SOLDESALBIO actively participated in the CIES 2026 – XX Iberian and XVI Ibero-American Congress on Solar Energy, held in March 2026 at the University of Almería. The event was organized by the Spanish Solar Energy Association, AEDES, in collaboration with CIESOL and CIEMAT.
CIES is a well-established biennial conference, held alternately in Spain and Portugal, that brings together researchers, industry representatives, and stakeholders working across different areas of solar energy. The congress provides a platform for sharing recent scientific and technological developments, as well as for discussing current challenges in the sector, such as system integration, energy storage, efficiency improvements, and sustainability aspects.
The 2026 edition featured a comprehensive program including scientific sessions and dedicated activities for projects, industry, and collaborative initiatives, fostering exchange between the research community and applied sectors.
Our participation in the congress contributed to disseminating project results and engaging with the wider solar energy community.
Oral presentations#
Diseño, escalado y operación de un secadero rotatorio alimentado por energía solar térmica para microalgas#
🇬🇧 Design, scaling, and operation of a solar thermal-powered rotary dryer for microalgae
The work presents a study and evaluation of the drying process of microalgae using a prototype rotary dryer powered by solar thermal energy.
Modelo y simulación de un sistema híbrido CAES y planta de Ósmosis Inversa#
🇬🇧 Modeling and simulation of a hybrid CAES system and a reverse osmosis plant
The study explores a sustainable desalination approach by integrating reverse osmosis (RO) with solar energy and compressed air energy storage (CAES), addressing the challenge of solar intermittency. Through simulation, it evaluates how air pressure and flow from CAES impact energy efficiency, water quality, and production of a RO plant. The findings highlight the need to optimize these parameters to balance energy use and freshwater output.
Workshop water–energy–food nexus#
As part of the congress activities, the project contributed to a workshop focused on one of the major current challenges: the interdependence between water, energy, and food resources.
During the session, Patricia Palenzuela Ardila and Gabriel Acién presented the main research lines on sustainable solar-powered desalination being developed at the Plataforma Solar de Almería – CIEMAT and wastewater recovery through the production of photosynthetic microorganisms, respectively. Both contributions highlighted innovative solutions aimed at improving the efficiency and sustainability of water use.
In addition, together with Lidia Roca, the session included an open innovation exercise designed to actively engage participants from industry, research centers, public administrations, and society.
The workshop aimed to explore how different stakeholders can collaborate and become involved in R&D&I initiatives addressing real-world challenges within the water–energy–food nexus.