Newtek

Meeting of the main European project on solar thermal energy

On 21 and 22 January IK4-TEKNIKER is set to participate in the second general meeting of the STAGE-STE project (Scientific and Technological Alliance for Guaranteeing European Excellence in Concentrating Solar Thermal Energy).

A year ago the European Commission gave the green light to this ambitious project that is seeking to structure and coordinate research into solar thermal energy (CSP). This major international, scientific and technological alliance led by PSA-CIEMAT involves all the European research bodies that are important in this field in addition to institutions in North Africa, the Middle East, China, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, Chile and South Africa.

During the meeting the partners will be revising and analysing the work carried out and will be programming the activities for the forthcoming 12 months in the six groups in which the work is being structured: storage systems for solar thermal plants; materials for advanced components; solar fuels; applying of solar thermal technology to desalination; linear focusing systems; and point focusing systems.

The consortium will also be reviewing the actions designed to coordinate the work of the research teams, the most efficient use of the existing infrastructure, the running of joint training programmes and the integrating of the research policies of the various countries, among other matters.

The STAGE-STE project and IK4-TEKNIKER’s participation

The STAGE-STE project was launched on 1 February 2014, it will run for four years, and has funding to the tune of 10 million euros from the EC.

IK4-TEKNIKER, which is part of this project comprising a total of 40 institutions, organisations and companies from 20 different countries, is seeking to participate in the technical area and on the training and coordination side of the project.

The R&D centre is playing a particularly crucial role as it is in charge of tasks relating to the development of low-cost heliostats, heat-transfer fluids and storage means, the development of optical coatings and operation and maintenance optimization.

Further information

For further information, please check out the official website of the project here.

The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme [FP7/2007-2013] under grant agreement no. [609837].