Concentrating Solar Power Technologies: What is it & How it works?

What is concentrating solar power and how does it affect solar energy? Learn about this type of solar power with this guide.

The solar power industry is constantly evolving. From the 7th century to today, humans have been looking for ways to harness the power of the sun.

One of the latest methods of doing this is by concentrating solar power. While it's still a relatively new concept, it has some promising possibilities for the energy industry.

Keep reading to learn more about concentrated solar power and how it will influence the solar energy industry.

What is Concentrated Solar Power?

Concentrated solar power systems are typically found in commercial solar energy farms. 

There are 4 types of concentrated solar power systems. Each of these systems uses different equipment and amounts of space, with different heating systems.

All of them use some kind of mirror system to reflect and enhance solar energy to create heat. This creates steam, which turns turbines to generate electricity. 

The types of concentrated solar systems are:

• Parabolic dish systems

• Parabolic trough systems

• Compact linear Fresnel reflector systems

• Power tower systems

What are the Benefits of Concentrating Solar Power?

Much like regular solar energy, concentrated solar energy is renewable. This means it's sustainable and better for the planet. But unlike other renewable energy sources, like wind or solar, this method is not seasonal. 

This means that as an alternative energy source, concentrated solar energy is a much more stable option. This makes it far more appealing. 

Another benefit is that concentrated solar power could be integrated into existing steam-based power plants. 

What are the Disadvantages of Concentrating Solar Power?

Concentrated solar power plants are even more difficult to set up than regular ones. Finding a location that is suitable is always a challenge.

The size of the plot of land, local weather patterns, and accessibility to the land all need to be considered. There also needs to be lots of water nearby for cooling and cleaning processes. 

Funding these solar plants is always difficult. The amount of equipment needed, as well as its maintenance, is incredibly expensive, so few want to invest in it when there are easier options. 

For all these reasons, concentrating solar power is a slow and expensive process. 

Implications for the Solar Energy Industry

The implications of this technology are exciting for the renewable energy sector. Being able to amplify the solar energy that panels can convert solves a lot of the problems associated with solar energy. 

As this technology is perfected, solar energy will become a more promising alternative for commercial energy generation. This will be much better for the environment. 

Concentrated solar power technology will also impact residential solar energy. There are already some solar companies that offer an additional concentrator system for home solar panel systems. 

If you want to get a head start on making the switch to solar, check out blueravensolar.com.

Concentrating Solar Power to Increase Energy Generation

Concentrating solar power is a promising renewable energy source. With its stable outputs and easy integration into existing power generation methods, the benefits of this power source are unquestionable. But first, the challenges need to be overcome. 

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