Page 176 - ISES SWC50

Manuel Romero
Country: Spain
Year Started Research: 1982
Title of Research: Concentrating Solar for Power, Fuels and Chemicals
University: IMDEA Energy
Still Active in Research: Yes

Dr. Manuel Romero started solar research with a grant in the University of Valladolid, in 1982. In June 1985 he
joined CIEMAT (www.ciemat.es), working as researcher for the Plataforma Solar de Almería (www.psa.es). In
1990 he received his PhD for his work on solar steam reforming of methane in a central receiver system and from
that year started as Project Manager till 2002 with responsibilities on R&D for solar thermal power plants, solar
hydrogen and solar detoxification. In 2002 he became Director of PSA and afterwards Director of the Renewable
Energy Division of CIEMAT since June 2004 till August 2008. He has been Guest Professor at the ETH Zurich
during summer 2007 and 2014. Since 2008 he is Deputy Director of the Madrid’s Institute for Avanced Studies
on Energy (IMDEA Energy) and Research Professor at its High Temperature Processes R&D Unit with activities
in high-flux modular concentrating solar power technologies and sustainable fuels production (www.energy.
imdea.org). Manuel received the “Farrington Daniels Award” in 2009, conferred for R&D contributions to the
development of high temperature solar concentrating systems. He has 209 publications (https://scholar.google.
com/citations?user=9nZRJDsAAAAJ&hl=en) receiving 4566 citations so far, h=34 and i10=71 (71 publications
with at least 10 citations). His manuscript on solar thermochemical fuels (Energy & Environmental Science 5
(11), 9234-9245) has received 423 citations; on CSP central receiver technology (J. Sol. Energy Eng. 124 (2),
98-108) 414 citations, on solar detoxification (Solar energy 66 (2), 169-182) 199 citations and the recent review
on solar thermochemical storage (Chemical reviews 119 (7), 4777-4816) received 35 citations in only on year and
was ranked number 6 in the The top 10 Chemical Reviews from 2019 Your Favorite Review contest. During his
career he has participated in 62 collaborative R&D projects in solar energy research, 21 of them financed by the
European Commission.

Wasim Saman
Country: Australia
Year Started Research: 1987
Title of Research: Zero energy buildings, Energy storage
University: University of South Australia
Still Active in Research: Yes

Wasim Saman started solar research in Iraq, where he helped establish the Solar Energy Research Centre in
Baghdad in 1987 and pioneered research and demonstrations including the first passive solar building and 3 solar
air conditioning projects in the region. He joined the University of South Australia (in Adelaide) in 1993 where he has
been providing leadership in teaching and research while serving the national and international communities. He
has implemented collaborative research projects with institutions from the European Union, Germany, USA, Greece,
India and Mauritius. He has been involved in reviewing research funding applications and acted as consultant for
bodies in the G20, UK, UAE, Chile, Ireland, Qatar, Canada, New Zealand as well as Australia. He has published over
300 reviewed articles in leading international journals. Impacts of Professor Saman’s research which have found
their way to commercialisation include: Developing phase change energy storage systems. The low temperature
applications are in use in refrigeration and air conditioning as a cheap alternative to batteries. The high temperature
systems offer a low-cost energy storage option in solar generation plants. Partnering with the housing industry/
governments in developing residential developments designed for a changing climate. A good example is the near
zero emissions Lochiel Park Green Village in Adelaide. Professor Saman has contributed to scores of technical
conferences as a keynote speaker or a member of organising/technical committees. This started in Baghdad in the
1980’s and continued throughout his career in Australia with the highlights being technical program chair of the
2001 ISES Solar World Congress and the International Solar Cities Conference in 2011. In 2020 he was awarded
the title of Emeritus Professor by the University of South Australia where he continues to supervise students and
work with industry on applications of phase change materials and innovative solar water heating systems.

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