2025 was another excellent year for the world’s largest concentrating solar research conference. The SolarPACES (Concentrating Solar Power, Thermal and Chemical Energy Systems) conference took place this year in Almeria, Spain where hundreds of researchers from over 50 countries around the world came to share on-going developments in concentrating solar thermal research.

This year’s conference demonstrated a growing interest in concentrating solar thermal (CST) research for process heating applications. Some of the other fields of interest included hybrid systems, thermal energy storage and economic analysis of solar thermal technologies.

STERG delegation (left to right: Caitlin Ridout, Tenzin Koetsier, Prof. Jaap Hoffmann, Prof. Craig McGregor, Arend Moelich, Christa Nsanzubuhoro)

STERG was represented this year by a delegation of six students and staff who presented their work through posters and oral presentations. The well-received work sparked interest in collaboration with international groups with some of the research featuring in the conference highlights during the closing ceremony.

Christa Nsanzubuhoro presenting her research

During this trip the group met many international representatives and had some excellent networking opportunities connecting with parties from Sweden, Chile, Germany, Turkey and Spain just to name a few.

This year SolarPACES also welcomed its first chairwoman. This change comes with an increased number of female researchers at SolarPACES from 2024. This marks significant development in the solar research field and is made possible by groups such as Women+ In Concentrated Solar that support underrepresented genders in a traditionally male-dominated sector. One of STERG students, Caitlin, had the opportunity to engage with them and writes the following: “Gender inclusivity was also evident throughout the conference, where women took on prominent roles, including presenting research, chairing sessions, and even leading the event as Conference Chair. For many, this representation was both encouraging and empowering and demonstrated the importance of diverse voices in shaping the future of concentrated solar power. With women representing over 20% of attendees, including two members of the STERG group presenting orally and another contributing a poster, the conference was a clear reminder that women are already driving cutting-edge research. This visibility is especially important for inspiring the next generation of female innovators.”

Caitlin Ridout interacting with Women+ In Concentrated Solar

After the conference, the STERG delegation took the opportunity to visit local areas in Spain, including the coastal cities of Almeria and Malaga as well as the warm sea-side town of Torremolinos. There they saw attractions such as the Malaga Alcazaba, the Picasso Museum, and the Malaga Cathedral.

STERG delegation visiting the promenade of Almeria

The students would like to thank STERG for sponsoring the delegations conference attendance to SolarPACES 2025.

 

Article by Tenzin Koetsier and Caitlin Ridout