| "CSP" stands for "Concentrated Solar Power." The | | | | which are used in conventional power plants. But in the |
| term refers to the type of solar power which is | | | | case of CSP solar energy, the "fuel" used to generate |
| created by concentrating sunlight onto a small area, | | | | steam is sunlight, not fossil fuels such as oil and coal. |
| thus creating an intense light and heat which can in turn | | | | You may be surprised to learn that in the USA, several |
| generate power and electricity. CSP is one of several | | | | CSP power plants are already up and running - and |
| technologies which have been developed in order to | | | | that they have performed reliably for the past fifteen |
| harness the energy emitted by the sun and turn it into | | | | years. |
| useable electricity. | | | | At the time of this writing, the least expensive method |
| The main difference between CSP energy systems | | | | of using solar power to produce electricity is the to |
| and other solar power systems (such as photovoltaics | | | | use CSP systems. |
| and solar heating), is that CSP uses mirrors and | | | | Research and development projects are underway, |
| reflectors in order to focus concentrated sunlight on a | | | | with the aim of reducing costs even further, so that |
| specific location. | | | | the cost of producing electricity with solar power can |
| How CSP Solar Energy Systems Work | | | | eventually compete with the costs of energy |
| A simple but accurate comparison to CSP Solar | | | | production in conventional power plants. |
| Energy is the use of a magnifying lens to focus sunlight | | | | CSP solar energy is just one of many methods of |
| on a specific area. But the target of a CSP system is | | | | generating alternative energy on a broad scale. |
| to heat fluids, not ants or other luckless insects. | | | | Another example of broad scale solar power |
| The heated fluids are then turned into steam. The | | | | production is the use of solar towers. These towers |
| steam is in turn forced through a fan, and is used to | | | | use an assortment of moving mirrors (called heliostats) |
| drive a regular steam turbine, which uses its turning | | | | to continuously reflect sunlight toward a central area at |
| motion to generate electricity through electromagnetic | | | | the top of the tower. The heliostats are set up so that |
| means. | | | | they move with the movement of the sun, thus |
| One of the advantages of CSP is that it is completely | | | | maintaining optimal reflecting power. |
| compatible with the contemporary power generators | | | | |