High-Temperature Solar Thermal Systems

Professor Craig McGregor, a registered professional engineer, leads Stellenbosch University’s Solar Thermal Energy Research Group (STERG) and is a professor in Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering. With two decades of industrial R&D at a multinational energy and chemical company, he brings practical experience to his academic role. His expertise spans chemical and mechanical engineering, focusing on concentrating solar thermal systems, green hydrogen, and energy systems integration. Under his leadership, STERG has become a leading international solar thermal research hub. As an associate director for Stellenbosch University’s Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies, he mentors students and fosters collaborations with institutions like the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. At Sasol, Professor McGregor spearheaded the Stellio heliostat technology, recognized with the 2015 SolarPACES Technology Innovation Award for its cost efficiency. He also managed the commercialization of chemical technologies and strategic planning for Sasol’s Southern Africa operations, resulting in numerous patents. Dr. Varun Pratap Singh is an Assistant Professor-SG in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (Mechanical Cluster), UPES Dehradun, India, and a Postdoctoral Fellow with the Solar Thermal Energy Research Group (STERG) at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. With over 14 years of academic and industry experience, he specializes in solar thermal energy, thermo-fluid applications, system design, and prototyping. He has secured research grants worth over ₹5 million, published 30+ SCIE papers, 50+ SCOPUS articles, nine patents, and 30+ book chapters, and has edited five books with major publishers. He serves as Series Editor in Solar Thermal Technologies with Taylor & Francis and has guided 100+ undergrads and master scholars with 4 PhD researchers. He has also headed the Centre of Excellence, Solar Energy Centre, and the Industry–Academia Chair, promoting sustainable technology solutions. Beyond research, he is passionate about nature-inspired innovation and enjoys planting, hiking, and coin collection. Dr. Ashwani Kumar, a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, boasts over 15 years of diverse experience. He’s currently working as a Professor and the head department of Mechanical Engineering at Technical Education Department Uttar Pradesh Kanpur (under Government of Uttar Pradesh), India. Previously, he served as a senior lecturer and lecturer there, and as an assistant professor at Graphic Era University Dehradun India. A prolific academic, Dr. Kumar is a series editor for eight book series with CRC Press/ Taylor & Francis, Wiley Scrivener, and Apple Academic Press. With over 235 research publications, 40 co-authored/edited books, and 5 patents Dr. Kumar is a recognized scholar, awarded for teaching excellence. He’s guided 15 theses and is an external doctoral committee member at S.R.M. University New Delhi India. His research spans AI/ML in Mechanical Engineering, Smart Materials, Thermal Energy Storage, Renewable Energy, and Energy Efficient Green Technologies.

• The pivotal role of high-temperature solar thermal energy in a sustainable future.- Heat transfer mechanisms in high-temperature solar thermal systems.- Advanced materials for high-temperature solar thermal applications.- Solar thermal concentrators in CSP: Design, operation, and recent advances.- Fluid dynamics in concentrated solar power systems.- Advanced heat transfer fluids and materials for high-temperature concentrated solar power systems: Properties and innovations.- Next-generation heat transfer fluids and coatings for high-temperature CSP.- Comparative analysis of thermal fluids and materials for high-temperature CSP.- Artificial intelligence and machine learning applications in high-temperature solar thermal systems.- Computer vision and automation in concentrated solar power plants operations.- Solar thermochemical routes for hydrogen and syngas production.- Harnessing solar energy for thermochemical pyrolysis of biomass: A sustainable pathway for bio-oil and syngas generation.- Experimental investigation of solar thermal energy systems for enhanced thermal performance: Design optimisation for sustainable energy solutions.- High-temperature solar applications for industrial decarbonisation.- Experimental investigations on multi-passage finned type solar receiver.- High-temperature hydrogen production using integrated spectrally split concentrated photovoltaics and solar tower systems.- Green recovery of critical materials from spent lithium batteries using concentrated solar thermal systems.- Life cycle assessment (LCA) of high-temperature solar thermal technologies.- Techno-economic assessment of high-temperature solar thermal systems.- Advancements and challenges in pillow plate heat exchangers: A comprehensive review.- Multi-criteria decision-making analysis for a sustainable hydrogen economy in Oman: Pathways to carbon neutrality via renewable solar energy.- Design and execution of a 100kW solar system.