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Collects: Large sun-tracking mirrors, called heliostats, concentrate sunlight onto a receiver at the top of the tower.
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Heats: The thermal energy heats a filler material, such as molten salt, which then heats a working fluid.
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Stores: Thermal energy is stored in the molten salt, so it can be used for electricity generation as needed.
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Generates: The working fluid, water, is heated to power a steam turbine, generating electricity.
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Distributes: Electricity is sent to the grid on demand.
Hybridization & Augmentation (Rotating diagram)
CSP uses solar thermal energy to produce steam, which in turn is used to generate electricity. The creation of steam as a byproduct gives CSP unmatched versatility and compatibility in the field of renewable technology, since CSP can share the hardware of traditional fossil based (i.e. coal, natural gas, biofuel) plants, which also utilize steam to generate electricity.
In the United States alone, between 11 and 21 gigawatts of CSP could be built and integrated into existing fossil fuel plants in the United States to reduce their carbon emissions – that’s enough electricity to power between 3 million and 6 million homes.
Grid Stability & Resilience
As demand for electricity increases, existing utilities more frequently approach their limits for grid stability. CSP plants and thermal energy storage (TES) solutions can be used to provide on-demand clean energy to alleviate stress upon the grid and optimize electricity production during peak hours.