This paper presents the development and investigation of solar cooling systems based on small-scale sorption heat pumps and chillers, respectively. Ammonia or water absorption chiller with a cooling capacity of 12 kW, a 17.5 kW water/lithium bromide absorber, the chilled WFC18 and two water or silica-gel adsorption chillers with cooling capacities of 7.5 and 15 kW, all single effect, are specified as core components of solar cooling systems. Up to now over twenty chilled Cooling and Solar Cooling Systems respectively are installed in Germany, Austria, Spain, Italy, Malta, Romania, Syria, Canada, China and Australia. Different kinds of applications are realised for residential buildings, retirement homes, office buildings, banks, bakeries, greenhouse and institutes. Keywords: Solar cooling, absorption, adsorption, heat pump, chiller
