Materiales en Energía Solar Térmica y Fotovoltaica
Description and lines of research
Incorporated in 2025, the Materials in Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic Energy unit carries out joint activities in the field of optical properties and the durability analysis of materials for concentrating solar technologies, both under outdoor exposure and accelerated aging conditions, including soiling and cleaning phenomena in solar concentrators and photovoltaic modules.
Strategic lines
- Design and synthesis of surface structures with advanced properties for solar applications
- Optical characterization of materials for concentrating solar thermal and photovoltaic technologies
- Durability of materials for concentrating solar thermal and photovoltaic technologies
- Resistance of materials under extreme operating conditions
- Soiling and cleaning phenomena in solar concentrators and photovoltaic modules
- Functional, economic, and environmental impact of devices with advanced optical properties in solar concentration and photovoltaic systems.
Principal investigators
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-6269-7638 · Scopus Author ID: 56243219400. Manuel Pérez García has been an Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Physics at the University of Almería since 2001. He graduated in Physical Sciences, specialising in Earth and Space Physics, from the Complutense University of Madrid in 1987, and earned his PhD in Physical Sciences from the University of Granada in 1997. He joined the Plataforma Solar de Almería as a researcher in 1989 and became an associate professor at the University of Almería in 1994. His work has involved 26 competitively funded research projects, including national and international projects, and 12 research and advanced-services contracts with companies and public organisations. He has led research teams in 10 projects and directed six contracts. He has supervised eight doctoral theses, seven of them on solar applications and devices. His output includes 52 scientific publications, two books and six technical and scientific book chapters. He coordinates the University of Almería’s Master’s Degree in Solar Energy and has chaired the Spanish Solar Energy Association (AEDES), the national section of the International Solar Energy Society, since June 2024.
ORCID ID: 0000-0001-6044-4306 · Scopus Author ID: 35781507600. Aránzazu Fernández García is a senior research scientist at the Plataforma Solar de Almería (CIEMAT), where she leads the Materials for Concentrating Solar Technologies Unit and the Optical Characterisation and Durability Analysis of Solar Reflectors Facility (OPAC). She holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Málaga (2002) and a PhD from the University of Almería (2013). With more than 20 years of experience, she specialises in the optical characterisation and durability assessment of materials used in concentrating solar power components, through both accelerated testing and tests under real operating conditions. She has participated in numerous national and European R&D projects, including projects under the EU Framework Programmes, Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe. Her publications include two books, seven chapters in international publishers’ collections and 57 papers in indexed scientific journals. She has also contributed to 165 international conference presentations and taught national and international courses on concentrating solar technologies.