May 28, 2019 | By RGR Marketing Blog

Concentrating Solar Power Offers Greater Flexibility and Reliability

Buy Solar LeadsConcentrating solar power (CSP) involves the use of mirrors to concentrate a large amount of solar energy onto a smaller area. This produces an extraordinary amount of light that gets converted into heat, which is used by heat engines or steam turbines to deliver the energy to a power generator, which converts it to electricity.

One of the primary benefits of CSP is that it can store energy, so it can convert it into electricity whenever it’s needed, day or night. Here’s what you need to know about concentrating solar power, if you’re a solar installation professional reading this article right now.

How CSP Can Help the National Grid

The national electrical grid is antiquated, making it a substandard source of energy during times when a lot of electricity is being used by homes and businesses across the country. During the summer months, when air conditioners are run, and in the winter when heating systems are being used, the grid is pushed to its limits. It is not uncommon for some areas to experience brownouts or blackouts because the grid is unable to meet the demand.

Concentrating solar power can store energy, making them essentially batteries for times when the grid needs additional power. With this type of installation, grid operators have more flexibility because they can get the additional power they need from CSP.

What Does a CSP Consist Of?

A CSP features a parabolic trough system filled with mirrors controlled by heliostats that track and direct the sun’s light onto a receiver tube that sits in the center of the trough. The receiver tube is filled with a high-temp heat transfer liquid, usually synthetic oil, that absorbs the heat from the sun’s rays. The liquid can reach temperatures of 750-degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

The heated liquid then passes through a heat exchanger where it produces steam or heated water, which drives a steam-powered turbine to produce electricity. Most parabolic troughs contain hundreds of parallel rows of mirrors directed north and south, so they can track the sun from east to west.

Why Concentrated Solar Power Is Easier Than Ever to Sell

Commercial use of CSP systems first began in 1984, but it wasn’t until the 2000s until it caught on. From 2004 to 2013, globally installed CSP systems grew at a rate of 50% year-over-year. Today, CSP is competing with photovoltaic solar power and concentrator photovoltaics (CPV).

Of the three, concentrated solar power is best suited for regions with a high amount of solar insolation due to its efficiency and storage abilities. Capital costs have also dropped by 50% over the last five years, making CSP more financially viable than ever.

With new technology coming to light every day and costs falling as a result, you can expect concentrated solar power to gain even more of a foothold in the industry in future years.

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RGR Marketing is a leading provider of high-quality solar leads. We provide solar installers with exclusive leads that aren’t shared with other solar companies or lead generation companies. Our solar leads are verified and validated and contain the contact information for potential clients who have shown increased interest in solar energy. RGR Marketing has more than 20 years of experience, give us a try today and see how our quality leads can help improve your sales conversions.

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