Concentrated Solar Power Technology (CSP) provides clean and reliable power from 10 kW to 200 MW. First commercial solar thermal power plants were built in the 80s and currently around 400 MW are commercially operated.

In Europe around 300 MW of solar thermal power plants are either operating or under construction. The installed capacity in Europe is expected to be of 500-1,000 MW by 2010 and an amount of more than 20,000 MW by 2020 is reasonable. The technical potential in Europe in the long run can be estimated at least at twenty times that figure within reasonable generation costs.

At different stages of technical development, there are four main CSPs technologies to produce thermoelectricity from the sun: parabolic troughs, tower technologies, dish stirling and fresnel. Each technology will progress according to favorable policy framework and to its capacity to reduce generation costs and satisfy the specific needs of the power market.

Parabolic troughs

In Europe 250 MW parabolic trough plants are under construction in Spain and several thousand more MW are being developed. Parabolic troughs are the most mature technology available on the market. With a track record since the 80s, the technology is being successfully implemented in new plants in Europe and the USA. The typical size for a trough plant is 50-200 MW and specific land requirements - flat, sunny areas - are necessary.

Tower Technology

In Europe a 10 MW tower plant - the first commercial tower plant in the world - is in operation since June 2007 near Seville, Spain. 16.5 MW are under construction and 17 MW under development. The typical size for a tower plant is up to 50 MW and specific land requirements are less restrictive than for troughs. This technology can also play an enormous role together with troughs.

Dish Stirling

In Europe only pilot dish Stirling plants are in operation. The typical size for a dish Stirling module is 10 kW. There is no typical size for a plant - it can meet any individual demand- and specific land requirements are negligible. This technology is suitable for stand-alone installations, off-grid and small grids, and can play its role in inland isolated areas and islands.

Fresnel

In Europe no commercial plants based on the Fresnel principle are being developed so far. The operating principle is the same as for the trough technology. First components have been built, however, the technology needs further development and demonstration.