SolarPACES Conference 2025
This year, SolarPACES (Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems) will once again bring together leading experts in the field of concentrating solar thermal power (CST). The conference is part of a series of programmes that take place within the framework of the International Energy Agency (IEA). It is now being held for the 31st time – this year in Almería.
The SolarPACES-conference is a globally recognised conference in the field of concentrating solar thermal energy. It offers space for dialogue and discussion between stakeholders from research, industry and politics in order to develop solutions to existing energy problems.
This year's host country, Spain, currently operates 49 solar power plants and 23 SHIP systems (Solar Heat for Industrial Processes). This makes Spain a global leader in the field of CST systems. After the conference, there will be an opportunity to visit one of the world's largest public research and development centres for CST technologies: the Plataforma Solar de Almería.
The German Aerospace Center (DLR) is one of the sponsors of this event. DLR is represented by the Institute of Solar Research, the Institute of Future Fuels and the Institute of Technical Thermodynamics. They take the opportunity to explore the latest projects and research progress.
The programme offers numerous presentations on current market trends, technology developments and fields of application in concentrating solar thermal energy – we look forward to an intensive exchange with you!
Visit the contributions of our DLR employees at the SolarPACES conference – here you will find an overview:
Wednesday, 24.09.2025
08:30 a.m. – Alexander Schnerring: Towards airborne real-time condition monitoring systems of solar tower power plants
11:25 a.m. – Kai Risthaus: Efficient water splitting via a solar hybrid thermochemical cycle with sulphur dioxide depolarised electrolysis
11:45 a.m. – Alexander Hirt: Update on the commissioning of the HEHTRES CentRec® receiver and the solar high temperature particle test facility
14:40 p.m. – Stefan Brendelberger: Extended R2Mx MW-Scale Plant Model for Solar Thermochemical Fuel Production
14:40 p.m. – Hem Barot: Multiphase material compatibility of stainless steel 310N with MgCl2-NaCl-KCl salt at 800 Degrees Celsius for next generation molten salt thermal energy storage
15:26 p.m. – Kai Wieghardt: Air-Cooled Secondary Concentrator for High Flux Applications
15:40 p.m. – Hosni Meddeb: Novel Solar Mirrors Based on Tandem Silver-Aluminium Thin Films
17:10 p.m. – Asmaa Eltayeb: Optimisation Strategies for Oxygen Partial Pressure Reduction in High-Temperature Solar Membrane Reactors
17:30 p.m. – Ana Cleia González Alves: High temperature particle erosion of different coatings for the CentRec® collector ring
17:30 p.m. – Megan Kirschmeier: Design of a Particle-Based Solar Receiver for Coupling with a Solar-Driven Pyrolysis Reactor
Thursday, 25.09.2025
09:30 a.m. – Freerk Klasing: Thermally induced tank stress in a single tank
09:30 a.m. – Leon Tim Engelbert Sievers: Uncertainty Quantification for Inverse Deep Learning Raytracing
11:25 a.m. – Alex Brenner: Parabolic trough solar field condition assessment using raw time series data and artificial intelligence
12:05 p.m. – Navina Konz: Experimental Investigation of Transient Phenomena in a Solar Direct Steam Generation Plant
14:00 p.m. – Christian Raeder: Camera-based flux density measurements supported by raytracing simulations
14:20 p.m. – Christos Agrafiotis: Structured sulphur trioxide splitting catalysts in the context of a solid sulphur-based thermochemical cycle for solar thermal energy storage
14:40 p.m. – Christos Agrafiotis: Monolithic porous perovskite ceramics for hybrid sensible/thermochemical heat storage in air-operated Concentrated Solar Power plants
17:10 p.m. – Eckhard Lüpfert: Use of Spillage with Concentrating Photovoltaics: Simulation and Experimental campaign
17:10 p.m. – Stefan Wilbert: Generative AI for Intra-hour DNI Forecasts
17:20 p.m. – Andreas Pfahl: Heliostat Size Optimisation with Regard to Cost and Yield
17:30 p.m. – Eduardo Saez Martinez: Semantic Cloud Segmentation Models for Solar Applications with Synthetic Data
Friday, the 26.09.2025
08:30 a.m. – Irene Biermann, Benedikt Kölsch, Sonja Kallio, Rafael López-Martin, Eckhard Lüpfert: Predictive maintenance of flexible pipe connectors in parabolic trough collectors using artificial neural networks
08:50 a.m. – Stefan Wilbert: Maps of long-term soiling losses in Europe considering partial cleaning by rain
09:10 a.m. – Stefan Wilbert: Soiling forecasts for concentrating solar technologies considering partial cleaning by rain
09:33 a.m. – Gkiokchan Moumin: Solarisation of cement plant for CO₂-neutral operation by calciner and carbonator: Detailed technical assessment
10:45 a.m. – Peter Heller: CST4ALL: Insights for Hybridisation Frontiers of CST
You can find the complete programme here: Program - SolarPACES 2025