What is a solar thermal power plant?

Solar thermal power plants are active systems, and while there are a few types, there are a few basic similarities: Mirrors reflect and concentrate sunlight, and receivers collect that solar energy and convert it into heat energy. A generator can then be used to produce electricity from this heat energy.

How do solar thermal power plants work?

Solar thermal power plants are electricity generation plants that utilize energy from the Sun to heat a fluid to a high temperature. This fluid then transfers its heat to water, which then becomes superheated steam. This steam is then used to turn turbines in a power plant, and this mechanical energy is converted into electricity by a generator.

What is solar thermal (heat) energy?

Solar thermal (heat) energy is a carbon-free, renewable alternative to the power we generate with fossil fuels like coal and gas. This isn't a thing of the future, either.

What is solar thermal energy & how does it work?

It's not just about panels on a roof; it's a whole system that takes the sun's powerful light and turns it into useful heat. With new advancements making it better and more efficient, solar thermal power is growing, helping us to reduce our carbon footprint and move towards a cleaner future. How Else Can We Use Solar Energy?

Can solar thermal power plants provide electricity to 100 million people?

By concentrating solar energy with reflective materials and converting it into electricity, modern solar thermal power plants, if adopted today as an indispensable part of energy generation, may be capable of sourcing electricity to more than 100 million people in the next 20 years [source: Brakmann].

How do you generate energy from the Sun?

There are two main ways of generating energy from the sun. Photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar thermal (CST), also known as concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies. PV converts sunlight directly into electricity.