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Status of Concentrated Solar Power Plants Installed Worldwide: Past and Present Data

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  • Sylvain Rodat

    (Processes, Materials and Solar Energy Laboratory, PROMES-CNRS, 7 Rue du Four Solaire, 66120 Font Romeu, France)

  • Richard Thonig

    (Energy Transitions and Public Policy, Research Institute for Sustainability—Helmholtz Centre Potsdam (RIFS), 14467 Potsdam, Germany)

Abstract

Solar energy is not only the most abundant energy on earth but it is also renewable. The use of this energy is expanding very rapidly mainly through photovoltaic technology. However, electricity storage remains a bottleneck in tackling solar resource variability. Thus, solar thermal energy becomes of particular interest when energy storage is required, as thermal energy storage is much cheaper than electricity storage. The objective of this paper is to make a short update on the CSP (Concentrated Solar Power) market as of the year 2023. It is based on the CSP-GURU database, which lists information on CSP power plants all over the world. Although this database is open, it is not easy to find UpToDate analysis. An overview of this expanding technology is presented and offers readable figures with the most important information. This includes the evolution of installed capacities worldwide along with upcoming projects (under construction) and technological trends. The evolution of storage capacities and operating temperatures is discussed. Investment costs and levelized cost of electricity are also provided to obtain reliable data for comparison with other energy technologies. Specific land requirements are highlighted, along with overall efficiency. Relevant examples are discussed in this paper. Eventually, it outlines the evolution of the CSP landscape with useful information for scientific and educational purposes.

Suggested Citation

  • Sylvain Rodat & Richard Thonig, 2024. "Status of Concentrated Solar Power Plants Installed Worldwide: Past and Present Data," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 6(1), pages 1-14, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jcltec:v:6:y:2024:i:1:p:18-378:d:1359408
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alberto Giaconia & Anna Chiara Tizzoni & Salvatore Sau & Natale Corsaro & Emiliana Mansi & Annarita Spadoni & Tiziano Delise, 2021. "Assessment and Perspectives of Heat Transfer Fluids for CSP Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-25, November.
    2. Islam, Md Tasbirul & Huda, Nazmul & Abdullah, A.B. & Saidur, R., 2018. "A comprehensive review of state-of-the-art concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies: Current status and research trends," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 987-1018.
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    1. Maycon Figueira Magalhães & Boniface Dominick Mselle & Francisca Galindo, 2025. "Decision-Making and Selection Framework for Potential Implementation of Concentrated Solar Power Technologies: Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-24, March.
    2. Abdulrahman AlKassem & Kamal Al-Haddad & Dragan Komljenovic & Andrea Schiffauerova, 2025. "The Strategic Selection of Concentrated Solar Thermal Power Technologies in Developing Countries Using a Fuzzy Decision Framework," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-25, April.
    3. Chad Augustine & Sarah Awara & Hank Price & Alexander Zolan, 2025. "Deployment Potential of Concentrating Solar Power Technologies in California," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-20, September.
    4. Chunchao Wu & Yonghong Zhao & Wulin Li & Jianjun Fan & Haixiang Xu & Dingkun Yuan & Zhongqian Ling, 2024. "Layered Operation Optimization Methods for Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Technology and Multi-Energy Flow Coupling Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-19, December.

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