Solar thermal energy is a technology for using solar energy for thermal energy (heat). Solar thermal collectors are classified as low-, medium-, or high-temperature collectors. Low temperature collectors are flat plates generally used to heat swimming pools. Medium-temperature collectors are also usually flat plates but are used for heating water or air for residential and commercial use. High temperature collectors concentrate sunlight using mirrors or lenses and are generally used for electric power production with a steam generator system. CSP is different from photovoltaic, which convert solar energy directly into electricity. While only 800 megawatts of solar thermal power is up and running worldwide
China will install its first 50 MW CSP Power Plant in 2011.
Line-concentrating parabolic trough Collectors
Un axially track the sun across the sky. The radiation, focused by a factor of about 80, is absorbed by a blackened absorber tube located in the focal line of the trough. Synthetic oil circulates through the tubes and is heated to about 400 °C. The hot oil is then used for steam generation to operate a conventional power plant. In California this solar power technology is in operation since the late 1980 in nine solar thermal power plants with a total power output of 354 MW . Since 2006 new commercial plants of this type are under construction, starting in Spain and in the US.
CDM Center of Excellence is involved in the project realization and has built up a consortium of local and international partners with broad experience and testemony in CSP Projects in Spain and US.