Digital innovation for high-performance utility-scale solar thermal projects.
SolarOpt develops an open-source digital twin for large-scale solar thermal plants. By combining physical models, operational data and predictive algorithms, the project aims to improve plant performance, reliability and cost-effectiveness throughout the system lifetime.
The digital twin will support performance monitoring, forecasting, anomaly detection, predictive maintenance and operational optimization. It is designed both as a stand-alone solution and for integration with existing monitoring, SCADA and energy management systems. The project brings together ten research and industry partners from Austria, Germany and Sweden.
Project overview
| Project period | December 2025 – November 2028 |
|---|---|
| Project status | Ongoing |
| Funding | CETPartnership Joint Call 2024. Absolicon receives funding from the Swedish Energy Agency |
| Project coordinator | AEE Institute for Sustainable Technologies (AEE INTEC), Austria |
| Absolicon’s role | Industrial partner and leader of the Requirements Engineering work package. Absolicon also contributes operational data, solar thermal expertise, model development, testing and validation. |
Background and challenge
Large solar thermal plants provide renewable heat for industrial processes and district heating, but the level of digitalization in many installations remains quite low. Performance monitoring, forecasting, fault detection and operational optimization are often handled using separate, site-specific or proprietary tools. This makes it more difficult to compare performance, identify problems early and integrate solar thermal efficiently with storage, heat pumps and other energy technologies.
For plant operators and investors, these limitations can lead to higher operation and maintenance costs and uncertainty during long-term performance. SolarOpt addresses these challenges by developing a common, modular digital framework specifically designed for large solar thermal plants, defined in the project as installations above 500 m² of collector area or 350 kWth.
An important part of the project is a digital twin: a virtual representation of the solar thermal plant that combines physical models with real-time and historical operating data. This makes it possible to continuously assess performance, forecast production, identify anomalies and evaluate different operating strategies.
Absolicon’s contribution
As one of the industrial partners of SolarOpt, Absolicon leads the work package WP2 – Requirements Engineering. In this role, the needs of plant owners, operators, technology providers and other stakeholders are mapped into the technical requirements for the digital twin. This work includes stakeholder mapping, interviews and other forms of engagement throughout the project.
Absolicon also contributes significantly to the development of performance analysis, forecasting and predictive-maintenance methods. Operational data from real solar thermal installations will be used for model development and validation, including data representing both normal operation and specific operating conditions. Absolicon further contributes expertise in plant operation, maintenance, operational strategies, validation and future commercial applications of the SolarOpt tools.
Expected results and impact
SolarOpt aims to demonstrate the technology in operational environments (TRL 6), using data and installations representing different European climates and solar collector technologies. The resulting software and key analytical modules are intended to be made available as open-source tools.
The project is expected to contribute to:
- An open-source digital twin framework for large solar thermal plants, compatible with external monitoring, SCADA and energy management systems.
- Improved performance and forecasting, using automated analysis of operational and weather data to better predict plant output.
- Earlier detection of operational problems, with anomaly detection and predictive-maintenance tools designed to reduce downtime and unnecessary maintenance.
- Smarter and more cost-efficient operation, including scenario-based optimization of factors such as temperature settings, maintenance and integration with other energy technologies.
- Improved investment readiness, by translating technical performance data into financial indicators that can help investors and plant owners assess performance, risk and the long-term economics of solar thermal projects.
The project also contributes to ongoing standardization activities and aims to make performance assessment more transparent and comparable across different solar thermal technologies, plant configurations and markets.
Funding
SolarOpt is supported through the CETPartnership Joint Call 2024, within the call module Heating and Cooling Technologies. The project brings together partners funded through national programs in Austria, Germany and Sweden. Absolicon’s participation is funded by the Swedish Energy Agency.
Absolicon’s project budget is approximately €178,600, of which €125,000 is funded by the Swedish Energy Agency through CETPartnership.
