Solar Heat and Thermal Storage: Technologies, Business Models and New Perspectives for Industrial Decarbonization

Juan Carlos Castro es candidato al grado de doctor en el Instituto de Energías Renovables de la UNAM, enfocado en la transición energética, la innovación tecnológica y la prospectiva energética aplicada al desarrollo sostenible.Es miembro del Grupo de Prospectiva Energética del Laboratorio de Innovación y Futuros, donde desarrolla investigación sobre modelado de sistemas energéticos; energías renovables; vulnerabilidad y resiliencia energética; y desarrollo de tecnologías solares térmicas y fotovoltaicas.Su trabajo se centra en el análisis prospectivo de sistemas energéticos nacionales y comunitarios para impulsar la integración de energías renovables y la construcción de futuros sostenibles. También ha investigado procesos de apropiación tecnológica solar, pobreza energética y empoderamiento comunitario, particularmente en contextos periurbanos.Ha participado en proyectos de investigación, desarrollo tecnológico y emprendimiento relacionados con energía solar, eficiencia energética y tecnologías limpias, así como en iniciativas orientadas a la innovación con impacto social y ambiental. Asimismo, cuenta con experiencia en la elaboración y publicación de artículos científicos en revistas internacionales indexadas y en el desarrollo de propuestas tecnológicas y de innovación.Su perfil integra investigación científica, visión estratégica y emprendimiento tecnológico, con interés en el desarrollo de soluciones energéticas sostenibles que contribuyan al bienestar social, la descarbonización y la transformación de los sistemas energéticos.

Marisol Oropeza, a prominent figure in the solar industry, is recognised as an exceptional advocate for solar heating, renowned for her extensive knowledge and dynamic presence as a public speaker, moderator, and storyteller. Her influential collaborations span initiatives in accelerating the energy transition and advancing solar thermal technology, showcasing her as a highly-skilled professional with a creative mindset. She has cultivated a vast network of contacts in Germany, Europe, and Latin America. Marisol's academic background includes graduating with honors in Business Administration from UNAM, a Master's degree in European Studies from Hochschule Bremen, and additional studies in Strategic Marketing, Leadership, and Sustainable Development. She is business and marketing strategist for the solar industry with her own consulting brand: matters. Among her clients there are highly recognized companies and organizations in the solar industry. In addition, she has launched projects and is part of initiatives to increase the visibility of the solar thermal energy sector and technologies internationally. She has been a speaker and moderator in multiple specialized forums. She is founder of the Heat Changers community, responsible for the International Affairs Secretariat of the National Solar Energy Association (ANES) and advises on marketing and public relations to the Solar Heating Initiative, the Global Solar Certification Network and Intersolar Mexico.

Will Giese is a respected clean energy executive with more than a decade of leadership experience in solar policy, government affairs, and marketdevelopment across the U.S. clean energy sector. He currently serves as theSenior Director of Government Affairs at Solaray Corporation, a 100%employee-owned renewable energy company with operations spanning solarmanufacturing, distribution, and long-term service. In this role, Will leadsfederal, state, and local policy strategy; regulatory affairs; and externalengagement to advance Solaray's business priorities, including solar thermalmanufacturing in California, PV and storage distribution and O&M in Hawaiʻi, and emerging circular-economy initiatives such as Solaray'supcoming solar module recycling facility on Oʻahu.Prior to joining Solaray, Will served as the Southeast RegionalDirector for the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and as theExecutive Director of the Hawaiʻi Solar EnergyAssociation (HSEA), where he played a central role in shaping the US transitionto a clean energy future. His leadership helped streamline permittingprocesses, expand access to utility, commercial, and rooftop solar and storage,and support policies that enabled thousands of households and businesses toadopt renewable technologies. He has also served on numerous advisory groupsand working committees focused on distributed energy resources, gridmodernization, decommissioning and clean energy recycling, and energy equity.Will brings a pragmatic, solutions-oriented approach topolicymaking and stakeholder engagement. He is recognized throughout the solarindustry for his collaborative style, grounded perspective, and commitment toadvancing policies that benefit both clean energy businesses and thecommunities they serve.

Sustainable Systems Engineer (M.Sc., University of Freiburg). She has led industrial solar processheat projects in Mexico and is currently a Scientific Researcher at FraunhoferInstitute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE), focusing on modeling, simulation, andoptimization of solar thermal power/heat plants.