ما هي الطاقة الشمسية المركّزة (CSP) وكيف تعمل؟

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) is a way of generating electricity from the sun that works very differently from the familiar photovoltaic (PV) panels. Instead of turning sunlight directly into electricity, CSP first uses it to produce heat and then converts that heat into power — which is why it is also known as Concentrated Solar Thermal (CST).

In this technology, an array of mirrors — also called solar collectors — focuses sunlight onto a single point or line to create very high temperatures at a central receiver.

How does CSP work?

The mirrors concentrate sunlight onto a receiver placed at the focal point of the system. This concentrated light heats a working fluid — such as a special thermal oil or molten salt — to several hundred degrees. The hot fluid then turns water into high-pressure steam, and the steam spins a turbine connected to a generator, producing electricity. In effect, CSP replaces the fuel-burning boiler of a conventional power plant with the heat of the sun.

The key advantage: energy storage

CSP’s most important advantage over PV is the ability to store heat. By keeping the collected heat in molten-salt tanks, a CSP plant can continue generating electricity even after sunset or during cloudy hours — something ordinary solar panels cannot do on their own. For this reason, CSP is usually seen as a complement to photovoltaics rather than a direct competitor.

Types and applications

Common CSP designs include the Parabolic Trough, the Solar Tower (power tower), the Dish, and the Linear Fresnel. Because the technology needs strong, direct sunlight, it is an excellent option for sunny, desert regions — like many parts of Iran — to produce clean electricity on a large scale.