Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) - Basics and Introduction

Technology

 

Solar Thermal Power Plants are large scale renewable energy infrastructures using heat produced by contracted solar beams (CSP - Concentrated Solar Power). Mirrors concentrate solar beam on a receiver. The produced heat with temparatures of 400ºC to 1000ºC can be used directly, be transformed into electricity or stored.  

 

Costs of CSP Plants

 

Greenpeace, Solarpaces and ESTELA elaborated scenarios for the market potential and cost degression of the CSP technology with a timeline to 2050. According to the ambitious scenario costs per installed kW could come down from 3.060 € in 2015 to 2.160€ in 2050 (Greenpeace, Solarpaces, ESTELA, (2009)).

 

Local Manufacturing Potential 

 

The MENA region with its high level of solar radiation is the target of different initiatives to develop CSP on a large scale. This is a chance to improve the economic and social situation of the region itself. A recent study assesses the manufacturing capabilities and potentials for different CSP components in the MENA region. The study concentrates on the glass and mirror industry, electronic and electrical industry as wells as steel industry and in terms of countries on Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan. (Worldbank, ESMAP (2011)).