Chairwoman's Invitation for SolarPACES 2025

Dear Colleagues,

As the Conference Chair, it is my great pleasure to invite you to the 31st SolarPACES International Conference, which will be held in Almería, Spain, from September 23–26, 2025.

Achieving full decarbonization of the energy sector, where two thirds of total demand is heat and one third is electricity, is a highly challenging but essential objective for our society. Given that Concentrated Solar Thermal (CST) technologies have already proven their ability to efficiently deliver both clean thermal energy and electricity, as well as their potential to economically complement other renewable technologies, a sustainable future without the contribution of CST systems seems highly improbable.

The use of CST systems to provide the industrial sector with clean thermal energy, internationally known as Solar Heat for Industrial Processes (SHIP), is already competitive with other energy sources in many regions. This competitiveness is driving significant growth in SHIP applications in countries with favorable solar resources.

SolarPACES international conferences are the premier global events for CST-related discussions. These conferences have been highly successful in bringing together all CST stakeholders to share experiences, exchange ideas, and promote collaborative research aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of CST technologies. Considering the current status of STE plant commercialization, your participation in this year’s conference is of utmost importance. I strongly encourage you to join us in Almería to share your expertise and innovative ideas for cost reduction, performance enhancement, and lifespan extension.

Spain is currently the global leader in CST plants, with 49 power plants in operation and a total installed capacity of 2.3 GWe, out of the 6.7 GWe installed worldwide, and 23 SHIP plants in operation with a total installed capacity of 36 MWt. By attending the 2025 SolarPACES International Conference, you will not only have the opportunity to meet and learn from renowned CST experts and stakeholders, but also visit a commercial CST power plant, the facilities of the Plataforma Solar de Almería (the world’s largest public R&D center dedicated to CST technologies), and enjoy the hospitality and beautiful weather of Almería.

I look forward to meeting you at SolarPACES 2025 in Almería.

Aránzazu Fernández-García
Chair, 2025 SolarPACES International Conference
Spanish Representative, SolarPACES Executive Committee
CIEMAT – Plataforma Solar de Almería