Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)

Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) technologies use mirrors to concentrate (focus) the sun's light energy and convert it into heat to create steam to drive a turbine that generates electrical power.

CSP technology utilizes focused sunlight. CSP plants generate electric power by using mirrors to concentrate (focus) the sun's energy and convert it into high-temperature heat. That heat is then channeled through a conventional generator. The plants consist of two parts: one that collects solar energy and converts it to heat, and another that converts the heat energy to electricity.

CSP technology utilizes three alternative technological approaches: trough systems, power tower systems, and dish/engine systems.

There are four types of CSP technologies:

• Parabolic trough systems - Through this system, solar energy is concentrated by curved, trough-shaped reflectors, which are focused onto a receiver pipe. The pipe usually contains thermal oil, which is heated and then used in the thermal power block to generate electricity in a steam generator.
• Power tower systems - These systems use mirrors called heliostats that track the sun and focus its energy onto a receiver at the top of a tower. A fluid (often, molten salts) is heated inside the receiver and is used to generate steam, which drives a turbine generator.
• Linear fresnel systems - A large number of collectors are set out in rows. The mirrors are laid flat on the ground and reflect the sun on to the receiver pipe above. Similar to trough and tower systems, fresnel can integrate storage in a power block or generate steam directly.
• Parabolic dish systems - A parabolic-shaped dish acts a concentrator that reflects solar energy onto a receiver mounted on a structure with a tracking system that follows the sun. The collected heat is then generated by a heat engine. The dish can attain very high temperatures, which makes the system potentially well-suited for use in solar reactors.