The annual SolarPACES Awards honor the personal engagement of individuals and institutions that significantly contribute to the deployment of CSP technology. Two types of Awards can be given:
1. Technology Innovation Award
Application Deadline: 31 July, 2025
For innovations relevant to a more rapid deployment of CSP technology through:
– Performance/cost ratio increase
– Improved manufacturing technology
– Better component lifetime
– Improved environmental profile
The innovation should be realized at least in technical prototype and its characteristics should have been published according to scientific standards.
Proposals must include:
- 1-page description of the innovative idea and its impact, and the role of the applicant(s)
- A scientific publication on details of the innovation
- CVs of the applicants
For more information on the application process: Technology Innovation Award Information
2. Lifetime Achievement Award
Application Deadline: 31 July, 2025
This award honors personal contributions to the successful development and implementation of CSP systems of an individual throughout a major phase of his/her life. Criteria are:
– Acknowledged leadership in research or management in the field of CSP technology
– Long term commitment in this field
– Promotion of international cooperation
Proposals must include:
- Brief resume of achievements (one page)
- CV of the nominee
- Letters of support from relevant entities or persons from at least 3 SolarPACES member countries
For more information on the application process: Lifetime Award Application Information
Winners of the 2024 SolarPACES Awards:
SolarPACES Technology Innovation Award:
Dubai’s 950 MW DEWA hybrid solar project combining 250 MW of PV with both Trough (600 MW) and Tower (100 MW) CSP – for advancing multiple groundbreaking CSP technologies while achieving record low LCOE for the largest and most efficient hybrid solar power installation globally.
DEWA sustainable energy manager Hamid Al Kindi accepted the award on behalf of the many international contributors to the 950 MW Phase IV CSP/PV project at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.
Hamid Al Kindi as project manager of Phase IV of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, accepts the SolarPACES Technology Award 2024 for the 950 MW solar DEWA solar plant
On the closing day of the SolarPACES 2024 Conference, Hamid Al Kindi received the SolarPACES 2024 Technology Innovation Award on behalf of DEWA, (Dubai Electricty & Water Authority) the firm that contracted with ACWA Power to supply solar energy at the record low price of 7.3 cents USD from the largest CSP project in the world.
Numerous global research institutions and technology suppliers provided the many groundbreaking technological advances that brought the 600 MW Trough and 100 MW Tower CSP project to fruition in the United Arab Emirates.
Among the many CSP innovations commercialized in this project for the first time as part of cutting the costs were a fully wireless communication system deployed throughout the entire solar field of heliostats, (eliminating traditional cabling, simplifying construction), interconnection with an auxiliary 110 MW PV facility to handle parasitic load, and hybridization with 250 MW of PV for daytime, enabling 700 MW of CSP to focus mainly on supply of Dubai’s night-time electricity needs, along with by far the world’s largest total thermal energy storage capacity at 23,163 MWh.
Further information: Award and Description of SolarPACES 2024 Technology Innovation Award – 950MW Solar Hybrid Power Plant Phase IV
Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Aldo Steinfeld and Dr. Manuel Romero
Manuel Romero and Aldo Steinfeld receive the SolarPACES Lifetime Achievement Award from Robert Pitz-Paal
On the closing day of the SolarPACES 2024 conference in Rome, Aldo Steinfeld and Manuel Romero were jointly awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition of their over 20 years collaboration in pioneering and developing the use of concentrated solar thermal energy to produce solar fuels.
Their successful and long-standing joint efforts led to the first solar tower demonstration of solar thermochemical production of kerosene from H2O and CO2. Their pioneering work in solar gasification, production of solar kerosene for jet fuel, dry reforming of methane, thermochemical energy storage with manganese oxides, and solar towers with volumetric receivers, has paved the way for the commercial implementation of these uses of concentrating solar technologies.
Steinfeld is Full Professor and Chair of Renewable Energy Carriers in the Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering at ETH Zurich where he has led the solar thermochemistry research field for over 25 years. Romero is Deputy Director at IMDEA Energía, with a 40 year career in CSP. His work resulted in the first demonstration of solar gasification of petcoke at the CRS tower in Almeria and the development of a novel concept of solar reactor with petcoke slurry feeding. Together, they implemented the first solar tower test plant combining Steinfeld’s work on advancing solar thermochemical reactor technology with Romero’s high flux high temperature ultramodular solar field.
Their work on advancing solar thermochemistry has received received major grants and awards including Sun to Liquids I and II and the 22nd Energy Globe World Award at COP26 in Glassgow. Both have outstanding scientific profiles and have published their results in numerous top-tier journals, protected key know-how with patents, and have been instrumental in supporting technology transfer through spin-off companies.
Winners of the 2023 SolarPACES Awards:
SolarPACES Technology Innovation Award:
Nano Frontier Technology, Shinshu University, and Australian National University for their durable nanotech absorber coating
Four of the awardees from Australia National University; Yifan Guo, Sahar Hosseini, Joe Coventry and Felipe Torres joined Kaoru Tsuda from Nano Frontier Technology, to receive the award from SolarPACES Charman Gilles Flamant
On the closing day of the SolarPACES 2023 Conference, Kaoru Tsuda, CEO of Nano Frontier Technology, and four awardees on behalf of Australian National University; PhD Candidates Yifan Guo and Sahar Hosseini, with Associate Professor Joe Coventry and Senior Lecturer Felipe Torres, received the SolarPACES 2022 Technology Innovation Award for an advanced solar absorber coating that improves efficiency and lifetime stability over that of the industry standard, Pyromark 2500.
The researchers at the Australian National University characterized the optics, modeled the light-trapping, tested accelerated aging, and assisted Shinshu University and Nano Frontier Technology in developing the coating’s unique hierarchical architecture, while the latter two also led its design and manufacture.
(The awardees also included Professor Yasushi Murakami of Shinshu University and Independent Researcher Wojciech Lipiński at the Cyprus Institute.)
Further information: Award and Description of SolarPACES Technology Innovation Award 2023
Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Robert Pitz-Paal and Dr. Eduardo Zarza
Robert Pitz-Paal and Eduardo Zarza receive the SolarPACES Lifetime Achievement Award from Gilles Flamant, Chair of SolarPACES
On the closing day of the SolarPACES 2023 conference in Sydney, Robert Pitz-Paal and Eduardo Zarza were jointly awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by Gilles Flamant, Chair of SolarPACES, in recognition of their successful and long-standing joint efforts in promoting international research in CST technologies, specifically through their support of comprehensive Spanish-German collaboration.
Pitz-Paal directs the DLR Institute of Solar Research and is Program Manager for the Solar and Wind Program at the German Aerospace Center (DLR). His leadership has been pivotal in the advancement of concentrated solar energy technologies for several decades. As Board Member of the German Industry Association of CSP and past Chair of SolarPACES he has advanced international cooperation in solar research.
Zarza is R&D technical coordinator and heads the line-focus Solar Thermal Technologies unit at CIEMAT’s Plataforma Solar de Almería (PSA), one of the world’s largest R+D centers dedicated to CSP, and played a pivotal role in collaborating with industrial sectors at PSA, nurturing a robust group of European companies, often partnering with DLR. He has acted as representative of Spain in the board of SolarPACES and is a member of several European and international initiatives advancing CST technology.
For former award winners, see below:
2022 SolarPACES Awards:
On the closing day of the SolarPACES 2022 Conference, Dr. Christoph Falter, on behalf of Bauhaus-Luftfahrt (now with Synhelion), Dr. Johannes Grobbel, on behalf of DLR, Dr. Alon Lidor, on behalf of ETH Zurich and Dr. Charles-Alexis Asselineau, on behalf of IMDEA Energy received the SolarPACES 2022 Technology Innovation Award for the Sun-to-Liquids project; the development of solar-driven jet fuel technology for the aviation industry, which is now undergoing the commercialization process by ETH spin off Synhelion.
Further information: Award and Description of SolarPACES Technology Award 2022
Lifetime Achievement Award: Xavier Lara
On the closing day of the SolarPACES 2022 conference held in Albuquerque, Xavier Lara, Senior Vice President CSP at Pacific Green Technologies Group (PGTK), CEO at the international consultancy AELIUS, and Renewable Energy International Senior Consultant on CSP for the Asian Development Bank (ADB), was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by SolarPACES chair, Gilles Flamant, in recognition of his wide-ranging experience and international leadership in the sector including roles in the development of CSP in China, Morocco, Dubai, India and Spain.
Winners of the 2021 SolarPACES Awards:
Technology Innovation Award: DLR Solar Research and CSP Services for their solar flux measurement system
SolarPACES ExCo representative of the European Commission, Piero de Bonis, presented the award in an online ceremony to Felix Göhring (DLR), Matthias Offergeld (DLR), Marc Röger (DLR), Steffen Ulmer (CSP Services, formerly DLR), Christian Raeder (DLR), Hannes Stadler (formerly DLR), Andreas Kämpgen (CSP Services) for their solar flux measurement system that enables the most accurate heliostat positioning to avoid hotspots on the receiver while maximizing usable solar flux.
On the closing day of the SolarPACES 2021 Conference (held online again in 2021) DLR Solar Research and CSP Services received the SolarPACES 2021 Technology Innovation Award for their solar flux measurement system.
Further information: Award and Description of SolarPACES Technology Award 2021
Winners of the 2020 SolarPACES Awards:
Technology Innovation Award: Supcon Solar for their heliostat cleaning vehicle
SolarPACES Abu Dhabi ExCo member Nicolas Calvet presented the award in an online ceremony to ZHEJIANG SUPCON SOLAR Technology Co., Ltd. (SUPCON SOLAR) for the fully automatic 4-wheel steering purpose-built “Leapfrog” cleaning vehicle design that enables heliostats to be washed while in the overnight stow position.
On the closing day of the SolarPACES 2020 Conference (held online in 2020) Supcon Solar received the SolarPACES 2020 Technology Innovation Award for their innovative heliostat cleaning vehicle.
Further information: Award and Description
Lifetime Achievement Award: Luis Crespo
On the opening day of the SolarPACES 2020 conference (held virtually in 2020) Luis Crespo, president of the Spanish Association for the Promotion of the Solar Thermal Industry (Protermosolar), was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by Robert Pitz-Paal, president of SolarPACES, in recognition of his commitment to the sector and the achievements obtained, and his leadership both nationally and internationally, throughout his long professional career. He received an additional award from the Spanish R&D centers and companies which was given by Carlos Alejaldre, CIEMAT’s General Director. Also, a plaque will be placed at PSA main building in recognition of his work.
Winners of the 2019 SolarPACES Awards:
Technology Innovation Award: Vast Solar for their sodium-based Heat Transfer Fluid (HTF) system
SolarPACES Chairman Robert Pitz-Paal (left) who heads up the DLR Institute for Solar Research presenting the award to Craig Wood, an Oxford University Rhodes Scholar with two engineering degrees from the University of Western Australia who is Chief Executive Officer of Vast Solar.
On the closing day of the SolarPACES 2019 Conference in Daegu, South Korea, Vast Solar received the SolarPACES 2019 Technology Innovation Award for their high temperature polar solar field CSP modules that incorporate a novel sodium-based HTF system.
Further information: Paper Vast Solar: improving performance and reducing cost and risk using high temperature modular arrays and sodium heat transfer fluid Craig Wood and Kurt Drewes (PDF)
Winners of the 2018 SolarPACES Awards:
Technology Innovation Award: DLR Institute of Solar Research and the DLR start-up CSP Services for QFly, an airborne system for the quality assessment of concentrated solar power plants.
Marc Röger (left) Christoph Prahl (center), of the DLR Institute of Solar Research, with Alain Ferriere (right), the SolarPACES Executive Committee Representative for France.
On the closing day of the SolarPACES 2018 Conference in Casablanca, Morocco, DLR received the SolarPACES 2018 Technology Innovation Award for QFly, which enables the quality assessment of solar-thermal power plants using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The analysis software developed by DLR is at the core of the system.
Further information on DLR innovation QFly receives the SolarPACES Technology Award (pdf)
Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. David Kearney
Abraham Shultz (DOE) the SolarPACES ExCo Representative for the US (left), presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. David Kearney (right) who helped pioneer CSP in the US with Luz during the SEGS design phase, and at SERI, (Solar Energy Research Institute), now the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
Winners of the 2017 SolarPACES Awards:
Technology Innovation Award: RoyalTech and WACKER for developing and deploying the world’s first commercial application of a novel Heat Transfer Fluid based on silicon.
SolarPACES ExCo Vice Chair Prof. Zhifeng Wang (left) Head of Laboratory of Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic systems of CAS presented the Technology Innovation Award to Dr. Fridolin Stary, Senior Vice President R&D, Wacker Chemie AG, Dou Huaixin, Strategy Director of Royal Tech CSP Limited, and Erich Schaffer, Director New Businesses, Wacker Chemie AG.
On the closing day of the SolarPACES 2017 Conference in Santiago, Chile, WACKER and RoyalTech received the SolarPACES 2016 Technology Innovation Award for creation (WACKER) and commercial deployment (RoyalTech) of the world’s first commercial application of HELIOSOL, a novel silicon-based HTF.
Further information on HELIOSOL: Presentation (pdf)
Winners of the 2016 SolarPACES Awards:
Technology Innovation Award: GlassPoint for its enclosed trough technology
Pete von Behrens (left), Chief Technology Officer, and Dr. Chiaki Treynor (right), Vice President of Technolgy, received the award from Cédric Philibert (IEA) during the 2016 Technology Innovation Award Ceremony
On the closing day of the SolarPACES 2016 Conference in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, GlassPoint received the SolarPACES 2016 Technology Innovation Award for the development of its enclosed trough technology.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Wolfgang Schiel
2016 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Dr. Wolfgang Schiel being awarded by Prof. Robert Pitz-Paal (left) and during his keynote speech (right)
Winners of the 2015 SolarPACES Awards:
Technology Innovation Award: Stellio Consortium for the development of the Stellio heliostat
Representantives from sbp, Ingemetal Solar and Masermic Mechatronics during the 2015 Technology Innovation Award Ceremony.
On the closing day of the SolarPACES 2015 Conference in Cape Town, South Africa, the Stellio Consortium, comprising schlaich bergermann partner sbp sonne, Ingemetal Solar and Masermic Mechatronics, received the SolarPACES 2015 Technology Innovation Award for the development of the Stellio Heliostat.
Further information on the Stellio Heliostat: 150813_MB_SolarPACES_Award_Stellio_EB_GW
Winners of the 2014 SolarPACES Awards:
Technology Innovation Award: CSP Services and DLR for the Advanced Solar Resource Assessment with Rotating Shadowband Irradiometers
The SolarPACES Technology Innovation Award 2014 was given to Dr. Norbert Geuder from CSP Services (left) and Dr. Stefan Wilbert from DLR (right) for their work on Advanced Solar Resource Assessment with Rotating Shadowband Irradiometers (RSI).
They were represented by Dr. Marc Röger from DLR and Dr. Eckhard Lüpfert from CSP Services who received the award from Dr. Eduardo Zarza (CIEMAT) during the ceremony held at the 20th SolarPACES conference in Beijing.
Winners of the 2013 SolarPACES Awards:
Technology Innovation Award: sbp and Flabeg for the Ultimate Trough
Markus Balz and Holger Klimaschewski from sbp and Flabeg during the 2013 Technology Innovation Award Ceremony
Schlaich bergermann und partner and Flabeg were awarded at the SolarPACES 2013 conference held in Las Vegas with the Technology Innovation Award for the development of the UltimateTrough®, the world’s largest parabolic trough collector.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Fred Morse
Lifetime Award Winner Dr. Fred Morse during his Award keynote speech
The 2012 SolarPACES Award Winners:
Winner of the 2012 SolarPACES Awards: SkyFuel
SkyFuel was awarded at the SolarPACES 2012 conference held in Marrakech with the Technology Innovation Award for the development of ReflecTech®PLUS, a high performance reflective film for solar applications incorporating abrasion resistance.
The 2011 SolarPACES Award Winners:
Technology Innovation Award Winning Novatec team members Martin Selig and Gerhard Hautmann
Lifetime Award winner Rainer Aringhoff being awarded by Robert Pitz-Paal
Lifetime Award Winner Rainer Aringhoff during his Award keynote speech
The 2010 SolarPACES Award Winners:
Lifetime Award winners Valeriano Ruiz Hernandez and Arnold Goldman
Technology Innovation Award Winner Wolfgang Schiel of SBP
Technology Innovation Award Winner Wolfgang Schiel of SBP during his Award keynote speech
Winning SBP Team members Markus Balz, Wolfgang Schiel, Finn von Reeken and Gerhard Weinrebe.
Winners of the 2009 SolarPACES Award:
Technology Innovation Award Winners E. Lüpfert, S. Ulmer, B. Schiricke, M. Röger and M. Becker with R. Pitz-Paal (Conference Chair) and A. Häberle (Organizing Team)
The 2009 Technology Innovation Award was given to the team Dr. Eckhard Lüpfert, Dr. Klaus Pottler, Dr. Steffen Ulmer, Dr. Marc Röger and Dr. Björn Schiricke, from the Solar Research department at the DLR Institute of Technical Thermodynamics for their work in the field of measurement and qualification methods for concentrating solar collectors.
The 2009 Lifetime Award winners in recognition of their decade long contributions to the development of CSP technology were Dr. Manfred Becker, formerly Head of the Energy Technology division at DLR, and Dr. Paul Kesselring, formerly Head of Laboratory for Energy and Process Technology at PSI.