Concentrated Solar Power
Summary
When the light of the sun is reflected against a mirror and focused all on one area, it generates tremendous heat which can used to generate electricity. This is called Concentrating Solar Power, or CSP.
There are many types of CSP technologies – towers, dishes, linear mirrors and troughs. A parabolic trough is a large mirror, shaped like a giant U. These troughs are connected together in long lines, and track the sun throughout the day. The curved shape of the mirror sends most of the reflected light onto a receiver which is filled with a fluid (oil, molten salt). This super-hot liquid heats water in a heat exchanger and the water turns to steam. The steam goes to a turbine, which spins a generator, which generates electricity. Once the fluid transfers its heat, it is recycled and used over and over.
Keywords: Solar Power, EERE, Renewable Energy, DOE, Steven Chu, Department of Energy, Cathy Zoi, concentrated solar power, csp
