Concentrated solar power: Overview
Sunshine bottled as hot salt for the evening
What this tile covers Mirrors focus sunlight to make heat that drives a steam turbine, often with molten-salt storage. Share of use <.01% share of world energy supply (2024)Share of world total energy supply captured or extracted by each method, 2024 (latest year where noted). Denominator is the Energy Institute Statistical Review 2025 total of 592.2 EJ (physical energy content method); electricity from wind, solar, hydro and geothermal is counted at output, nuclear at reactor heat. Heat and biomass flows outside EI's total are set against the same 592.2 EJ. 7.2 GW of CSP (REN21) at an assumed 25% fleet capacity factor gives about 16 TWh (0.057 EJ) of 592.2 EJ (calculated). No global generation figure found; the capacity factor is an assumption between no-storage and storage plants. Source: Renewables 2025 Global Status Report: Concentrating solar thermal power, REN21.
Key facts
| Output | Electricity |
| Chain | Radiant → heat (receiver, molten salt) → steam → mechanical → electrical |
Included from the reference tables
- Parabolic troughs
- Power towers with heliostats
- Linear Fresnel
- Stirling dishes
- Solar updraft towers (experimental)
Linked to the material world
H₂O WaterAlso in Solar
PV Solar photovoltaicsSHC Solar heat collectorsPas Passive solar and natural coolingSF Solar fuels and photosynthesisExplore paths from here
More on this tile in the tabs above: efficiency, techniques, resources and labour, impact on the biosphere.