Concentrating Solar Power

This 2006 fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute describes Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) technologies, including trough, power tower, and dish systems, detailing their operational mechanisms, costs, and potential for utility-scale electricity generation.

• Concentrating solar power (CSP) uses mirrors to focus solar heat to boil water and create steam for electricity generation. It is the most cost-effective solar technology, with plants producing electricity at $0.09 to $0.12 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), which can compete with peak power prices. The US Department of Energy estimated that worldwide CSP capacity would reach approximately 500 megawatts (MW) by the end of 2005.
• CSP is categorized into three primary technology types: trough systems, which use curved mirrors and oil-filled pipes to generate power from 10 MW to 150 MW; power tower systems, which use flat mirrors and molten salt to store heat for night-time generation (with existing plants like Solar Two between 10 MW and 30 MW); and dish systems, which use mirrored dishes to focus energy on a photovoltaic module or Stirling engine for distributed generation (2 to 25 kW per dish).
• The United States possesses significant solar potential; the National Renewable Energy Laboratory suggests a 100 mile by 100 mile area in Nevada using CSP trough systems could power the entire country. Benefits of CSP include the ability to use land unsuitable for farming, integration into existing grids via central generation, and the creation of domestic manufacturing and installation jobs.
• While CSP faces challenges such as high capital costs and a requirement for direct sunlight—making the US Southwest the most suitable region—the US Department of Energy projects costs will drop to $0.04 to $0.05 per kWh in the coming decades. Current research is focused on durability, storage capacity, and hybrid systems combining solar with wind, coal, or natural gas.

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} }