Solar Energy in Sri Lanka | Solar Thermal Power

There are several types of concentrated solar thermal power plants in operation. The key difference among them is that they employ different types of reflectors. But they all (except concentrated photovoltaics) share almost the same concept to convert heat into electricity: It is nothing but a steam-powered electric generator!

Theoretically, concentrated solar power is one of the simplest renewable energy technologies. The term “concentrated solar power” generally refers to both concentrated solar thermal power (CSTP) and concentrated photovoltaics. To begin with, let us start our discussion from concentrated solar thermal power technology.

Concentrated solar thermal power plants convert solar energy into heat of a working fluid and the heat is then converted into electricity. A typical concentrated solar thermal power plant employs mirrors or reflectors to focus solar radiation onto a small surface area where a working fluid has been enclosed. The fluid absorbs heat from focused solar radiation and channeled into a steam generator which turns a steam turbine and generates electricity.