SFERA III

SFERA-III: Solar Facilities for the European Research Area - Third Phase

The SFERA-III project addresses advanced science challenges and integrated research activities in the field of Concentrating Solar Thermal (CST) by integrating key European research infrastructures into an ambitious wide project aiming at offering to the R&D community a new level of high-quality services. According to the objectives of the European Union in the field of sustainable energy supply, climate change and energy security needs strong efforts in innovative technologies and education: the EU’s Renewable energy directive sets a binding target of 20% final energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020 and 27% by 20301.

Solar energy is the primary source of renewable energy and CST power can supply electricity on demand, the built-in thermal storage capabilities of CST plants are a decisive asset that distinguishes these plants from other highly variable renewable electricity production technologies like photovoltaic or wind power. In this context, this project aims at coordinating efforts of the main European research institution operating a unique set of Research Infrastructures (RIs) to promote innovative researches, to improve services offered by concentrating solar RIs and to train researchers and engineers on the CST technologies. Both academia and industry users are targeted.

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European Union/Interreg V-A Program (2014-2020) Greece-Cyprus

Partners:

  1. CIEMAT
  2. ENEA
  3. CEA
  4. ETH Zürich
  5. CyI
  6. LNEG
  7. EURONOVIA
  8. ESTELA
  9. CNRS
  10. DLR
  11. Universidade de Evora
  12. IMDEA Energia
  13. Fraunhofer
  14. METU
  15. Universidad de Almeria