Practical and innovative solutions in solar-thermal technology advancements

Solar-thermal technology is a dynamic field of research with significant implications for sustainable energy solutions. The continuous quest to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of solar systems highlights the current challenges in solar energy research. Bridging the gap between laboratory-scale setups and real-world applications remains a primary concern. Significant innovations are ongoing in areas like solar desalination, solar drying, solar panel advancements, and concentrated solar applications. However, these technologies' field implementation, especially in remote or resource-scarce areas, is limited. Furthermore, incorporating digital twin technologies into solar-thermal systems offers a promising avenue for maximizing performance and efficiency, though more exploration is needed for widespread adoption.

This Research Topic aims to address these gaps by focusing on advancing practical and deployable solar-thermal technologies. Emphasis is on demonstrating direct applicability in arid and semi-arid regions, where solar solutions can significantly benefit local communities. The objective is to foster contributions that highlight real-world implementations, novel designs, field trials, and scalable solutions. Furthermore, the integration of digital twin technologies to enhance system performance is a critical area of interest. This collection seeks to support the sustainable development of energy access solutions by encouraging submissions that bridge the lab-to-field transition and showcase innovative outcomes in solar-thermal research.

To gather further insights in the field of solar-thermal technologies, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Solar desalination systems
• Solar drying technologies
• High-temperature and concentrated solar thermal applications
• Innovations in solar panel performance
• Integration of digital twin technologies in solar-thermal systems