What is solar thermal power generation?

Harnessing solar energy for electric power generation is one of the growing technologies which provide a sustainable solution to the severe environmental issues such as climate change, global warming, and pollution. This chapter deals with the solar thermal power generation based on the line and point focussing solar concentrators.

Are solar thermal applications better than solar PV?

While solar PV power generation has gained rapid momentum and is highly efficient for power generation, solar thermal applications, including both CSP and direct solar heat applications, offer a range of advantages for addressing specific energy needs in industrial, agricultural, residential, and commercial sectors.

How to compare the different solar thermal power generation systems?

To compare the different solar thermal power generation systems, some key characteristics/parameters are important to analyze the performance of the power generation system. Some of those parameters are discussed as follows: Aperture is the plane of entrance for the solar radiation incident on the concentrator.

What are the different types of solar thermal technology?

Solar thermal technology can be divided into two groups: concentrated solar power generation and solar heat applications. For solar heat applications and concentrated power generation, solar heat is classified as low-temperature heat, medium-temperature heat, or high-temperature heat.

What is solar thermal energy?

Solar thermal energy (STE) is a form of energy and a technology for harnessing solar energy to generate thermal energy for use in industry, and in the residential and commercial sectors. Solar thermal collectors are classified by the United States Energy Information Administration as low-, medium-, or high-temperature collectors.

How do solar thermal technologies produce electricity?

This high temperature is achieved by concentrating solar radiation on the receiver, and these technologies are known as concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies. Hence, the electricity generation by solar thermal technologies involves the collection and concentration of solar radiation in the form of heat and its conversion into electricity.