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A collage of Concentrating Solar Power photographs. The first photo shows a dish-engine solar system. The second is of a SAIC Stirling dish collector. And the third photo shows a SkyTrough solar concentrator located on a mesa top.

NREL collaborates with industry to further the research and development of concentrating solar power (CSP) plant and solar thermal technologies.

NREL's R&D projects in concentrating solar power focus on parabolic trough solar technology and advanced concentrating solar power technologies. We also support the U.S. Department of Energy in its concentrating solar power deployment efforts. For more information, see our projects.

Photo of a parabolic trough up-close, showing the reflectors or mirrors and the absorber tube.

TroughNet

Parabolic Trough Solar Power Network

As part of its concentrating solar power research, NREL develops this technical resource for the evaluation of parabolic trough solar power plant technologies.

NREL's Electricity, Resources, and Building Systems Integration Center leads the research and development in concentrating solar power.

NREL's concentrating solar power research supports the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Energy Technologies Program, through its partnership in SunLab.

Energy 101: Concentrating Solar Power Video Solar Measurements: Become a SOLRMAP Collaborator