Related coverage on solar thermal

Solar thermal technology uses mirrors to concentrate sunlight, generating heat that produces steam to drive a turbine for electricity. In contrast, photovoltaic (PV) panels convert sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductor materials. While solar thermal can include energy storage with molten salt, PV is generally cheaper, more efficient, and easier to scale.

Here are examples of large-scale solar thermal projects:

1. Ivanpah Solar Power Facility (USA) – A $2.2 billion concentrated solar power (CSP) plant in California using heliostats (mirrors) to focus sunlight on central towers to generate steam for electricity. Struggled with efficiency and required natural gas backup.

2. Noor Ouarzazate Solar Complex (Morocco) – One of the world’s largest CSP projects, featuring multiple phases with parabolic trough and tower technology. Unlike Ivanpah, it successfully integrates molten salt storage for nighttime power generation.

3. Ashalim Solar Thermal Power Station (Israel) – Uses BrightSource’s CSP technology with a central tower and heliostats. Though innovative, it faced financial challenges and struggled to compete with cheaper photovoltaic (PV) alternatives.

4. Crescent Dunes, Nevada (USA) Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project, a $1 billion concentrated solar power (CSP) plant in Nevada, failed due to technical issues and financial losses. Designed to store energy with molten salt, it suffered leaks and shutdowns, leading to bankruptcy in 2020. Its collapse highlights the challenges of large-scale solar thermal energy compared to more efficient photovoltaic (PV) systems.