Webinar to introduce Eurosun2026 and SolarPaces 2026 cooperation
The international solar thermal community will gather in Freiburg, Germany, from 14 to 18 September 2026 for EuroSun2026, one of the sector’s leading scientific conferences. At the same time, Germany will also host SolarPACES 2026, creating a unique opportunity for closer collaboration between the global communities focusing on solar heat, solar power and integrated energy solutions. To provide an early preview of this cooperation, the IEA SHC Solar Academy will organise a joint webinar together with the International Solar Energy Society on 15th and 17th of June focusing on solar district heating and large-scale applications.
“This collaboration reflects the reality that solar thermal technologies increasingly operate as part of integrated, multisector energy systems,” said Korbinian Kramer EuroSun2026 Scientific Chair. “By connecting EuroSun and SolarPACES, we are creating new opportunities for knowledge exchange at a scale that matches today’s energy challenges.”
The webinar, titled Solar District Heating: New Developments and a Proven Success Story, will highlight real-world examples of successful district heating projects, discuss the role of solar thermal technologies and present lessons learned for scalable deployment.
Two sessions will be offered to accommodate participants from different time zones:
The second webinar will consist of a broadcast of the first one combined with a live Q&A session with speakers and moderators. Participation is free of charge, and recordings and presentations will be made available afterwards.
Confirmed speakers include Lucio Mesquita, Chairman of IEA SHC, Robert Pitz-Paal, Chairman of SolarPACES 2026, Magdalena Berberich Vice Chair of Solites and Joakim Byström, CEO of Absolicon Solar Collector AB.
Significant international anniversaries at Eurosun2026
This year’s Eurosun edition will be particularly significant, as it marks three important milestones:
- 30 years of the EuroSun conference series,
- 50 years of the IEA Solar Heating and Cooling Programme
- 70 years of the International Solar Energy Society
Organised jointly by ISES and IEA SHC, EuroSun2026 will bring together researchers, industry representatives and policymakers working on solar thermal technologies and renewable energy systems. Freiburg, known internationally for its long-standing commitment to renewable energy and sustainable urban development, provides an appropriate setting for the anniversary edition of EuroSun.
The programme of the EuroSun2026 will be expected to be published in the coming weeks and registration for the conference starts soon.
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