Thursday, June 26, 2025 I 5:00pm CET I Language: English
Solar thermal energy is gaining momentum across Latin America, with Brazil and Mexico leading the charge. As both nations seek sustainable solutions to meet growing energy demands, solar thermal technology offers a cost-effective, low-carbon alternative for heating water and supporting industrial processes. Brazil’s strong solar resources and Mexico’s supportive policies are driving adoption across residential, commercial, and public
The recording and the speakers' presentations are available here .
Marisol Oropeza,
Business and Marketing Strategist
Marisol Oropeza, a dual Mexican and German national based in Berlin, is a Business and Marketing Strategist with her own consulting brand “matters” since 2016. She is a leading figure in the solar industry and recognized as an exceptional advocate for solar thermal. With a career spanning more than 20 years holding leadership positions in the public sector in Mexico, as well as the private and non-profit sectors in Germany, she positions herself as a highly qualified professional with a creative mindset.
She is founder of the Heat Changers community and an advisor to highly recognized companies in the solar industry. She has cultivated a vast network of contacts in Germany, Europe and Latin America. Her influential international collaborations span initiatives to accelerate the energy transition and promote solar technology. She collaborates with the Solar Heating Initiative, the Global Solar Certification Network and Intersolar Mexico. She was responsible for the International Affairs Secretariat of the Mexican National Solar Energy Association (ANES) from 2020 to 2024.
Additionally, she stands out for her extensive knowledge of the sector and dynamic presence as a speaker and moderator. She is listed in the speaker directory of the Solar Heating and Cooling Program of the International Energy Agency (IEA SHC).
Marisol's academic background includes a Bachelor's degree with honors in Business Administration from UNAM, a Master's degree in European Studies from Hochschule Bremen, and additional studies in Strategic Marketing, Leadership and Sustainable Development.
Danielle Johann,
ABRASOL
With over six years of experience as Executive Director at ABRASOL, I have led strategic planning and operational initiatives aimed at promoting sustainability and innovation in the solar thermal energy sector. My work includes project coordination, capacity building, and workforce training—efforts that have strengthened the industry's value chain and attracted new stakeholders to the association.
Previously, as a Senior Independent Consultant specializing in energy management systems, I developed a strong foundation in energy project standards and enhanced my capabilities in research and development. I currently serve as the Latin America Coordinator for the International Energy Agency's Solar Heating and Cooling Programme, fostering international collaboration and driving technological and market innovation in solar thermal energy.
Bärbel Epp,
SolarThermalWorld
Bärbel Epp is the managing director of solrico, a market research and communications agency specialising in analysing market and technology trends in the global solar thermal sector. She is responsible for the international newsletter of the web portal Solar Heating & Cooling News | Solarthermalworld, and solrico has published the first online world map of solar process heat system providers. The company has also conducted annual surveys of the 70 or so companies listed on the world map since 2017. From 2016 to 2022, Bärbel Epp was the author of the 'Solar Heating and Cooling' chapter of the 'Renewables – Global Status Report' by REN21. She studied physics at the University of Oldenburg.