Results for tag: "Concentrating Solar Collectors"

Concentrating solar collectors are devices that use reflective surfaces to focus sunlight onto a small area, thus concentrating the energy. This sector of solar power technology generally falls into two categories: concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP), which generates heat (usually converted to electricity), and concentrating photovoltaics (CPV), which directly convert focused sunlight into electricity through the photovoltaic effect. CSP systems encompass a variety of technologies, including parabolic troughs, Fresnel reflectors, dish Stirling engines, and solar power towers. These systems are typically employed in utility-scale power plants, where they produce electricity by heating a fluid to drive a turbine connected to an electrical generator. CPV systems utilize lenses or curved mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto high-efficiency solar cells designed to operate at higher light intensities. Despite their promise for high efficiency, concentrating solar collectors are most effective in regions with high direct sunlight, limiting their geographical deployment. They are part of a growing renewable energy market, striving to increase efficiency, lower costs, and integrate storage solutions to counter their dependency on direct sunlight. Within this market, notable companies include BrightSource Energy, which specializes in solar power tower technology; Abengoa Solar, known for its construction of CSP plants worldwide; SolarReserve, which works on projects combining CSP technology with molten salt storage; and Amonix, a pioneer in CPV technology. Show Less Read more