Register Now for the American Solar Energy Society ASES SOLAR 2026 – Oct 19 – Oct 21, 2026 – Austin, TX

October 19–21, 2026
Palmer Events Center | Austin, Texas

Join the American Solar Energy Society for SOLAR 2026, taking place October 19–21 at the Palmer Events Center in Austin, Texas, in collaboration with the Texas Solar Energy Society (TXSES).

This year’s conference will feature plenary speakers including Bill McKibben, author of Here Comes the Sun, and Anya Schoolman, executive director of Solar United Neighbors. Attendees can also take part in technical sessions covering the latest renewable energy policies and technologies, networking opportunities, and a special celebration of TXSES’s 50th anniversary.

Solar for All, Y’all

SOLAR 2026 will be held during TXSES’s landmark 50th anniversary year under the theme “Solar for All, Y’all.” The conference will explore innovations, strategies, and actions through three key subthemes:

Advancing Access for All

Explore policy, economics, and technologies, including smart buildings, communities, and strategies designed to expand access to solar energy.

Expanding Education for All

Focus on K–12 education, emerging professionals, workforce development, and the general public, including the role of buildings as learning tools.

Addressing New Challenges Affecting All

Examine emerging challenges involving data centers, artificial intelligence, changing project support, and increasingly severe weather extremes.

Celebrating 50 Years of TXSES

SOLAR 2026 will mark five decades of the Texas Solar Energy Society during a national gathering of renewable energy professionals, students, and advocates from across the country.

TXSES Executive Director Patrice “Pete” Parsons highlighted the significance of the anniversary and Austin’s role in welcoming the solar community as Texas continues its work toward clean, resilient, and accessible solar energy.

A Sustainable Conference Venue

The Palmer Events Center holds LEED Gold certification for energy efficiency and sustainability from the U.S. Green Building Council.

The facility operates on 100% renewable energy through Austin Energy’s Green Choice Program and features an 185 kW photovoltaic array, making it a fitting venue for a conference focused on the future of solar energy.

Featured Plenary Speaker: Bill McKibben

Bill McKibben will deliver the keynote address on Tuesday, October 20, at Exhibit Hall 2.

McKibben is a contributing writer for The New Yorker and founder of Third Act, an organization that brings people over the age of 60 together to work on climate and racial justice. He also founded 350.org, the first global grassroots climate campaign, and serves as Schumann Distinguished Professor in Residence at Middlebury College in Vermont.

His honors include the Right Livelihood Prize, the Gandhi Peace Award, and honorary degrees from 19 colleges and universities. He has written more than 20 books about the environment, including The End of Nature and The Flag, the Cross, and the Station Wagon. His latest book is Here Comes the Sun.

Continuing Education Opportunities

SOLAR 2026 will offer continuing education units for more than 12 workshops, oral presentations, interactive poster displays, and plenary sessions.

GreenHome Institute, ASES’s educational partner, will provide certificates that may be accepted by various national organizations or state-based organizations through self-reporting or self-directed programs.

The Building Performance Institute (BPI) has already approved SOLAR 2026 for continuing education credits.