Concentrating Solar Power

Concentrating solar power (CSP) uses mirrors to focus sunlight to generate electricity, offering the lowest cost among solar technologies at $0.09 to $0.12 per kWh for plants over 10 MW. The document details three primary technologies: trough systems, power tower systems, and dish systems, noting that trough and tower systems can store heat for use after dark. While the US has significant potential—specifically in the Southwest—high capital costs and the requirement for direct sunlight remain primary challenges. The US Department of Energy projects costs could drop to $0.04 to $0.05 per kWh in the coming decades.

• Concentrating solar power (CSP) is the most cost-effective solar technology, with plants larger than 10 MW producing electricity at $0.09 to $0.12 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), a price that can compete with peak power prices.
• Three main CSP technologies exist: trough systems (using curved mirrors and oil-filled pipes), power tower systems (using flat mirrors and molten salt), and dish systems (using mirrored dishes with photovoltaic modules or Stirling engines). Trough and tower systems are capable of storing heat to generate power at night or during cloudy weather.
• The United States possesses vast solar potential; the National Renewable Energy Laboratory suggests a 100 by 100 mile area in Nevada using CSP trough systems could power the entire country.
• Despite current high capital costs and the need for direct sunlight, the US Department of Energy forecasts that CSP costs will decrease to between $0.04 and $0.05 per kWh within a few decades.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2006). Concentrating Solar Power. https://www.eesi.org/files/concentrating_solar_0506.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Concentrating Solar Power. 2006. https://www.eesi.org/files/concentrating_solar_0506.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=Concentrating Solar Power |date=May 2006 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/concentrating_solar_0506.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2006concentrating, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{Concentrating Solar Power}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2006}, month = may, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/concentrating_solar_0506.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }