CENER to showcase its latest advances at SolarPACES 2026
CENER, the National Renewable Energy Centre of Spain, will have a prominent scientific and technical presence at SolarPACES 2026, the 32nd International Conference on Concentrating Solar Power, Thermal and Chemical Energy Systems, to be held from 15th to 19th September 2026 in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany.
CENER’s participation in the conference programme will comprise eight contributions, including a plenary presentation, three oral communications and four posters. Together, they showcase the centre’s expertise in artificial intelligence and digitalization, heliostat characterization and calibration, advanced receivers, thermal and thermochemical storage, optical measurement and plant simulation.
In addition, CENER will contribute to the meeting of Task III “Solar Technology and Advanced Applications” and Task IV “Solar Heat Integration in Industrial Processes” of the IEA SolarPACES Technology Collaboration Programme on September 14th. Its contributions will focus on optical characterization, ray-tracing analysis, heliostat performance and calibration, and the application of advanced digital tools to CSP tower plants, and standardization activities for Solar Heat Integration in Industrial Processes. These activities support the development of internationally harmonized measurement procedures, technical guidelines and standards for concentrating solar technologies. More information about SolarPACES Task III and Task IV.
A major highlight of the conference will be the plenary presentation “Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence: A Second Opportunity for CSP – From Technological Promise to Intelligent Renewable Energy.” The presentation will examine how artificial intelligence, digital twins, advanced control and data-driven operation can help CSP technology reduce costs, improve reliability and deliver greater value to future energy systems.
CENER researchers will also deliver oral presentations addressing the techno-economic potential of CSP integrated with thermochemical storage, the adaptation and validation of the SHORT heliostat calibration methodology, and the influence of spectroradiometer measurement uncertainty on ray-tracing assessments of solar concentrators.
Four additional posters will present CENER’s work on Solar 4.0 and intelligent CSP, validation of the HelioscharPlus heliostat characterization system, experimental testing of a cost-optimized ceramic volumetric solar absorber, and benchmarking of Modelica-based simulation tools for parabolic-trough plants.
Through its contributions to both the conference and the IEA SolarPACES international research activities, CENER reinforces its commitment to developing more intelligent, reliable and cost-competitive concentrating solar technologies.
Scientific Posters
Specifically, the titles of the posters to be presented are:
- “Validation of HelioscharPlus Performed on a Commercial Heliostat at Medium Range”. CENER´s authors: Kontxi Aginaga, Iñaki Bernad, Adrian Peña-Lapuente, Amaia Mutuberria and Marcelino Sánchez, and TEWER, UPNA. Presenter: Kontxi Aginaga.
*This work is part of the action PCI2022-135015-2, funded by MICIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by European Union “Next Generation EU /PRTR”.
- “Experimental Evaluation of a low-cost ceramic foam volumetric solar absorber for high-temperature renewable heat supply”. CENER´s authors: Xabier Randez, Fritz Zaversky and Ruben Garayoa, and IMDEA Energy, Fraunhofer Institut fur Keramische Technolgien und Systeme IKTS and Walter E.C. Pritzkow Spezialkeramik. ASTERIX CAESAR project (Horizon Europe EU). Presenter: Kontxi Aginaga.
- “Benchmarking Modelica-Based Numerical Models for the Thermal Performance Assessment of Parabolic Trough Collector Plants”. CENER´s author: Fritz Zaversky. Presenter: Mattia Cagnoli (ENEA).
- “Solar 4.0: The Transition to Intelligent CSP”. CENER´s authors: Amaia Mutuberria and Marcelino Sánchez. SUN-DT project (CINEA EU). Presenter: Amaia Mutuberria.
Solar 4.0 The Transition to Intelligent CSP
Validation of HelioscharPlus Performed on a Commercial Heliostat at Medium Range
*A schedule of the presentations, based on the conference agenda, is attached.
