Greater potential for low-cost solar power plants

New analysis of large-scale 'concentrating solar power' plants suggests they could meet 70-80% of electricity demand if they are linked together. In a new study published Climate Change, researchers from the Grantham Institute at Imperial College London, Stellenbosch University , and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) have calculated for the first time that connecting 'concentrating solar power' (CSP) plants could supply a significant amount of current electricity demand, alleviating concerns over the reliability and intermittency of renewable power. CSP technology uses mirrors to reflect and concentrate light from the sun, which it converts into heat to power a turbine and produce electricity. Results of the study have shown that in the Mediterranean region, for example, a connected CSP system could provide 70-80% of current electricity demand at costs comparable to other technologies that provide a stable power supply. This is comparable to energy production levels of a standard energy production plant, such as a nuclear plant. Stefan Pfenninger , from Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , who is currently working towards a PhD at the Grantham Institute at Imperial College London said: "Our results show that this solar energy system can satisfy up to 80% of our hunger for electricity, at not much more cost than traditional sources. This is the first study to systematically examine the potential of CSP to overcome the inherent variability of solar energy." One problem with deploying solar energy on a large scale is that the sun does not shine all the time, so the energy must be stored in some way.