The Renewable Energy sector is evolving but energy balance remains a key challenge. SolarHub project, a Greek-Turkish Solar Energy Excellence Hub to Advance the European Green Deal, held a webinar on March 17 2025 for Women in Solar Energy, where inspiring women from research, industry policymaking and NGOs shared their experiences, challenges and visions for a more inclusive solar energy sector. Building on the momentum of the International Women’s Day (March 8), this event sparked discussions on breaking barriers, enhancing diversity and driving impactful change.
Women+ in Concentrated Solar, with the valuable support and organization by ATA Insights, is happy to present their webinar on “Solar thermal growth: exploring the social and policy dynamics beyond technology“, held online on March 19, 2025 @ 11 am CET (duration: 1h).
This webinar explores the intersection of social, policy, and gender dimensions in the development of Concentrated Solar.
The first session will introduce the vital role of women in concentrated solar (CS), and highlight the policies needed to support CS growth, especially relevant in view of “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) program cancellation in the USA.
The second talk will dive into IRENA’s recent report on the job requirements for CS development, with a focus on leveraging local capacity for a sustainable CS workforce.
Finally, we will address the broader social and policy challenges shaping the European Green Deal, examining issues like cross-sector collaboration, social acceptance, and gender equality, and how these factors influence the future of renewable energy.
Key takeaways:
Policy frameworks for CS expansion: why “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) and other gender equality programs matter for technological innovation, and what is needed beyond simple cost reduction for CS growth.
Local content and job creation: discover strategies for integrating local content in CS projects and leveraging local capacities to build a sustainable workforce, as highlighted in IRENA’s recent report.
Social and policy dynamics in the EU Green Deal: explore the broader social and policy challenges influencing the European Green Deal, including cross-sector collaboration, social acceptance, and gender equality, and their impact on the future of renewable energy.
Speakers:
Celia García-Baños, Programme Officer – Policy, Gender and Socioeconomics
Yelda Erden Topal, Researcher in SSH, Gender and Policy Aspects of Sustainable Transitions
Alina Gilmanova, Co-founder of Women+ in Concentrated Solar [Moderator]
Women+ in Concentrated Solar, with the valuable support and organization by ATA Insights, is happy to present their webinar on “Securing funding from research to project development stages: promoting diversity in project leadership“, which was held online on December 3, 2024 @ 5 pm CET (duration: 1h).
Join us for an empowering webinar in collaboration with Women+ in Concentrated Solar designed to elevate your skills and knowledge on securing funding—from the initial research phase through to project development. This session is dedicated to promoting diversity in renewable energy project leadership. You’ll gain tools, strategies, and valuable tips to enhance your chances of obtaining financial support, from the initial search to the application process. By empowering diverse actors, we support their ability to lead impactful projects.
Since funding opportunities are rarely technology-specific, this webinar will focus on funding options for renewable energy (RES) projects in general, with a particular emphasis on those available specifically for CST projects.
This webinar is a skill-building session for individuals and organizations seeking funding for renewable energy projects. It covers the entire journey from initial research to project development. A primary aim is to empower and equip diverse leaders in the renewable energy sector with practical tools and strategies for successfully securing funding.
Key Takeaways:
Discover Effective Strategies: Learn how to improve your chances of obtaining funding for impactful and sustainable projects.
Funding Call Insights: Gain valuable tips and insights into CST funding calls and how to prepare a compelling proposal.
Bankability Pillars: Explore the five pillars that drive the bankability of commercial renewable projects.
Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your projects to the next level!
Speakers:
Vanessa Ferreira, Team Manager at IDENER & EU Project Coordinator
Adeline Duclos, Associate Programme Officer, Renewable energy project finance division at IRENA
Meriem Chaanaoui, Assistant Professor, Women+ in Concentrated Solar
Marina Casanova, Renewable Energies Researcher, Women+ in Concentrated Solar [Moderator]
Many topic track chairs and session chairs were women.
Several plenary speakers were women.
Many women had oral presentations, depending on the topics.
The overall participation of women to the conference remains stable (although unfortunately it doesn’t go up).
Our group was presented during the opening plenary session by our latest leadership team member, Mounia Karim.
Our pins were again a big success, high on demand!
We held another networking happy hour and it was a memorable and momentous time for us to meet with new and long-standing connections, get visibility and reach out to the concentrated solar community. It was so enjoyable and fruitful!
The next conference chair will be a woman for the first time ever! Thanks and congrats to Arantxa Fernández García!
As emphasized by two of our wrap-up speakers, “we need more women in concentrated solar”!
We thank all participants and SolarPACES organization for your ongoing support!
Our PSE organizersMounia Karim presenting W+CSPlenary Esther RojasPlenary panelChair Fabienne SallaberryOral Noelia EstremeraOral Ana Cleia González AlvesOral Elisa SaniOral Gema San VicenteOralOralTopic track chairsWrap-up Andrea AmbrosiniWrap-up Marco BinottiHappy hour selfieHappy hour selfieHappy hour talkHappy hourHappy hour
Northeastern University is developing free online CSP courses that will be offered to the public this fall. Please complete this short questionnaire if you are interested in the courses.
The courses are meant to support prospective, new, or existing workers in the CSP industry. The planned topics include:
1) What is CSP: An overview of the discipline and its advantages
2) Incident solar radiation prediction, ray tracing basics, losses, software available and control needs
3) Receiver design: basic design and numerical approaches
4) Energy storage, need and cost factors
5) Potential for production processes at high temperature high heat fluxes in CSP systems
After their success last year, Women+ in Concentrated Solar is organizing a new round of global virtual networking events, where we will again meet online with concentrated solar experts from all over the world.
Connect and network with members of the Concentrated Solar community around the globe
Two sessions are proposed, depending on your region. Registration is free but required. Both events will be held on Zoom. Once registered, you will receive a connection link.
Women+ in Concentrated Solar, with the valuable support and organization by ATA Insights, is happy to present their webinar on “The untapped potential of small scale CSP“, which was held online on January 16, 2024 @ 1 pm CET (duration: 1h).
CSP is emerging as a dynamic solution in the renewable energy landscape. Unlike its large-scale counterparts, small-scale CSP systems are designed with modularity in mind, providing a flexible and scalable approach to energy generation. Whether it’s powering a remote community, an agricultural operation, or an individual residence, these systems can be tailored to meet specific energy needs, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional power sources.
The decentralized nature of small-scale CSP is a game-changer. By bringing solar energy generation closer to the point of use, these systems reduce dependence on centralized grids, especially in off-grid or remote areas. This decentralization not only enhances energy access but also promotes resilience, making small-scale CSP a key player in the quest for sustainable and locally-driven energy solutions.
Beyond electricity generation, small-scale CSP showcases its versatility in various applications. From providing heat for industrial processes to supporting agricultural activities like crop drying, the potential applications are diverse.
Join this webinar to learn how small-scale CSP stands out as a technology that empowers communities and businesses alike to harness the abundant power of the sun:
Discover the need and solutions available on small scale CSP to provide affordable and sustainable energy solutions for industrial process heat and rural on/off-grid applications
Learn about small-scale concentrated solar power systems
Access an example of a practical case on small-scale concentrated solar power system
Sabrina will introduce the need and solutions available on small scale CSP to provide affordable and sustainable energy solutions for industrial process heat and rural on/off-grid applications. For regions with power outages or limited access to electricity, these solutions can help address energy security and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Research fellow at ANU (Australian National University)
She will present insights from her research paper on small-scale concentrated solar power systems, touching on system-level modelling and techno-economic optimization, while also providing an overview of research progress in this area.
Natalie will discuss the modular CSP technology developed by 247Solar Inc., highlighting thermal heat storage and its initial deployment in India in 2024, focusing on key benefits, challenges, and insights gained from the deployment.
On November 15th at 11am-12pm MST (7-8 pm CET), Ms. Kyla Hampton and Ms. Courtney Jackson, Engineering Students at Clark Atlanta University and Northeastern University, will give a talk about “LSAMP Summer Experience: A Cleaning Mirror Assessment with Reflectance”. More information here.
On October 18th, Dr. Adriana Zurita, Senior Researcher and Project Manager at Tewer Engineering, conjointly with Marco Carrascosa, CEO, gave a seminar on “Calibration and Characterization Systems in Solar Concentration Plants: Field Expertise, Conclusions, and Lessons Learned“. Watch the replay here.
You can also check out past webinars, for instance the webinar on “Intern Projects in Heliostat Technologies at NREL, SNL” featuring Miriam Caron (NREL) and Madeline Hwang (SNL).
We also recommend the most essential webinar on “Mitigating Unconscious Bias in Work Teams” by Anelisa Simons, Manager of Inclusion, Diversity, Equal Employment, Opportunity and Affirmative Action at Sandia National Labs: video, flyer. Or how to counteract unconscious bias with conscious inclusion.
Our representatives will briefly present our group and its actions during the introductory plenary session, don’t miss it!
All throughout the conference, you will find more information at our Women+ in Concentrated Solar dedicated desk, including our posters and brochures, QR code to visit our website and register as a member in our expert database. During breaks, you may also encounter our representatives there, as well as other attendees, so feel free to come around! You can also make an appointment via the website contact form or the conference Whova space, to be sure to meet with our representatives during breaks.
A Women+ in Concentrated Solar “Happy Hour” will be held on Thursday, October 12, from 6:30 to 7:30 PM for attendees of underrepresented gender identities. This will be an opportunity for us to network in a more informal way, get to know one another, create professional connections, exchange ideas and points of views, etc. After the event, you can go to the Young Professionnal dinner or stay with us a bit longer!
We hope to see you there!
Our actions this year also include advocating for the participation of more underrepresented gender identities as topic track chairs and session chairs, and gathering and analyzing gender statistics on conference participants. Thanks to this, this year for the first time, half of topic track chairs are women!
Gender equality in the energy sector is imperative to implement the whole potential of renewable energy and to foster a just energy transition, in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Women Energize Women conference invites participants from across the globe to experience discussion rounds, workshops and other innovative formats on energy and gender topics with exclusively female speakers. The conference allows for women* and allies of a social just energy transition to connect with each other, gain more visibility on international fora and shape the discussion on the energy transition themselves.
