A new industrial research project officially started in July 2026 through a collaboration with the innovative Canadian company SolarSteam Inc. The partnership was formalized in May 2026 between Apostol Radev, CEO of SolarSteam Inc., and George Kosmadakis, EXCELLEND Project Coordinator, within the framework of NATO DIANA (Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic) TEVV activities. This collaboration leverages the research and testing infrastructures at NCSR Demokritos, which have been significantly enhanced through the EXCELLEND project.

SolarSteam technology uses lightweight curved mirrors inside a transparent enclosure to concentrate the sun’s energy onto a receiver. The sunlight is used to heat fluids that can be utilized for various applications.

Supported by the capacity built within EXCELLEND, the industrial project aims to develop an advanced digital twin of a solar thermal-driven cooling system. By creating a virtual representation of the real system, the project will enable predictive analysis and evaluation of different operating strategies under varying weather and demand conditions. The digital twin will support the design and operation of more efficient and reliable solar cooling systems while reducing development time, operational costs, and energy consumption. Ultimately, the project seeks to accelerate the adoption of solar thermal technologies for sustainable cooling applications in industry, data centers, and the built environment.

The collaboration combines industrial innovation with cutting-edge research, demonstrating how the infrastructures strengthened by EXCELLEND support the shared ambition to further develop sustainable solar thermal solutions. Through this partnership, these activities will strengthen industry-academia collaboration, generate impactful research outcomes, and contribute to the development of next-generation renewable energy technologies for cooling and heating applications.