The Powder2Power partners actively participated in the 32nd SolarPACES Conference, held from 15 to 18 September 2026 in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany. Organised under the framework of the International Energy Agency (IEA) SolarPACES Programme, the annual conference is the leading international event dedicated to CSP and solar thermal technologies, bringing together researchers, technology developers and industrial stakeholders from around the world.

Addressing key challenges of MW-scale particle-based CSP

This year’s the scientific contributions presented by the partners reflected the multidisciplinary nature of the project, addressing several complementary aspects required for the development of future MW-scale particle-based CSP systems: particle receiver heat transfer, high-temperature particle transport, electric particle superheating and techno-economic assessment (click on the links for high-resolution files).

1. Critical Analysis of the Wall-to-Particle Heat Transfer in a Fluidized Bed Tubular Solar Receiver (oral presentation). Authors: E. Oñate Oyaneder (PROMES-CNRS, France), A. Le Gal (PROMES-CNRS, France), R. Gueguen (PROMES-CNRS, France), B. Grange (CSP-Boost, France), F. Tamssaouet ( LAAS-CNRS, France), F. Bataille (PROMES-CNRS, France), G. Flamant (PROMES-CNRS, France).
2. First experimental results with continuous particle circulation in the top particle-closed-loop at the Themis Solar Tower facility (download PDF poster). Authors: Alex Le Gal (PROMES-CNRS, France), William Baltus (PROMES-CNRS, France), Antoine Perez( PROMES-CNRS, France), Jan Baeyens (European powder and process technology (EPPT), Belgium), Yimin Deng (European powder and process technology (EPPT), Belgium), Emmanuel Guillot (PROMES-CNRS, France), Gilles Flamant (PROMES-CNRS, France).
3. Thermal Performance and Effective Heat Transfer in a Vertical Electric Particle Heater for CSP (download PDF poster). Authors: Taras Koturbash, Ata Ülger, Silvia Trevisan, Rafael Guedez, Salvatore Guccione (Department of Energy Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden).
4. Experimental investigation of particle flow in a gravity-driven moving bed electric heater: improved methodology and preliminary geometry comparison (download PDF poster). Authors: Taras Koturbash, Ata Ülger, Parth Kumavat, Salvatore Guccione (Department of Energy Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden).
5. Economic evaluation of MW scale particle hybrid CSP-PV plant (download PDF poster). Authors: Bo LIU (EDF R&D, France), Frédéric SIROS (EDF R&D, France), Benjamin CASTELNAU (EDF R&D, France), Nicolas JOURDAN (EDF R&D, France), Gilles FLAMANT (CNRS PROMES, France), Benjamin GRANGE (CSP-Boost, France), Simone GIRELLI (POLIMI, Italy), Salvatore GUCCIONE (KTH, Department of Energy Technology, Sweden), Jan BAEYENS (EPPT, Belgium). 

Contributing to the future deployment of particle-based CSP

Beyond presenting new scientific results, SolarPACES 2026 provided an opportunity to discuss how high-temperature solar thermal technologies can support the decarbonisation of industry and renewable power generation. The discussions throughout the conference echoed a common message from the plenary sessions: while many solar thermal technologies have reached a high level of technical maturity, accelerating their deployment now requires robust experimental validation, techno-economic evidence and successful large-scale demonstrations. The scientific contributions presented by the Powder2Power consortium directly address these challenges by advancing the knowledge and technologies needed for future commercial particle-based CSP systems.

Powder2Power thanks the SolarPACES organisers for another successful conference, all the authors and everyone who attended the presentations and contributed to the many stimulating technical discussions throughout the week.

Take a look at some moments from SolarPACES 2026 and the Powder2Power participation in the photo gallery below!