Sustainable Design, Analysis, and Practical Applications of Solar Thermal Systems

Dear Colleagues,

Solar thermal technologies are expected to play a key role in the decarbonization of both the power and heat sectors. Their integration into energy grids will enable an increase in dispatchable renewable energy share, high-temperature heat provision for industrial processes, and flexible energy-flow management through integrated thermal energy storage and hybrid-configuration deployment. At the same time, artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven methods are rapidly permeating many sectors, offering new opportunities to improve the design, control, and operation of solar thermal systems, thus contributing to lowering the levelized cost of energy and thereby fostering their large-scale deployment. This Special Issue gathers cutting-edge research on sustainable design, modelling, optimization, and practical implementation of solar thermal systems at both component and system level, with a particular focus on the emerging role of AI and machine learning (ML) in this field.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:·        

• Novel solar thermal collectors and receivers;
• Case studies on concentrating solar power and solar industrial process heat;
• CSP-driven power-to-X and e-fuel synthesis;·        
• Thermal energy storage integration and hybridization strategies;  
• System modelling, control, and optimization;      
• AI- and ML-based forecasting, design, diagnostics, and control of solar thermal systems;     
• Techno-economic, socio-economic, and life cycle assessment.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Francesco Rovense
Dr. Miguel Angel Reyes
Dr. Walter Gaggioli
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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