Registration

Opening session

We are pleased to welcome all SEST 2026 participants to the official Welcome Reception, hosted at one of Ciudad Real’s most emblematic cultural venues: the López-Villaseñor Museum.

Located in the heart of the historic centre, the museum is housed in a beautifully restored 15th-century manor house. It offers a unique atmosphere where art, history and tradition come together—an ideal setting for networking and informal conversation at the start of the conference.

The venue is dedicated to Manuel López-Villaseñor, one of Spain’s leading contemporary painters, and features both his work and an outstanding collection of regional heritage.

Join us for this welcoming gathering to meet fellow participants and enjoy local refreshments in an exceptional setting.

As part of the social programme of SEST 2026, a cultural visit to the city of Almagro will be organised. Almagro is one of the most emblematic historic towns in Castilla-La Mancha and a cultural reference of national and international significance.

During the visit, participants will have the opportunity to discover some of the city’s most representative landmarks, including the Corral de Comedias, the only theatre of its kind still in active use since the 17th century; the Plaza Mayor, renowned for its distinctive arcaded architecture; as well as various palaces, churches and historic buildings that together form the town’s rich artistic heritage. In addition, Almagro is home to the internationally recognised International Classical Theatre Festival, further enhancing its cultural prominence. This activity is conceived as a cultural complement to the scientific programme of the conference, offering participants an opportunity to gain insight into the historical and cultural heritage of the host region, while encouraging interaction and networking in a distinctive setting. The cultural visit is kindly sponsored by the Almagro City Council, whose support makes this activity possible. To facilitate participation, the conference organisation will provide a bus service for all registered participants, enabling collective transport between Ciudad Real and Almagro.

Following the cultural visit to Almagro, participants will be transferred to Salones Namen, where the Gala Dinner of SEST 2026 will be held.

The Gala Dinner constitutes one of the main social events of the conference and is conceived as a formal occasion for participants to share a convivial evening in a distinguished setting. This event provides an opportunity to strengthen professional relationships, encourage informal exchange, and foster interaction among researchers, professionals, and students attending the conference.

The dinner is designed as a complement to the scientific and cultural programme of SEST 2026, contributing to the overall conference experience and highlighting the hospitality of the host region.

Registration

The 2025 Iberian Blackout: Lessons Learned for Grid Resilience and the Future Energy Systems

On 28 April 2025, a massive blackout struck the Iberian Peninsula, disrupting electricity supply across Spain and Portugal and causing widespread failures in transport, communications, and critical infrastructure. While sabotage and cyber-attacks were ruled out, investigations identified a sequence of oscillations and overvoltages that culminated in one of Europe’s most significant power-system collapses in decades.

This panel brings together leading experts to analyze what happened, why it happened, and what must change to prevent future large-scale disruptions. Discussions will explore grid design, renewable integration, operational resilience, and regulatory reform to ensure a more robust and flexible European energy system.

Speakers:

Prof. Antonio Gómez Expósito (University of Seville, Spain)

Prof. Luis Rouco (Universidad Pontificia Comillas, Spain)

Prof. João A. Peças Lopes (University of Porto, Portugal)

Prof. Janusz Bialek (Imperial College London, UK)