Current status of solar thermal power generation technology

What is the future of solar energy?

The Future of Solar Energy considers only the two widely recognized classes of technologies for converting solar energy into electricity — photovoltaics (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP), sometimes called solar thermal) — in their current and plausible future forms.

Is solar energy a future energy resource?

The utilization of renewable energy as a future energy resource is drawing significant attention worldwide. The contribution of solar energy (including concentrating solar power (CSP) and solar photovoltaic (PV) power) to global electricity production, as one form of renewable energy sources, is generally still low, at 3.6%.

What are the emerging solar thermal technologies?

These emerging solar thermal technologies are: Electrical heat storage (including hot water tanks and compact heat stores, both residential scale and district heating scale) using the power from solar photovoltaics (on-site and/or off-site).

Should solar thermal systems replace existing energy systems?

To address the problem of global warming, solar thermal systems (STSs) have seen a surge in the recent two decades on the international market. Solar thermal systems would be a better choice to replace existing energy systems.

Are solar energy uptake rates underestimated?

Historical projections of energy generation have consistently underestimated uptake rates of solar energy 16, 17. For example, only a year after the publication of the 2020 World Energy Outlook (WEO), the IEA’s “Stated policies scenario” has been revised strongly in favour of solar energy.

What are the different types of solar energy technologies?

In this sense, the authors have selected PV/T , building-integrated PV/T , concentrating solar power , solar thermochemistry , solar-driven water distillation , solar thermal energy storage , and solar-assisted heat pump technologies .