Here in we review basic solar energy facts of competing solar technologies csp vs pv.
Concentrated solar panel system.
Generally concentrated solar power is not installed at a residential scale and instead will almost always be installed over a large area as a utility scale generating facility.
Concentrated solar power csp also known as concentrating solar power concentrated solar thermal systems generate solar power by using mirrors or lenses to concentrate a large area of sunlight onto a receiver.
A brief video showing how concentrating solar power works using a parabolic trough system as an example is available from the department of energy solar energy technologies web site.
Concentrated solar thermal systems csp are not the same as photovoltaic panels.
Photovoltaic cells convert light into an electric current using the photovoltaic effect.
The plants consist of two parts.
Electricity is generated when the concentrated light is converted to heat solar thermal energy which drives a heat engine usually a steam turbine connected to an electrical power.
Csp systems concentrate radiation of the sun to heat a liquid substance which is then used to drive a heat engine and drive an electric generator.
Concentrated solar power system types.
Csp vs pv technologies.