The University of Almería to Host the Next Edition of the Ibero-American Solar Energy Congress in March 2026
Under the theme “Solar Energy: New Uses, New Challenges”, the Spanish Solar Energy Association (AEDES), the Spanish delegation of the International Solar Energy Society (ISES), has announced that the upcoming CIES 2026—20th Iberian and 16th Ibero-American Solar Energy Congress—will be held at the University of Almería from March 23 to 25, 2026. This biennial congress will be organized by CIESOL, the Solar Energy Research Center, a joint center between the University of Almería and CIEMAT (the Center for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research), and it stands as one of the most important and traditional events among Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking researchers and professionals involved in the study and application of solar energy.
According to the organizers, holding the congress in Almería adds extra value, as just 30 km from the venue—and closely linked to CIESOL—is the Plataforma Solar de Almería, a unique scientific facility with almost 50 years of history. It has played a key role in many of the major achievements of Spanish science and technology in the field of solar thermal electricity generation, and more recently, in the application of solar energy to water treatment. These contributions—alongside the significant efforts of individuals, institutions, and companies in Spain, Portugal, and Latin America—have helped solar energy, like other renewable sources, meet the technological and market maturity needed to be considered a viable option in energy projects across nearly all power scales and a wide range of applications.
However, this widespread development has brought about new challenges. Among them are the impact of integrating large amounts of solar electricity into regional grids, the need to optimize the operation and efficiency of different solar solutions, and the expansion of solar energy into new productive sectors beyond strictly energy-related ones, such as those involving water and food, both of special relevance to the province of Almería.
In addition to these clearly technical challenges, new and previously unexplored issues are also emerging—social and environmental in nature—that likewise demand our attention. These include, among others, the incorporation of circularity as a fundamental premise in all solar and energy efficiency projects, addressing end-of-life management of solar systems, and the growing social resistance to solar projects. Although this resistance is often linked to landscape and environmental impacts, recent events prompt us to also consider its effects on power grids and the assurance of energy supply.
CIES 2026 will feature a traditional structure of scientific sessions for attendees to present their progress in the congress’s thematic areas. In addition, a series of special sessions will be held to give researchers from national and international projects, industry associations, and companies the opportunity to openly and directly address these new challenges. Overcoming them will help ensure the circular and sustainable nature of all solar projects.
Conference website: www.cies-congreso.org
Contact email: cies2026@ual.es