Solar concentrating systems and their performance

SOLARIZE Training course

SOLARIZE

Free training course for CST professionals on

Solar concentrating systems and their performance

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Announcement and call for applications

Location: PROMES-CNRS, Font Romeu Odeillo, France
Date: 7th to 9th July 2026
Course topics: Concentrated Solar Optics Basics for non-specialists
  • Introduction to optical principles relevant to concentrating solar systems.
  • Hands-on session: Simple calculation and ray-tracing software tools for system design and analysis.
Optical instruments for performance evaluation
  • Power measurement techniques for solar thermal systems.
  • Temperature measurement and monitoring for solar thermal applications: IR camera, pyrometry.
  • Hands-on session: camera-based power distribution of a solar furnace with a camera, associated data analysis.
Lifetime and Maintenance of Concentrated Solar Plants
  • In-field feedback and case studies from commercial operator eLlo.
  • Presentation and discussion about existing and requested standards for concentrating solar systems.
Technical visits
  • eLlo Commercial Plant: 10 MWe linear Fresnel system with direct steam generation.
  • CNRS Big Solar Furnace (Odeillo): 1 MWth high-flux solar furnace for research and industrial testing.
  • CNRS Thémis Solar Tower: 5 MWth facility featuring the Powder2Power process demonstrator for industrial heat and PV-hybrid electricity (1.2 MWe turbine).
Organisation:
  • Interactive workshops to share experience and challenges among participants.
  • Hybrid Workshop with research and industry experts on maintenance.
  • Courses are 9h-12h 13h30-16h.
  • Hands on session schedule may be adapted due to weather conditions.
  • Offices are available on request for your remote working starting 8h until 20h. Guest internet access will be provided.
Target group: Engineers, researchers and representatives from European concentrating solar companies who want to be trained on concentrating solar optics, performance evaluation and operation.
Course Language: English
Trainers: Scientists and specialists from PROMES-CNRS laboratory and from the eLlo commercial plant.
Application: The registration deadline is June 5th 2026 on a first come, first serve basis. Class size is limited to 17 participants. The maximum number of participants per company is two. Daily partial attendance is possible: please specify.

Eligible candidates will be informed by latest until June 19th, 2026.

=> To apply, please fill out the application form found under this SOLARIZE event page.
Fees: No course fee is applicable, covered by the SOLARIZE project.

The costs for coffee breaks and lunch will also be covered by the SOLARIZE European project.

Accommodation and travel costs shall be covered by the participant.
Contact: For further information about the course, please contact:
Emmanuel Guillot (PROMES-CNRS)
emmanuel.guillot@promes.cnrs.fr
Anita Haeussler (PROMES-CNRS)
anita.haeussler@promes.cnrs.fr

Course Program “Solar concentrating systems and their performance”, Font Romeu Odeillo, France.

Tuesday, 07/07/26
Welcome at PROMES-CNRS PROMES-CNRS (E. Guillot)
Participant's introduction
Expectation and issues relevant to this course
All participants
Presentation of the PROMES-CNRS laboratory
Presentation of the SOLARIZE project and the EU-SOLARIS ERIC
Presentation of the eLlo power plant
PROMES-CNRS (E. Guillot)
eLlo (F. Lecat)
Course: Concentrating Solar optics for non-opticians PROMES-CNRS (E. Guillot)
Lunch (PROMES-CNRS restaurant)
Hands on session: calculation of optical performance of simple CSP systems
Hands on session: ray tracing tools for simple evaluation of concentrating solar systems 		PROMES-CNRS (E. Guillot)
PROMES-CNRS (E. Guillot & A. Haeussler)
Wednesday, 08/07/26
Optical instruments for performance evaluation
Power measurements
Temperature measurements

PROMES-CNRS (A. Haeussler)
Visit: Odeillo’s solar furnaces PROMES-CNRS (E. Guillot & A. Haeussler)
Lunch (PROMES-CNRS restaurant)
Hands on session: camera measurements on solar furnaces
Hands on session: power flux measurement processing in Python 		PROMES-CNRS (A. Haeussler & E. Guillot)
PROMES-CNRS (A. Haeussler)
Thursday, 09/07/26
Presentation of the standards for concentrating solar components and systems PROMES-CNRS (E. Guillot & D. Jaffré)
Discussion: needs and feedback for standards, qualification and certification? All participants
Presentation of components lifetime and their maintenance (Hybrid session)
Actual feedback from a commercial plant
Supporting research actions
eLlo (F. Lecat & TBC)
PROMES-CNRS (E. Guillot & TBC)
Discussion: needs and feedback for specific components and/or their monitoring? (Hybrid session) All participants
Lunch (PROMES-CNRS restaurant)
Visit: eLlo commercial plant
Visit: Thémis solar tower and Powder2Power demonstrator 		eLlo (F. Lecat & TBC)
PROMES-CNRS (A. Le Gal, W. Baltus & E. Guillot)
Wrap up All participant
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How to get to PROMES-CNRS Odeillo?

By plane

The nearest airports are:

  • Barcelona-El Prat (Spain),
  • Toulouse-Blagnac (France),
  • Perpignan-Rivesaltes (France).

From any of these airports, you can reach Font-Romeu by train or bus (see details below) or car rental.

By train

  • From Barcelona: Take a train to Puigcerdà (operated by Renfe),
  • From Toulouse: Take a train to Latour-de-Carol (operated by SNCF).

After arriving at the station, take a taxi to Font-Romeu (see taxi info below)

By bus

  • From Perpignan: Take Bus Line 560 direction Porté Puymorens directly to Font-Romeu.
  • From Latour de Carol: Take Bus Line 560 direction Perpignan directly to Font-Romeu.

By taxi

Taxi should be pre-booked. Different taxi companies operate:

Accommodation in Font-Romeu Odeillo

Font-Romeu offers a variety of lodging options, from hotels to rental apartments. Below are some recommended hotels:

Additional Tips

  • Currency: France uses the Euro (€).
  • Weather: Font-Romeu is in mountain, temperatures can be cold.
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