PublicJune 18, 2026, 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

29th Solar Colloquium 2026

The 29th DLR Solar Colloquium, held in Cologne-Porz this year, focused on solar thermal energy in the temperature range of 100 to 1,000 °C.

29th Solar Colloquium 2026
Solar heat from 100 to 1,000 °C – Technologies, Use Cases and Prospects.
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Solar heat ranging from 100 to 1,000 °C opens up a wide range of applications – from the building sector and local and district heating networks to industrial process heat and high-temperature concepts. The event brought together experts from industry and research to explore these fields of application and exchange ideas.

Presentations

Presentation

Speaker

Solar thermal energy – efficient, cost-effective and simply excellent

Dominik Bestenlehner, Ritter Solartechnik GmbH & Co. KG

Research perspectives on solar thermal energy for buildings and neighbourhoods

Dr. Harald Drück, Institut für Gebäudeenergetik, Thermotechnik und Energiespeicherung (IGTE) der Universität Stuttgart

Solar process heat using parabolic troughs: a case study of a brewery in Greece

Dr.-Ing. Eckhard Lüpfert, DLR-Institut für Solarforschung

Industrial process heat in an international context

Dr. Gerhard Weinrebe, GlassPoint

Condition monitoring and nowcasting in process heating plants

Dr. Stefan Wilbert, DLR-Institut für Solarforschung

Solar thermal projects and prospects for district heating networks

Silas Tamm, Steinbeis Innovation gGmbH

Tools and concept studies for innovative solutions using parabolic trough collectors

Matthias Loevenich, DLR-Institut für Solarforschung

Solar thermochemical fuel production

Dr. Patrick Hilger, Synhelion AG

Solar Energy Autopilot: Autonomous operation of high-temperature solar thermal systems, using Jülich as an example

Dr. Mathias Kuhl, DLR-Institut für Solarforschung

In the afternoon, there was the opportunity to visit the LUNA Moon facility – a joint research and training facility run by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and the European Space Agency (ESA) in Cologne, where future lunar missions are prepared for and tested under realistic conditions here on Earth.

In the evening, participants wound down after a long day in a relaxed atmosphere and celebrated together to the sound of lively live music.

Launch event for the Solar Thermal and Storage Technology Platform working group

On 17 June 2026, the day before the colloquium, the launch event of the Solar Thermal and Storage Technology Platform Working Group took place at the DLR site in Cologne-Porz. From 1 pm onwards, it provided an opportunity to discuss the potential of this technology. The event was held as part of the Energy Research Forum organised by the BMWE’s research networks.


Venue of the 29th Solar Colloquium

German Aerospace Center (DLR)

DLR Casino (Building 53), Lecture theatre on the first floor
Linder Höhe
51147 Cologne
Germany

Route to DLR Casino, Building 53
Route from the main entrance to the event building DLR Casino, Building 53.
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Contact

Kristin Hofer

Communication Officer
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Institute of Solar Research
Linder Höhe, 51147 Köln-Porz
Germany
Tel: +49 2203 601-1904