Concentrating Solar Power
The Department of Energy (DOE) supports research and development of concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies as a unique path to achieve SunShot Initiative cost targets with systems that can supply solar power on demand through the use of thermal storage. CSP technologies use mirrors to reflect and concentrate sunlight onto receivers that collect solar energy and convert it to heat. This thermal energy can then be used to produce electricity via a steam turbine or heat engine driving a generator.
Research and Development
To achieve the SunShot goals, the CSP activities are focused on these key areas.
CSP technologies are deployed primarily in four system configurations. Two focus sunlight in a linear fashion—parabolic trough and linear Fresnel. The other two focus sunlight to a point—dish engines and power towers (also known as central receivers). Though CSP systems use different parabolic configurations to focus the sunlight, they share similar components such as collectors, receivers, power block, and thermal storage. The program also funds systems analysis on all of the CSP technologies to assess performance, longevity, and cost.
Awards
Within each of these areas, DOE provides funding, through competitive awards, to three key types of organizations—industry, laboratories, and universities - with the shared goal of making large-scale dispatchable solar energy systems cost competitive without subsidies by the end of the decade. While focusing most of its efforts on domestic projects, the Solar Program recognizes the worldwide impact of CSP technologies and the value of international collaboration.