The limited supply of fossilhydrocarbon resources and thenegative impact of CO2 emissionson the global environment dictate theincreasing usage of renewable energysources
Concentrated solar power(CSP) is the most likely candidate forproviding the majority of this renewableenergy, because it is amongst the mostcost-effective renewable electricitytechnologies and because its supply isnot restricted if the energy generated istransported from the world's solar belt tothe population centres
Three main technologies have beenidentified during the past decades forgenerating electricity in the 10 kW toseveral 1000 MW range: q dish/engine technology, which candirectly generate electricity inisolated locationsq parabolic trough technology, whichproduces high pressuresuperheated steamq solar towe