Fact Sheet | Concentrated Solar Power | White Papers

Table of Contents

Concentrated solar power (CSP) is a method of electric generation fueled by the heat of the sun, an endless source of clean, free energy. Commercially viable and quickly expanding, this type of solar technology requires strong, direct solar radiation and is primarily used as a large, centralized source of power for utilities. In contrast, photovoltaic cells are effective in a wider range of regions and applications. CSP plants generate power best during the late afternoon – during peak demand – and can displace the use of fossil fuel plants that emit the greenhouse gases that cause climate change. As energy storage technology continues to advance, more CSP plants will be able to provide baseload power throughout the night.

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