Concentrating Solar Power in 2001 An IEA/SolarPACES Summary of Present Status and Future Prospects

... Looking ahead strategically, SolarPACES will continue to cooperate closely on research and technology development in concentrating solar power and solar chemistry. However, we have also initiated activities to support project development, overcome nontechnical barriers, and build worldwide awareness of the relevance of Concentrating Solar Power applications to current problems of energy and the environment. Research and development activities sponsored by countries within the International Energy AgencyÕs (IEAÕs) concentrating solar technologies working group, SolarPACES (Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems), have, during the past two decades, helped to dramatically reduce the cost and improve the performance of concentrating solar power (CSP, also often called solar thermal power) plants. Significant technological improvements have recently bee