Almost 400 participants gathered at the Steigenberger Hotel in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler for the SolarPACES conference to discuss current topics relating to concentrated solar power.
The technical tour took participants to Jülich to visit the Solar Towers at the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Synhelion, the ‘multiTESS’ plant at the Solar-Institut Jülich and HyDN GmbH.
The 32nd SolarPACES took place in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler from 15 to 18 September. In addition to lectures and poster presentations on the topic of ‘Concentrating Solar Power, Thermal and Chemical Energy Systems’, the conference concluded on Saturday 19 September with a Technical Tour to Jülich.
396 participants gathered at the Steigenberger Hotel to discuss current research topics. Of course, the conference also provided plenty of opportunities for personal encounters and networking – whether during coffee breaks, at lunch or the Welcome Reception, at the Gala Dinner, at the ‘Women+ in CS’ event or at the ‘Young Professionals Dinner’. An inspiring exchange that can lay the foundations for new collaborations and joint projects.
During the Gala Dinner, the chairmen, Prof. Robert Pitz-Paal and Dr Benedikt Kölsch, emphasised in particular that the key challenge at present is to build on what has already been achieved and to finance and operate the technologies that have been developed. In future, they said, it will be important to “apply the same determination to implementation that the CSP community has always shown when it comes to innovation.”
Awards presented at SolarPACES
Innovations were recognised by SolarPACES again this year: the network presented three awards. The ‘Technology Innovation Award’ went to ‘HyMATE – Hydrogen Mitigation System for Parabolic Trough Power Plants’ by CSP Services – a spin-off from the DLR Institute of Solar Research. HyMATE contributes to the faster adoption of CSP technology by improving the power-to-cost ratio, optimising manufacturing technology, extending the service life of components and enabling a better environmental footprint.
The ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ was presented to Prof. Wang Zhifeng, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in recognition of his successful development and implementation of CSP systems as his life’s work. His daughter accepted the award on his behalf in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler.
The network presented the ‘SolarPACES Technology Implementation Award’ to one of the largest industrial solar thermal cooling systems in Europe – the industrial implementation of SOLITERM’s integrated renewable energy system at Mayr-Melnhof Graphia in Turkey. This demonstrates the scalability, reliability and cost-effectiveness of the system in a practical application.
SolarPACES 2026
Dr Cristina Prieto Rios has received an award from the ‘Women+ in Concentrated Solar’ initiative.
This year, the ‘Women+ in Concentrated Solar’ initiative presented an award for the first time: Dr Christina Prieto Ríos was honoured for her work spanning more than 25 years as a bridge between research and industry in the field of concentrated solar power and thermal energy storage. “Dr Prieto has left her mark on CSP plants all over the world: PS10, Solnova, Solana, Khi Solar One, Xina Solar One and Cerro Dominador,” said the initiative. “As one of the few women involved in the development of CSP technology from the very beginning, she has contributed to the development of technologies that are now in use worldwide!”
In addition, SolarPACES presented a ‘Dedicated Service Award’: Dr Christoph Richter was honoured at the gala dinner for his outstanding work for SolarPACES. He organised the conference for 18 years. From 2027, his successor, Prof. Matteo Chiesa, will take over the organisation.
At the closing event, the audience also gave a standing ovation to Prof. Robert Pitz-Paal, who was recognised at his final SolarPACES conference in his official capacity for his long-standing commitment to the organisation.
The SolarPACES conference’s Technical Tour took participants to Jülich
On Saturday, 100 SolarPACES participants had the opportunity to gain insights into innovative research facilities and companies during the Technical Tour in Jülich. The tour comprised four stops:
At the Solar Towers of the DLR Institute of Solar Research, they were given information about the Solar Towers, which are equipped with 2,000 heliostats and comprise air, particle and molten salt cycles, as well as a thermal energy storage system and a steam turbine. The autonomous operational control system developed as part of the SOLEA project was also presented.
The participants also visited the multiTESS Carnot battery at the Jülich Solar Institute in Brainergy Park. It stores surplus electricity by converting it into high-temperature heat. This heat is stored in cost-effective thermal storage systems and can be converted back into electrical energy as required.
SolarPACES 2026
One of the stops on the Technical Tour was the Jülich Solar Towers at the DLR Institute of Solar Research.
At Synhelion’s DAWN plant, the entire ‘sun-to-liquid’ process – from concentrated sunlight to liquid fuel – was clearly explained. With DAWN, Synhelion has demonstrated that the technology not only works in the laboratory but is already deployable on an industrial scale.
Right next door, HyDN GmbH produces green hydrogen in a plant with a capacity of ten megawatts, producing up to 180 kilograms per hour. It is one of the first of its kind in Germany to have been commissioned.
The Technical Tour was rounded off with lunch at the Start-up Village in Brainergy Park Jülich.
The Technical Tour brought to a close four days of scientific exchange and inspiring discussions in the very special and atmospheric surroundings of the Kurhaus and Steigenberger Hotel in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler.
As this year’s host, the DLR Institute of Solar Research had organised the conference jointly with SolarPACES. Next year, SolarPACES will take place in Mexico City.
In his closing remarks, Prof. Pitz-Paal once again emphasised the importance of international cooperation. He stated that it was essential, as the current challenges were too great to be solved by individual institutions, and he therefore urged: “Keep the international community alive!”
