Concentrated Solar Power Panels

Concentrating solar power csp technologies.

Concentrated solar power panels.

Csp systems concentrate radiation of the sun to heat a liquid substance which is then used to drive a heat engine and drive an electric generator. Spain is the world leader in the use of cst to produce electricity with around 2 3 gw in operation followed by the united states with around 1 7 gw in operation. 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 onto a receiver. What is concentrated solar thermal.

Csp technology utilizes focused sunlight. 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. 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. Concentrating solar power csp plants use mirrors to concentrate the sun s energy to drive traditional steam turbines or engines that create electricity.

Concentrated solar thermal systems csp are not the same as photovoltaic panels. Concentrated solar power system types. Here in we review basic solar energy facts of competing solar technologies csp vs pv. For residential and commercial property owners solar photovoltaic panels are the best way to harness the sun s energy for use.

Concentrated solar thermal cst is a solar energy technology that uses sunlight to generate heat. Csp vs pv technologies. Generally concentrated solar power is not installed at a residential scale and instead will almost always be installed over a large area as a utility scale generating facility. Csp technologies can be used to generate electricity by converting energy from sunlight to power a turbine but it can also be used as heat in a variety of industrial applications like water desalination enhanced oil.