How concentrated solar power will travel down the cost curve

june 07, 2012

The biggest challenge for concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies is getting down the cost curve. But as with wind energy and photovoltaic solar energy that went before it, it’s a classic chicken and egg situation.

The biggest challenge for concentrating solar thermal power (CSP) technologies is getting down the cost curve. But as with wind energy and solar PV that went before it, it’s a classic chicken and egg situation: Without properly constructed incentives to initiate deployment, the technology will struggle to reach the scale that can deliver the anticipated cost reductions.

The IT Power report on Concentrated Solar Power technologies – identified as parabolic trough, solar towers, compact linear fresnel reflector, solar dish, concentrated solar PV and fresnel lens – suggest it could take anywhere from six to 18 years for CSP to travel down the cost curve to where it can play a role.