# Concentrated solar power: Overview

Sunshine bottled as hot salt for the evening

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_csp/overview/

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](https://www.ren21.net/gsr/2025/csp), 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 Water](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/water/)

#### Also in Solar
[PV Solar photovoltaics](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_pv/)[SHC Solar heat collectors](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_solar_heat/)[Pas Passive solar and natural cooling](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_passive/)[SF Solar fuels and photosynthesis](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_solar_fuels/)

Explore paths from here
 More on this tile in the tabs above: efficiency, techniques, resources and labour, impact on the biosphere.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_csp/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_csp/correlation/index.md)
- [Efficiency](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_csp/efficiency/index.md)
- [Techniques](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_csp/techniques/index.md)
- [Resources and labour](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_csp/resources/index.md)
- [Impact on the biosphere](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_csp/biosphere/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_csp/links/index.md)