RPow had the honor of participating in the 30th edition of SolarPACES, held in Rome from October 8 to 11. SolarPACES is the premier international event in the field of concentrating solar power, bringing together key players each year to discuss the latest technological advancements, trends, and future challenges. Since its inception in 1984, the conference has traveled across different cities worldwide, establishing itself as a key platform for collaboration in renewable energy research and development.
At the event, Rafael Pérez Santana, Project Lead at RPow, presented the innovative thermal energy storage (TES) project planned for the Energy Storage Research Center in Cáceres (CIIAE). This pilot plant, expected to be operational by 2025, aims to explore and validate various advanced storage technologies, including molten salts, phase change materials (PCM), and sorption systems.
In his presentation, Pérez Santana emphasized that thermal storage plays a crucial role in the energy transition, as more than 70% of the energy used in industry is dedicated to heat generation. Without effective storage solutions, decarbonizing these processes would be unfeasible.
During the project’s first phase, tests will be conducted with binary salts (60% NaNO3 / 40% KNO3) to operate at temperatures ranging from 60°C to 410°C, along with PCM materials and gels for sorption technology. It is important to note that RPow is collaborating on this initiative with Contratos y Diseños Industriales (CYD), forming a joint venture to drive the development of innovative energy storage solutions. The project is funded by the European Union (Next Generation EU) and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation.
RPow’s participation in SolarPACES was a valuable opportunity to share the project’s details with the international community and explain how it will help optimize energy management in industrial applications. Furthermore, our CEO, César Martín-Montalvo, and our CIO, Patricia Santamaría Prado, were present to reinforce the company’s commitment to advancing renewable energy and decarbonization.
For more details about the project and our participation in SolarPACES, you can read this article on PV Magazine.