National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Concentrating Solar Power Research

Photo of a large field of parabolic troughs in rows. Photo of a dish Stirling concentrating solar power system, which consists of large square mirrors placed around a receiver. Photo of a solar power tower rising above large, rectangular mirrors on the ground, which surround it. The backs of the mirrors are shown.

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

Learn more about our capabilities:

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.

Resources


NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy,
operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
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Content Last Updated: July 09, 2009