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Three hours from Paris by direct TGV, Freiburg im Breisgau aims for climate neutrality by 2035. The city is home to Europe’s largest solar research institute and to districts that became references: Vauban, a 38-hectare former barracks where 5,500 people live with about 215 cars per 1,000 residents, or Rolf Disch’s Solarsiedlung, where 59 homes produce more energy than they use. Between 2017 and 2023, walking, cycling and public transport rose from 67% to 76% of trips. A destination for teams working on energy, buildings, mobility or planning.
Built from 1999 to 2006, the Solarsiedlung am Schlierberg brings together 59 energy-positive homes for about 170 residents, under 445 kWp of solar panels. Its architect, Rolf Disch, had built the Heliotrop as early as 1994, presented as the world’s first energy-positive house. His practice runs tours of the buildings.
A former barracks used by the French army until 1992, Vauban now has 5,500 residents. The city describes it as a reduced-car district rather than a car-free one: about 215 cars per 1,000 residents. The Freiburg Future Lab agency runs group tours there, including in French.
Founded in 1981, Fraunhofer ISE is Europe’s largest solar research institute, with about 1,300 staff. It regularly announces efficiency records, such as a silicon-based multi-junction cell at 36.1%. A meeting to request well in advance.
Photo credits : Niklas Jeromin, Arndt-Peter Bergfeld, Marco Pregnolato, Markus Spiske, Denise Cusack (Pexels, Unsplash)
