang-Schiel-becomes-partner-of-schlaich-bergermann-und-partner-and-later-takes-over-the-solar-devision-1-683x1024.jpg)
Wolfgang Schiel becomes partner of schlaich bergermann und partner and later takes over the solar devision
1998
![](https://www.sbp.solar/app/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/1998-Knut-Göppert-becomes-partner-of-schlaich-bergermann-und-partner-1-682x1024.jpg)
Knut Göppert becomes partner of schlaich bergermann und partner
1999
![](https://www.sbp.solar/app/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/1999-Mike-Schlaich-becomes-partner-of-schlaich-bergermann-und-partner.jpg)
Mike Schlaich becomes partner of schlaich bergermann und partner
2000
![](https://www.sbp.solar/app/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/2000-Sven-Plieninger-becomes-partner-of-schlaich-bergermann-und-partner-1-683x1024.jpg)
Sven Plieninger becomes partner of schlaich bergermann und partner
![](https://www.sbp.solar/app/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/2000-Development-of-the-EuroTrough-collector-1024x683.jpg)
Development of the EuroTrough collector
2002
![](https://www.sbp.solar/app/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/2002-Handover-of-office-to-Knut-Göppert-Andreas-Keil-Sven-Plieninger-and-Mike-Schlaich.jpg)
Handover of office to Knut Göppert, Andreas Keil, Sven Plieninger and Mike Schlaich
2003
![](https://www.sbp.solar/app/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/2003-leicht_weit-exhibition-at-the-German-Architecture-Museum-DAM-in-Frankfurt.jpg)
leicht_weit exhibition at the German Architecture Museum (DAM) in Frankfurt
2009
![](https://www.sbp.solar/app/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/2009-Markus-Balz-becomes-Associate-1-1-682x1024.jpg)
Markus Balz becomes Associate
![](https://www.sbp.solar/app/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/2009-Establishment-Establishment-of-schlaich-bergermann-und-partner-sbp-sonne-gmbh-Consulting-Engineers-for-renewable-energy-1024x731.jpg)
Establishment of schlaich bergermann und partner, sbp sonne gmbh Consulting Engineers for renewable energy, with Wolfgang Schiel as Managing Director
![](https://www.sbp.solar/app/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/2009-First-PV-tracker-development-project-1024x603.png)
First PV tracker development project
2010
![](https://www.sbp.solar/app/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/2010-Development-of-the-UltimateTrough-collector-1024x683.jpg)
Development of the UltimateTrough collector
![](https://www.sbp.solar/app/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/2010-Markus-Balz-becomes-Managing-Director-of-sbp-sonne-gmbh-1-682x1024.jpg)
Markus Balz becomes Managing Director of sbp sonne gmbh
2011
![](https://www.sbp.solar/app/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/2011-Relocation-of-our-headquarters-to-Schwabstr.-43-1024x682.jpg)
Relocation of our headquarters to Schwabstr. 43
2012
![](https://www.sbp.solar/app/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/2012-The-first-commercial-CPV-technology-is-developed.png)
The first commercial CPV technology is developed
![](https://www.sbp.solar/app/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/2012-SonneSun-our-first-book-is-published-769x1024.jpg)
SonneSun our first book is published
2014
![](https://www.sbp.solar/app/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/2014-Development-of-Stellio-Heliostat-1024x683.jpg)
Development of Stellio Heliostat
2015
![](https://www.sbp.solar/app/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/2015-Knut-Stockhusen-becomes-partner-of-schlaich-bergermann-partner-1024x683.jpg)
Knut Stockhusen becomes partner of schlaich bergermann partner
2017
![](https://www.sbp.solar/app/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/2017-sbpRAY-Raytracing-Software-wins-the-SolarPACES-technology-innovation-award.jpg)
sbpRAY Raytracing-Software wins the CSP Today CSP engineering performance award
![](https://www.sbp.solar/app/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/2017-Stellio-Heliostat-is-implemented-in-50MWe-Hami-CRS-1024x575.jpg)
Stellio-Heliostat is implemented in Hami/Kumul, China
![](https://www.sbp.solar/app/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/2017-The-first-floating-PV-concept-is-developed-1024x388.png)
The first floating PV concept is developed
2019
![](https://www.sbp.solar/app/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/2019-The-new-edition-of-our-SunSonne-book-is-published-768x1024.jpg)
The new edition of our SunSonne book is published
![](https://www.sbp.solar/app/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/2019-Our-consultation-tasks-exceed-10-GWe-worth-of-commercial-PV-projects-1024x223.png)
Our consultation tasks exceed 10 GWe worth of commercial PV projects
2020
![](https://www.sbp.solar/app/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/2020-sbp-sonne-licensed-technology-is-implemented-in-13-of-the-global-CSP-market-and-45-of-the-CSP-market-in-China-1024x223.png)
sbp sonne-licensed technology is implemented in 13% of the global CSP market and 45% of the CSP market in China
2021
![](https://www.sbp.solar/app/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/2021-Jörg-Schlaich-passes-away-on-September-4-in-Berlin-at-the-age-of-86.-.jpg)
Jörg Schlaich passes away on September 4 in Berlin at the age of 86. His life and legacy will continue to shape the work and identity of schlaich bergermann partner.
![](https://www.sbp.solar/app/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/2021-The-first-bifacial-floating-PV-prototype-in-Hungary-is-built-1024x576.jpg)
The first bifacial floating PV prototype in Hungary is built
2022
![](https://www.sbp.solar/app/uploads/sites/3/2022/05/2022-Alf-Oschatz-wird-Geschäftsführer-der-sbp-sonne-gmbh.jpg)
Alf Oschatz becomes Managing Director of sbp sonne gmbh