Centro de Investigación en Energía Solar (CIESOL)

Name

Centro de Investigación en Energía Solar (CIESOL)

Legal name

Centro de Investigación en Energía Solar

Website

https://ciesol.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Almería

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Research Project Funding: CIESOL maintains 61 projects in execution during 2025, including European projects (17), national projects (38), and regional projects (6). Funding comes from EU Horizon programs, national R&D plans, and Andalusian government.
2. Technology Transfer and Contracts: Contracts with companies for research services including water analysis, microalgae production optimization, and specialized consulting. Examples include contracts with FCC Aqualia, Syngenta, and marble industry associations.
3. Master's Program Tuition: The Official Master's Degree in Solar Energy generates revenue through tuition fees, with approximately 23 students per course and ~80% international enrollment.
4. Research Networks and Collaborations: Participation in 9 networks (6 national, 3 international) and mobility programs (ERASMUS, Study Abroad) that provide additional funding and collaboration opportunities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CIESOL is a joint university-government research center (Universidad de Almería and CIEMAT/Plataforma Solar de Almería) that conducts scientific R&D, technology transfer, and specialized graduate education in solar energy applications. Its activities span solar cooling, photovoltaic and thermal systems, water regeneration via solar photocatalysis, desalination, microalgae biotechnology, and advanced materials for solar energy, supported by its own 1,700 m² demonstrative building and access to the Plataforma Solar de Almería ICTS.

Product overview

CIESOL offers a portfolio of specialized research software tools and an official university education program in solar energy. The software suite includes FentonSims and FentonSims v.2 for solar photo-Fenton water treatment simulation, an Interactive Biological Models tool for microalgae research, and a Matlab Raceway Photobioreactor Simulator. Combined with the Master's in Solar Energy, these products support research, training, and technology transfer in solar energy applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FentonSims Interactive simulation tool for the solar photo-Fenton process for microcontaminant elimination in water under different operating modes, featuring a user-friendly graphical interface for design and optimization studies. Aimed at researchers and engineers in the water treatment sector.
• FentonSims v.2 Updated version of FentonSims enabling simulation of the photo-Fenton process under UVA artificial LED radiation at 280, 365, and 385 nm, allowing comparison between solar and artificial radiation sources.
• Interactive Biological Models Tool Standalone application for analyzing interactive biological models of microalgae and microalgae-bacteria combinations, including simulation options using experimental data as model inputs across different seasons.
• MATLAB Raceway Photobioreactor Simulator Free tool for simulating dynamic behavior of raceway photobioreactors, supporting open-loop simulations from seasonal experimental data and closed-loop simulations with on-off, PID, or selective control strategies for pH or dissolved oxygen.
• Máster Universitario en Energía Solar (Official Master's Degree in Solar Energy) Official university Master's degree providing specialized training in solar energy and its applications, with a strong practical research component preparing graduates for doctoral programs and the solar energy industry. Enrolls around 23 students per course with ~80% international students and a 97% success rate.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96.3% of publications in Q1 or Q2 journals (CiteScore)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• EU-SOLARIS ERICcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean research infrastructure for solar thermal concentration. CIESOL signed a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with EU-SOLARIS in 2025, strengthening national network integration. Joint activities include annual awards, summer schools, and doctoral colloquia.
• Plataforma Solar de Almería (PSA-CIEMAT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs a joint center (centro mixto) between Universidad de Almería and PSA-CIEMAT, this is CIESOL's primary institutional partner. Researchers from both institutions collaborate across all 7 functional units, sharing facilities and resources.
• Plataforma Solar de Almería (PSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSingular Scientific and Technical Infrastructure (ICTS) providing access to concentrating solar systems (PTC, Fresnel), solar furnaces, and large water treatment installations. Enables CIESOL to operate at TRL levels impossible in conventional laboratories.
• Pilots4EUmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean platform for pilot and demonstration facilities, integrating CIESOL's research into excellence networks and facilitating technology scaling from laboratory to pre-commercial levels.
• FCC Aqualia S.A.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater management company partnered through Cátedra Aqualia del Ciclo Integral del Agua. Joint activities include research on water regeneration, specialized courses, student awards, and water analysis services.
• Universidad de Chile / UTEM / Universidad MayormajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFramework and specific agreements with Chilean universities for research collaboration, student exchange, and joint academic activities.
• Green Methanol ChairmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreated June 11, 2025, as the world's first chair dedicated to e-methanol research. Led by Antonio Romerosa, marking pioneering research in green methanol production.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves2 records

Direct peers

• Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS): National University of Singapore's solar PV research institute. Comparable as a publicly funded, multi-disciplinary solar research center combining PV technology, materials, and systems research with industry partnerships and policy advisory roles in a different geography.
• IMDEA Energía: Madrid-based public research institute focused on renewable energy including solar PV, solar fuels, and energy systems. Closely comparable in being a Spanish public-funded solar R&D center with European project participation, doctoral training, and industry technology transfer.
• L'institut National de l'Énergie Solaire (INES): France's national solar energy institute combining CEA and University of Savoie Mont Blanc research. Comparable in operating as a publicly funded solar R&D center focused on PV, thermal, and building-integrated solar applications with technology transfer and training programs.
• Plataforma Solar de Almería (PSA-CIEMAT): PSA is CIESOL's parent partner and the largest concentrating solar research infrastructure in Europe. It shares the same campus, researchers, and ICTS assets, making it the closest functional peer for solar thermal, PV, and water-treatment research at scale.

Broad incumbents

• CSIRO Energy: Australia's national science agency energy research unit with strong solar PV, solar thermal, and energy storage programs. Comparable as a publicly funded solar research center combining pilot infrastructure, industry contracts, and education programs, but with broader energy mandate.
• CIEMAT: Spanish public research body and CIESOL's institutional parent. Conducts energy, environment, and technology research including solar, making it a comparable peer in scope, public funding model, and technology transfer activities, though at much larger national scale.
• Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE): Germany's flagship applied solar energy research institute. Comparable in combining solar thermal, PV, water, and energy systems research with industry technology transfer, but operates at much larger scale and broader mandate across all renewable energy topics.
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency R&D. Comparable in operating as a publicly funded solar research hub with industry partnerships, large-scale pilot infrastructure, and software tool development, though at substantially larger scale and budget.
• DLR Institute of Solar Research: German Aerospace Center's solar research institute focused on concentrating solar power and solar fuels. Strong peer because of similar concentration on CST tower/PTC technologies and close EU network ties (EU-SOLARIS), but with larger government backing and broader aerospace portfolio.

Regional players

• CIC energiGUNE: Basque Country research center for energy storage and thermal energy solutions including solar thermal integration. Comparable as a publicly co-funded Spanish energy research center with industry partnerships, though focused more on storage and electrochemical research than CIESOL's PV/CST/water emphasis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centro-de-investigaci%C3%B3n-en-energ%C3%ADa-solar-ciesol

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Centro de Investigación en Energía Solar (CIESOL)