The Solar Energy Research Center (CIESOL) is a joint research establishment, founded and managed according to an agreement signed in April 2005 between the University of Almeria and the Centre for Energy, Environment and Technology (CIEMAT) at the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. The center is located on the northern side of the University of Almería campus, in a single-store building, and has been operating since January 2006.

CIESOL is a bioclimatic building where active control of inside comfort can be carried out by means of a solar cooling and heating system, automated windows and blinds. More than 300 sensors are installed to allow estimation of inside variables and comfort control. The roof of the building is composed by both PV cells (for producing electricity for lighting and other uses of the building) and solar collectors (for producing process heat). The solar cooling system consists in a field of solar flat collectors which supply hot water to an absorption machine generating chilled water for air conditioning.