Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) is a technology that uses mirrors or lenses to concentrate sunlight, generating heat that is then converted into electricity.
How does CSP work?
CSP systems collect direct sunlight over a large area and focus it onto a small receiver. The concentrated energy heats a transfer fluid — typically molten salt, synthetic oil or steam — to temperatures between 400 and 1000 degrees Celsius. This thermal energy then drives a conventional steam turbine or Stirling engine to produce electricity.
There are four main CSP configurations:
- Parabolic trough — curved, trough-shaped mirrors focus sunlight onto a tube running along their focal line.
- Linear Fresnel — flat mirror strips approximate a parabolic shape at lower cost.
- Solar tower (central receiver) — a field of tracking mirrors (heliostats) reflects sunlight onto a receiver at the top of a tower.
- Parabolic dish — a dish-shaped concentrator focuses light onto a receiver at its focal point, often coupled with a Stirling engine.
A major advantage of CSP over photovoltaic panels is the ability to store thermal energy in insulated tanks of molten salt, enabling electricity generation after sunset or during cloudy periods.
Applications
CSP plays a growing role in sustainable construction and energy infrastructure:
- Utility-scale power plants — providing dispatchable renewable electricity to national grids.
- Industrial process heat — supplying high-temperature heat for cement production or desalination.
- District heating networks — feeding solar thermal energy into urban heating systems.
- Net-zero building strategies — integrating CSP into energy master plans for large developments.
Related terms
- Insulation
- Facade
- Ventilation
- Construction
- Roof
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