Concentrated solar power is an old technology making a comeback. Here's how it works
ABC Science /
By technology reporter James Purtill
Posted Wed 5 Apr 2023 at 3:30pmWednesday 5 Apr 2023 at 3:30pm, updated Wed 5 Apr 2023 at 10:41pmWednesday 5 Apr 2023 at 10:41pm
There was a time, not long ago, when the future of electricity generation looked something like the opening scene of Blade Runner 2049, with endless arrays of mirrors in concentric circles.
WATCH
File size: 0.2 megabyte0.2MB
The opening scene of Blade Runner 2049, with not a solar panel in sight.(Gfycat)
Concentrated solar power (CSP) uses mirrors to focus heat from the Sun to drive a steam turbine and generate electricity.
While CSP was once the great hope for replacing coal and gas-fired generation, it's now generally considered to have been eclipsed by cheaper forms of renewable generation, like solar panels and wind turbines.
Recently, however, it's been making a quiet comeback.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2023-04-06/concentrated-solar-power-technology-comeback-electricity-mirrors/102184372
