Concentrated solar power

Concentrated solar power (CSP, also known as concentrating solar power, concentrated solar thermal) systems generate solar power by using mirrors or lenses to concentrate a large area of sunlight into a receiver. Electricity is generated when the concentrated light is converted to heat (solar thermal energy), which drives a heat engine (usually a steam turbine) connected to an electrical power generator or powers a thermochemical reaction.

Not to be confused with concentrator photovoltaics.

As of 2021, global installed capacity of concentrated solar power stood at 6.8 GW. As of 2023, with the inclusion of three new CSP projects in construction in China and in Dubai in the UAE, the total is now 7.5 GW. The US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) maintains a full database of the current state of all CSP plants globally, whether under construction, shut down, or operating. The data includes comprehensive details such as capacity, type of power block components, number of thermal energy storage hours, and turbine sizes.

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